In paleontology, a Lazarus taxon (plural taxa) is a taxon that disappears for one or more periods from the fossil record, only to appear again either in later fossil records, or as actual living organisms, and often in isolated, obscure, or otherwise very specialized habitats. Likewise in conservation biology and ecology, it can refer to species or populations that were mistakenly thought to be extinct, and are rediscovered to be still living.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> The term Lazarus taxon was coined by Karl W. Flessa and David Jablonski in 1983 and was then expanded by Jablonski in 1986.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> Paul Wignall and Michael Benton defined Lazarus taxa as, "At times of biotic crisis many taxa go extinct, but others only temporarily disappeared from the fossil record, often for intervals measured in millions of years, before reappearing unchanged".<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> Earlier work also supports the concept though without using the name Lazarus taxon, like work by Christopher R. C. Paul.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
Lazarus taxa are observational artifacts that appear to occur either because of (local) extinction, later resupplied, or as a sampling artifact. The fossil record is inherently sporadic (only a very small fraction of organisms become fossilized, and an even smaller fraction are discovered before destruction) and contains gaps not necessarily caused by extinction, particularly when the number of individuals in a taxon is very low.
After mass extinctions, such as the Permian–Triassic extinction event, the Lazarus effect occurred for many taxa. However, there appears to be no link with the abundance of fossiliferous sites and the proportion of Lazarus taxa, and no missing taxa have been found in potential refuges. Therefore, reappearance of Lazarus taxa probably reflects the rebound after a period of extreme rarity during the aftermath of such extinctions.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>
A zombie taxon is a taxon that contains specimens that have been collected from strata younger than the extinction of the taxon. Later such fossils turn out to be freed from the original seam and refossilized in a younger sediment. For example, a trilobite that gets eroded out of its Cambrian-aged limestone matrix, and reworked into Miocene-aged siltstone.
A ghost lineage is a pronounced gap in time for the fossil record of a group, indicating that the group continued evolving throughout the gap, without direct fossil evidence from within the gap. Lazarus taxa are a type of ghost lineage where extinction was originally assumed to occur within the gap, only for younger fossils or surviving members of the group to indicate otherwise.
A living fossil is an extant taxon that appears to have changed so little compared with fossil remains, that it is considered identical. Living fossils may occur regularly in the fossil record, such as the lampshell Lingula, though the living species in this genus are not identical to fossil brachiopods.<ref name='Emig'>Template:Cite journal</ref>
Other living fossils however are also Lazarus taxa if these have been missing from the fossil record for substantial periods of time, such as applies for coelacanths.
In paleovirology, divergent clades of genomic elements from presumably extinct viruses are often known only from host genomes. However, in some cases extant viruses have later been associated with these "fossil" elements, indicating Lazarus-like taxa. For example, a clade of paleoviruses from presumed extinct filoviruses found in shrews was later found to contain an extant filovirus (Tapajós virus, TAPV).<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>
Finally, the term "Lazarus species" is applied to organisms that have been rediscovered as being still alive after having been widely considered extinct for years, without ever having appeared in the fossil record. In this last case, the term Lazarus taxon is applied in neontology.
Bush dog (Speothos venaticus), last surviving species of the genus Speothos; first described as an extinct taxon in 1842 by Peter Wilhelm Lund, based on fossils uncovered from Brazilian caves; Lund found and described living specimens in 1843 without realizing they were of the same species as the fossils, dubbing the living bush dogs as members of the genus "Icticyon"; this was not corrected until some time in the 20th century.<ref>Template:YouTube. Ben G Thomas. 25 February 2018; 0:32</ref>
Chacoan peccary (Catagonus wagneri), last surviving species of the genus Catagonus; believed to be the closest living relative to the extinct genus Platygonus. First described as extinct in 1930 as fossils; live specimens found in 1974.<ref name='Naish'>Template:Cite web</ref>
False killer whale (Pseudorca crassidens), first described by the British paleontologist and biologist Richard Owen based on a skull discovered in 1843 found in Stamford, Lincolnshire in England and dated to the Middle Pleistocene around 126,000 years ago. The first carcasses washed up on the shores of Kiel Bay in Denmark in 1861; until this point the species was thought to be extinct.
