Elvis taxon

English

Etymology

Coined in a 1993 paper by D. H. Erwin and M. L. Droser, with reference to the prevalence of impersonators of the singer Elvis Presley.

Noun

Elvis taxon (plural Elvis taxa)

1. (paleontology) A taxon that has been misidentified as having re-emerged in the fossil record after a period of presumed extinction, but is not actually a descendant of the original taxon, instead having developed a similar morphology through convergent evolution.

Coordinate terms

• Lazarus taxon
• zombie taxon

See also

• Aldabra rail