In paleontology, an Elvis taxon (plural Elvis taxa) is a taxon which 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. This implies the extinction of the original taxon is real, and the two taxa are polyphyletic.

By contrast, a Lazarus taxon is one which actually is a descendant of the original taxon, and highlights missing fossil records, which may be found later. A zombie taxon is a type of Lazarus taxon sample that was mobile in the time between its original death and its subsequent discovery in a site of younger classification, like, for example, a trilobite that gets eroded out of its Cambrian-aged limestone matrix, and reworked into Miocene-aged siltstone.

The term was coined by D. H. Erwin and M. L. Droser in a 1993 paper to distinguish descendant from non-descendant taxa:^[1]

"Rather than continue the biblical tradition favored by Jablonski [for Lazarus taxa], we prefer a more topical approach and suggest that such taxa should be known as Elvis taxa, in recognition of the many Elvis impersonators who have appeared since the death of The King."^[2]

Lobothyris subgregaria, a brachiopod from the early Jurassic period, is one example of such a taxon.^[3]

Other uses

Some species and specimens have been named after Elvis Presley, but are not Elvis taxa.

• The dinosaur Cryolophosaurus is known informally as Elvisaurus for its nasal crest resembling Elvis Presley's pompadour haircut.
• A specimen of Brachylophosaurus was named 'Elvis' by its discoverer.

See also

• Living fossil
• Elvis Presley phenomenon

References