Bulmer's fruit bat (Aproteles bulmerae), originally described from a Pleistocene garbage pile, it was subsequently discovered alive elsewhere in its native New Guinea.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
The arboreal chinchilla rats (Cuscomys spp.), which were originally described based on a single species (Cuscomys oblativus) known only from archaeological remains discovered in ancient Inca tombs described in 1912 and believed to be extinct for almost a century. A second species (Cuscomys ashaninka) was discovered alive in Peru in 1999, and photographs taken at Machu Picchu in 2009 suggest that C. oblativus is still alive as well.
Majorcan midwife toad (Alytes muletensis), in the family Alytidae, described from fossil remains in 1977, discovered alive in 1979.
Monito del monte (Dromiciops gliroides), sole surviving member of the order Microbiotheria; first described in 1894, thought to have gone extinct 11 million years ago.
Submyotodon, a genus of bat originally known from a single fossil species (S. petersbuchensis) described in 2003 from the Miocene of Germany, about 11 to 16 million years ago. In 2015, a phylogenetic analysis of bats from Taiwan and China found three species previously classified in Myotis (M. caliginosus, M. latirostris, and M. moupinensis) to be wholly distinct from any other member of Myotis, and instead more closely allied to the fossil Submyotodon, and thus reclassified them in Submyotodon, making the genus extant once more.<ref name="Ziegler 2003">Template:Cite journal</ref><ref name="Ruedi 2015">Template:Cite journal</ref>
Dawn redwood (Metasequoia), a genus of conifer, described as a fossil in 1941, rediscovered alive in 1944.
Wollemi pine (Wollemia), a genus of coniferous tree in the family Araucariaceae; previously known only from fossils from 2 to 90 million years ago, rediscovered in 1994.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
From Paleogene (66 to 23 million years ago)
Archaeidae, a family of spiders found in Madagascar, South Africa, and Australia, originally described from amber found in Europe, dating to the Eocene in the 1840. In 1881, the first living pelican spiders were discovered in Madagascar, and in 2003, Afarchaea grimaldii was described from CretaceousBurmese amber aged between 88 and 95 million years.
Lignobrycon, a characiform fish from southern Brazil, was originally described from well-preserved fossil remains from the late Oligocene in 1929. In 1998, the extant fish "Moojenichthys" myersi, described in 1956, was identified as belonging to the same genus as the fossil Lignobrycon.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
Juliidae, a family of small sea snails known only from eocene fossil shells, and not surprisingly, these fossils were interpreted as being the shells of bivalves. Until the mid-20th century, these creatures were still considered to be bivalves. Then, in 1959, living individuals of one species were collected on the green alga, Caulerpa, in Japan. It was immediately clear that these animals were, in fact, unusual gastropods with a two-part shell. The first-discovered live species of bivalved gastropod was Tamanovalva limax, described by Kawaguti & Baba (1959).<ref name="Kawaguti & Baba"/> Once the habitat, appearance, and life habits of these very small and inconspicuous animals were understood, researchers in subsequent years were able to find a number of other species and genera in different parts of the world, also living on various species of Caulerpa.
Coelacanth (Latimeria), a member of a subclass (Actinistia) thought to have gone extinct 66 million years ago; live specimens found in 1938.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Alavesia, a genus of Atelestid fly, originally discovered as a fossil in amber over 100 million years old in 1999, living species found in Namibia in 2010.
Monoplacophora, a class of molluscs believed to have gone extinct in the middle Devonian Period (c. 380 million years ago) until living members were discovered in deep water off Costa Rica in 1952.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>
From Cambrian (539 to 485 million years ago)
Schinderhannes bartelsi, an extinct Devonian member of the order Radiodonta. The discovery of its fossils in Devonian was astonishing because previously, radiodonts were known only from the Cambrian, 100 million years earlier.<ref name=Kuhl2009>Template:Cite journal</ref>
Molokai cyanea (Cyanea procera), in the bellflower family.
Mount Diablo buckwheat (Eriogonom truncatum), in the family Polygonaceae; thought to be extinct around 1935, but found again in 2005, then again in 2016.
Neglected tuft sedge (Bulbostylis neglecta), an endemic member of the family Cyperaceae; first collected in 1806, rediscovered in 2008.
Takhtajania perrieri, a genus of flowering plants in the family Winteraceae; first collected in 1909, rediscovered, and reclassified multiple times between 1963 and 1997.
