What is a Lazarus taxon?
Q: What is a Lazarus taxon?
A: A Lazarus taxon is a taxon that disappears from one or more periods of the fossil record, only to appear again later.
Q: What is the origin of the term Lazarus taxon?
A: The term Lazarus taxon refers to the Gospel of John, in which Jesus is claimed to have raised Lazarus from the dead.
Q: Why do Lazarus taxa occur?
A: Lazarus taxa occur either because of (local) extinction, later resupplied, or as a sampling artifact.
Q: Why is the fossil record imperfect?
A: The fossil record is imperfect because only a very small fraction of organisms become fossilized, and it contains gaps not necessarily caused by extinction, particularly when the number of individuals in a taxon becomes very low.
Q: What happens to some groups in paleontology after a major extinction event?
A: After a major extinction event, some groups in paleontology reappear after millions of years.
Q: What is the usual explanation for the reappearance of some groups in paleontology after a major extinction event?
A: The usual explanation is that numbers were driven so low that their chance of fossilisation were extremely low. Then, gradually, their numbers revived.
Q: In what field was the concept of Lazarus taxon developed?
A: The concept of Lazarus taxon was developed in palaeontology.
