The word: Elvis taxon

GETTING to grips with the fossil record can be a headache. When it comes to understanding how the various species fit in, palaeontologists need patience, creativity – and a touch of humour. Take the seemingly clear-cut case of extinction which, it turns out, isn’t always as clear-cut as you might think. Animals that have apparently vanished from the fossil record can seem to reappear after a long hiatus. Often the vanished creature or a close relative has indeed returned. Sometimes, though, the new discovery is a different species entirely, but closely resembles one that went before. Palaeontologists describe such a…