Thismia kobensis, discovered in 1992 and described in 2010, rediscovered in 2021.
Thismia neptunis, discovered in 1866 and described in 1878, rediscovered in 2017.
Waterfall fountainbush (Psoralea cataracta), known from a single specimen collected in 1804, rediscovered over 200 years later in 2019.
Wood's hau kuahiwi (Hibiscadelphus woodii), a species of flowering plant in the family Malvaceae, declared extinct in 2016, and rediscovered three years later.
Yellow fatu (Abutilon pitcairnense), a species of plant in the family Malvaceae. The plant was once considered extinct until 2003.
Judean date palm, a distinct cultivar of date palm that disappeared around the 14th century, seeds dated from between 155 BC to 64 AD were found in the 1960s and were replanted in 2005.
Montreal melon, a common commercial plant in the 19th century that disappeared in the 1920s but was rediscovered after a couple of generations in a seed bank in 1996, replanted in 2024.
Giant Palouse earthworm (Driloleirus americanus), a species of earthworm belonging to the genus Driloleirus; thought extinct in the 1980s, but found again in 2006.<ref>"APNewsBreak: Idaho Scientists Find Fabled Worm," The New York Times, 27 April 2010.</ref>
Oregon giant earthworm (Driloleirus macelfreshi), a species of earthworm endemic to the state of Oregon; thought to be extinct in 1985, rediscovered in 2008.
Amani flatwing (Amanipodagrion gilliesi), last recorded in 1962, rediscovered in 2003, it is one of three species of damselfly on the list of the 100 Most Endangered Species in the World published in 2012.
Basilewsky's cranefly (Dicranomyia basilewskyana), last seen in the 1960's, rediscovered in 2015 when one landed on an entomologist in Saint Helena.
Bone skipper fly (Thyreophora cynophila), last seen in 1850 before being photographed in Spain in 2009.<ref>Miguel Carles-Tolrá, Pablo C. Rodríguez & Julio Verdú (2010). "Thyreophora cynophila (Panzer, 1794): collected in Spain 160 years after it was thought to be extinct (Diptera: Piophilidae: Thyreophorini)". Boletín de la Sociedad Entomológica Aragonesa (S.E.A.) 46: 1–7.</ref>
Balkan mountain frost butterfly (Lignyoptera thaumastaria), last seen in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1937, and in 1982 in Montenegro, was rediscovered in Bosnia in 2023.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Ceres stream-damsel (Spesbona angusta), known from only two specimens with the last being collected in 1920 near Ceres, rediscovered in 2003.
Chersadaula ochrogastra, rediscovered in 2020 after a user from iNaturalist posted pictures of the species, being the first time it had been recorded since the 1920s.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Leichhardt's grasshopper (Petasida ephippigera), thought to be extinct from 1900 until 1971, when a single male specimen was spotted, followed by a breeding pair shortly afterwards.
Leptochilus quintus, a species of potter wasp known from a single specimen collected in 1885 in Podvežica, a part of the nowadays Rijeka in Croatia, rediscovered when six males were collected on the mountain of Mosor in 2021.
Lestes patricia, a species of damselfly discovered in 1924. Only a single male specimen was collected during the discovery. The species was feared extinct until 2020 where it was rediscovered.
Lord Howe Island stick insect (Dryococelus australis), thought to be extinct by 1920, rediscovered in 2001 on Ball's Pyramid, the species is sometimes considered "the rarest insect in the world".
Miena jewel beetle (Castiarina insculpta), last seen in 1965, rediscovered in 2004.
Mono Lake diving beetle (Hygrotus artus), known from the holotype collected in 1919 falsely labeled as being collected from Lake Mono, rediscovered in 2017.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Monte Gordo grasshopper (Eyprepocprifas insularis), only known from a single specimen collected in 1980 and declared extinct in 1996, rediscovered in 2023.
Olinga fumosa, known from a single specimen collected in Waitati in 1917, rediscovered in 1992.
Oricopis insulana, last seen in the 1880s on Lord Howe Island, rediscovered in 2017.
Oriental blue clearwing (Heterosphecia tawonoides), known from a single specimen collected in 1887 and formally described in 2003, the species was rediscovered in 2013.
