Lazarus taxon

There is a whole group of species classified under the miracle-referencing name “Lazarus taxon”. These are species that have gone extinct…and then returned.

The rediscovery of Lazarus species is significant for conservation biology as it provides hope for other possibly extinct species and valuable information about species resilience and survival in changing environments.

The term gained popularity in the scientific community during the late 20th century, though the phenomenon has been documented throughout the history of biological research.

Here are some notable recent findings:

In 2023, scientists rediscovered the Black-naped Pheasant-pigeon in Papua New Guinea. This bird hadn't been seen for 140 years before it was finally photographed using a camera trap on Ferguson Island.

Black-naped pheasant pigeon

In 2022, researchers found De Winton's golden mole in South Africa, which hadn't been seen since 1936. They used environmental DNA sampling from beach sand to confirm its existence, showing how modern technology is helping us find these lost species.

De Winton’s golden mole is completely blind and does not see in the conventional sense. While they do have eyes, they are non-functional and covered by skin and fur. However, it has excellent hearing and its skin acts as a sensory organ, picking up signals from the environment.

In 2021, the Black-browed Babbler was found in Borneo after 170 years of being considered extinct. It was previously known only from a single specimen collected in the 1840s.

Black-browed Babbler

Voeltzkow's chameleon in Madagascar, was found in 2020 after being lost to science for more than 100 years. Female specimens were photographed for the first time in scientific history during this rediscovery.

Voeltzkow's chameleon

One of the most well-documented cases is the Coelacanth fish - it was rediscovered in 1938 after being thought extinct for a whopping 66 million years.

Coelacanth fish are BIG, they can grow up to two meters long and weigh up to 90 kg

There are around 350 of these Lazarus species, it’s an incredibly encouraging signal despite today’s pessimistic noise. Who knows how many other species currently considered extinct, might still exist in remote or unexplored areas.

In the immortal words of Dr. Ian Malcolm: ‘life finds a way’.