Palos Verdes blue (Glaucopsyche lygdamus palosverdesensis), last seen in 1983, rediscovered in 1994.
Rottnest bee (Hesperocolletes douglasi), known from a single specimen collected on Rottnest Island in 1938, rediscovered in 2015.
Saint Francis's satyr (Neonympha mitchellii francisci), discovered in 1980 and believed to go extinct shortly after, rediscovered in 1992 in Fort Bragg, a military base in North Carolina.
Schizodactylus inexspectatus, a dune-inhabiting cricket from Turkey, known from a single specimen seen in 1901 and presumed extinct until it was found again in 2005.
Velvety stonian horsefly (Stonemyia velutina), thought to be extinct in 1996 after no sightings of the species since 1942, rediscovered in 2023.
Wallace's giant bee (Megachile pluto), the world's largest bee. Not seen after 1858, when it was first collected, until it was rediscovered in 1981, and thought to be extinct again until 2019.<ref name="messer">Template:Cite journal</ref>
Sierra Leone river crab(Afrithelphusa leonensis), recorded from three specimens in Sierra Leone in 1955, and Afzelius's crab(Afrithelphusa afzelii), recorded from two specimens from before 1800 in Sierra Leone, both rediscovered in 2021 by biologist Pierre Mvogo Ndongo.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Shelta Cave crayfish (Orconectes sheltae), described in 1997 after last being seen in 1988, rediscovered in 2019.
Arachnids
Chrysilla volupe, described from a male specimen in 1879, rediscovered in 2018.
Black kokanee (Oncorhynchus kawamurae), a Japanese species of salmon in the family Salmonidae; believed extinct in 1940 after attempts at conservation seemingly failed. The species was rediscovered in Saiko Lake in 2010, having survived after prior conservation efforts had introduced it there.
Borna snakehead (Channa amphibeus), a snakehead species last seen in 1933, later rediscovered in 2025.
Borneo shark (Carcharhinus borneensis), known from only five specimens collected before 1937, rediscovered in Sabah and Sarawak in 2004.
Dumbéa River pipefish (Microphis cruentus), described in 1981 from individuals captured in 1944, not seen until photos of the species were posted to iNaturalist in 2020.
Estuarine pipefish (Syngnathus watermeyeri), declared extinct in 1994, rediscovered in 2006 in a place it had not been reported in for over four decades.
Flapnose houndshark (Scylliogaleus quecketti), not seen by biologists since 1902, one was captured in 2020 on the show Extinct or Alive.
Ganges shark (Glyphis gangeticus), the world's sole freshwater shark found in the Ganges River and Brahmaputra River in India and Bangladesh; previously only known from three museum specimens caught in the early 19th century, but was rediscovered at a fish market in Mumbai in February 2016.
Giant salmon carp (Aaptosyax grypus), a carp species feared extinct in 2004, rediscovered in 2022.
Giant featherback (Chitala lopis), declared extinct in 2020, rediscovered at the type locality in 2023.
Haplochromis microdon, a cichlid species endemic to Lake Victoria, last seen in 1985, rediscovered when two males were found in 2023 and 2024.
Mesopotamian barbel (Luciobarbus subquincunciatus), a barbel species last seen in 2012, later rediscovered in 2024.
Miller Lake lamprey (Entosphenus minimus), a lamprey species endemic to the U.S. state of Oregon thought to be extinct after eradication efforts in 1958, until it was rediscovered in 1992.
Ornate sleeper-ray (Electrolux addisoni), first recorded in 1984 but was not described until 2007.
Shortnose cisco (Coregonus reighardi), a whitefish species last seen in 1985, was rediscovered in 2024 in Lake Superior, where it is not previously known to have lived.
Smoothtooth blacktip shark (Carcharhinus leiodon), a species of requiem shark, in the family Carcharhinidae; known only from a specimen caught in 1902, the shark was rediscovered at a fish market in 2008.
Speartooth shark (Glyphis glyphis), discovered in 1839, not seen again until 1982.
Alsodes vittatus, a frog in the family Alsodidae; last seen in 1893 until it was rediscovered in 2024.
American cinchona plantation treefrog (Isthmohyla rivularis), a rare species of frog in the family Hylidae; thought to have become extinct by 1988, until its rediscovery in 2007.
Armoured frog (Litoria lorica), a species of frog in the family Hylidae; thought to have gone extinct in 1991 until its rediscovery in 2008.
Black jumping salamander (Ixalotriton niger), a species of salamander in the family Plethodontidae; believed to be extinct, until rediscovered in 2000 and again in 2006 and 2007.
Cave splayfoot salamander (Chiropterotriton mosaueri), no sightings of this species after 1943, rediscovered in 2010.
Chalazodes bubble-nest frog (Philautus chalazodes), a species of frog in the family Rhacophoridae; no verifiable reports of this species after 1874 and was presumed extinct until its rediscovery in 2011.
Guttman's Stream frog (Pulchrana guttmani), feared to be extinct for 27 years until its rediscovery in 2020.
Hula painted frog (Discoglossus nigriventer), the only living member of the genus Latonia; thought to be extinct in the 1950s, until it was rediscovered in 2011.
Jambato harlequin frog (Atelopus ignescens), a species of toad in the family Bufonidae; thought to be extinct since its last recorded sighting in 1988, until its rediscovery in 2016.<ref name="MongabayLATAM" />
Large-crested toad (Incilius cristatus), a critically endangered species of true toad in the family Bufonidae; thought to be extinct until its rediscovery in 1999.
Longnose stubfoot toad (Atelopus longirostris), Not recorded in1989 rediscovered. in March 2016.
Omaniundu reed frog (Hyperolius sankuruensis), last seen in 1979, rediscovered in 2010.
Painted frog (Atelopus ebenoides marinkellei), a species of true toad in the family Bufonidae, believed to be extinct since 1995, until it was rediscovered in 2006.
Peru Andes frog (Noblella peruviana), last seen in 1900, rediscovered in 2014.
Rio Santa Rosa salamander (Bolitoglossa digitigrada), a species of salamander in the family Plethodontidae. The species hasn't been seen since 1982 and feared extinct until it was rediscovered in 2022.
Romer's tree frog (Liuixalus romeri), thought to be extinct in 1953 after a cave on Lamma Island collapsed, rediscovered in 1984.
San Lorenzo harlequin toad (Atelopus nahumae), a species of toad in the family Bufonidae; thought to be extinct after there were no sightings after 1992, rediscovered in 2006
San Lorenzo stubfoot toad (Atelopus laetissimus) a species of toad in the family Bufonidae; last seen in 1992, rediscovered in 2006
Sambas stream toad (Ansonia latidisca) in the family Bufonidae; first discovered in 1924, until its rediscovery in 2011.
Starry night toad (Atelopus arsyecue), not seen for over 30 years until rediscovery in 2019.
Sumatra toad (Bufo sumatranus), a species of toad in the family Bufonidae.
Abyssinian genet (Genetta abyssinica), a genet species endemic to Abyssinia, last seen in the 1950s until it was rediscovered in 2016
Attenborough's long-beaked echidna (Zaglossus attenboroughi), echidna species found in Cyclops Mountains of Papua New Guinea; formerly last seen in 1962 and believed to be possibly extinct, until it was recorded again in November 2023.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Bavarian pine vole (Microtus bavaricus), is a vole in the family Cricetidae; believed extinct in the 1960s, until it was rediscovered in 2000.
Black-footed ferret (Mustela nigripes), a North American species presumed extinct in 1979 until it was rediscovered in 1981. A captive breeding program of the discovered ferrets successfully reintroduced the species into the wild.
Black lion tamarin (Leontopithecus chrysopygus), last seen in 1905, rediscovered in 1970.
Brazilian arboreal mouse (Rhagomys rufescens), a South American rodent species of the family Cricetidae; first described in 1886, was believed to be extinct for over one hundred years.
Brown hairy dwarf porcupine (Coendou vestitus), a South American porcupine species; last recorded in 1925, until its rediscovery in 1989.
Bouvier's red colobus (Piliocolobus bouvieri), a species of colobus monkey rediscovered in 2015.
Bridled nail-tail wallaby (Onychogalea fraenata), a vulnerable species of macropod; thought to be extinct since the last confirmed sighting in 1937, but rediscovered in 1973.
Central rock rat (Zyzomys pedunculatus), thought to be extinct in 1990, until it was rediscovered in 2001, then the species went unrecorded until 2013.
Gilbert's potoroo (Potorous gilbertii), extremely rare Australian mammal presumed extinct from the 19th century until 1994.
Heavy-browed mouse opossum (Marmosa andersoni), known from a single individual collected in 1954, until its rediscovery in 1997.
Hills' horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus hillorum), a rare species of bat in the family Rhinolophidae last seen in 1981, rediscovered in 2022.
Hispid hare (Caprolagus hispidus), rediscovered in 1971.
Humboldt marten (Martes caurina humboldtensis), subspecies of the Pacific marten thought to be extinct until rediscovered in 1996 on remote camera traps in the Six Rivers National Forest in northern California.
Julia Creek dunnart (Sminthopsis douglasi), thought to be extinct until it was rediscovered in the 1990s.
Leadbeater's possum (Gymnobelideus leadbeateri), thought to be extinct until 1965.
New Guinea big-eared bat (Pharotis imogene), previously, the species was believed to have been extinct since 1890, when it was last spotted. In 2012, researchers realised that a female bat collected near Kamali was a member of this species.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Pinatubo volcano mouse (Apomys sacobianus), known only from a single type specimen in a museum collection, a 2021 paper revealed field surveys in 2011 and 2012 found it to be common in its habitat.
Pu Hoat muntjac (Muntiacus puhoatensis), last seen in 1929, rediscovered in 1999.
Red-crested tree-rat(Santamartamys rufodorsalis), recorded from two specimens in Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta range, Colombia in 1898 and 1913; believed extinct until a specimen was photographed in the same location in 2011.
Riverine rabbit (Bunolagus monticularis), thought extinct in 1947, rediscovered in 1979.
Roosevelt's muntjac (Muntiacus rooseveltorum), it was re-discovered in Xuan Lien Nature Reserve in Vietnam's Thanh Hoa province in 2014.
Tammar wallaby (Notamacropus eugenii), the mainland Australian subspecies was presumed extinct from 1925 until genetically matched with invasive wallabies in New Zealand in 1998.
Vanzolini's bald-faced saki (Pithecia vanzolinii), first seen in 1937, the species wasn't seen again until it was rediscovered in 2017.
Vietnam mouse-deer (Tragulus versicolor), last known from a specimen acquired from hunters in 1990, not seen again for nearly 30 years until multiple individuals were sighted with camera-trap photographs in a 2019 survey of prospective habitat.
Wondiwoi tree-kangaroo (Dendrolagus mayri), known from a single specimen from 1928, rediscovered in 2018.
Woolly flying squirrel (Eupetaurus cinereus), known only from pelts collected in Pakistan in the late 19th century, until live specimens were collected in the 1990s.
Fernandina Island Galápagos tortoise (Chelonoidis phantasticus), only known from a single male specimen in 1906 and putative droppings and bite marks throughout the 20th century up to the 2010s. A female individual was rediscovered on the island on an expedition in 2019 for the Animal Planet show Extinct or Alive.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
New Ireland monitor (Varanus douarrha), described in 1830, feared extinct until rediscovery in 2017
Peter's ameiva (Holcosus orcesi), last seen in 1959, but rediscovered in 2021.
Rio Apaporis caiman (Caiman crocodilus apaporiensis), believed to have become extinct by 1981, when the last known specimen died in a zoo. However, a specimen was captured in an expedition by Colombian conservation biologist Sergio Balaguera-Reina in 2018.
Saint Lucia Racer (Erythrolamprus ornatus), rediscovered in 1973 after not being seen for 37 years.
Southern river terrapin (Batagur affinis), thought to have disappeared from Cambodia until it was rediscovered in 2001.
Terror skink (Phoboscincus bocourti), a 50-cm-long lizard, was previously known from a single specimen captured around 1870 and was long presumed extinct. In 2003, on a tiny islet, it was rediscovered.
Voeltzkow's chameleon (Furcifer voeltzkowi), rediscovered in 2018, having last been seen in 1893.
Berlepsch's parotia (Parotia berlepschi), known only from four specimen 1985, rediscovered in 2005.
Bermuda petrel or "cahow" (Pterodroma cahow), thought extinct since 1620 until 18 nesting pairs were found in 1951 on an uninhabited rock outcropping in Bermuda. Bermudian David B. Wingate has devoted his life to bringing the birds back, and in the 2011—12 breeding season they passed 100-pairs.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
Bismarck Kingfisher (Ceyx websteri), last seen in 2012, rediscovered in Papua New Guinea's Bismarck Archipelago in 2025<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Black-naped pheasant pigeon (Otidiphaps nobilis insularis), only seen once in 1882 and was only known from artwork and the holotype specimen, rediscovered in 2022 on Fergusson Island.
Cebu flowerpecker (Dicaeum quadricolor), Feared to have become extinct early in the 20th century, it was rediscovered in 1992 in a small patch of limestone forest in the Central Cebu Protected Landscape.
Chinese crested tern (Thalasseus bernsteini), feared extinct in the mid-late 20th century for over 6 decades until a small breeding colony was found in 2000.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Cone-billed tanager (Conothraupis mesoleuca), feared extinct after no sightings after 1983, but rediscovered in a gallery forest in Emas National Park in 2003.
Forest owlet (Heteroglaux blewitti), assumed extinct in the 19th century, but rediscovered in central India in 1997.
Giant ibis (Thaumatibis gigantea), last seen in 1962 and feared extinct soon after, rediscovered in 1993.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Gilliard's Honeyeater (Vosea whitemanensis), first discovered in 1958, seen again in 1979, only to disappear again until 1999, not seen again until 2023.
Golden-fronted bowerbird (Amblyornis flavifrons), Originally described in 1895 based on trade skins, remained a mystery for nearly a hundred years, until 31 January 1981 when the American ornithologist Jared Diamond discovered the home ground at the Foja Mountains in the Papua province of Indonesia. Photographed in December 2005.
Green broadbill (Calyptomena viridis), it was declared extinct since 1941 but it was rediscovered on June 27, 2021.
Grey-winged cotinga (Lipaugus conditus), last seen in 1942, rediscovered in 1980.
Guadalcanal moustached kingfisher (Actenoides bougainvillei excelsus), known from three females collected between 1920-1953, until a male a captured in 2015.
Gurney's pitta (Hydrornis gurneyi), first described in 1875, rediscovered in 1986.
Jambandu indigobird (Vidua raricola), no sighting of the species after 2008 raised concerns of the species extinction, until it was photographed in Sierra Leone in 2021.
Kaempfer's woodpecker (Celeus obrieni), a Brazilian woodpecker feared extinct after no specimen had been found since its discovery in 1926. Rediscovered in 2006.
Kangean tit-babbler (Mixornis prillwitzi), last documented in 2010, rediscovered in 2023.
Large-billed reed-warbler (Acrocephalus orinus), a warbler rediscovered in Thailand in 2006, previous known only from a specimen collected in India in 1867.
Long-legged warbler (Trichocichla rufa), first collected in 1890 and four specimens were collected between then and 1894, after which the species was not seen again until 1974.
Long-whiskered owlet (Xenoglaux loweryi), described from specimens collected in 1976, rediscovered in 2002 by audio recordings, then seen in the wild for the first time in 2007.
Madagascar serpent eagle (Eutriorchis astur), rediscovered in 1993, sixty years since the previous sighting.
Madagascar pochard (Aythya innotata), thought extinct since 1991 until a small group were spotted in 2006.
Magdalena tinamou (Crypturellus erythropus saltuarius), no confirmed sightings after 1943, though locals reported the species until the 1990's, rediscovered in 2023.
Magenta petrel (Pterodroma magentae), last seen in 1867 and was feared to be extinct, until its rediscovery in 1978.
Manipur bush quail (Perdicula manipurensis), last seen in 1932, rediscovered in 2006 in Assam.
Omani owl (Strix butleri), described and last seen in 1873, rediscovered in 2015.
Peruvian solitaire (Cichlopsis leucogenys peruviana), no documented records after 2013 until its rediscovery in 2024.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Pohnpei starling (Aplonis pelzelni), last seen in 1956 when ornithologist Joe T. Marshall shot two specimens on Pohnpei, rediscovered in 1995 when a female was shot during a herpetological expedition.
Rufous-fronted antthrush (Formicarius rufifrons), known from a few specimens collected in 1955 and later described in 1957, rediscovered in 1983.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Rusty thicketbird (Cincloramphus rubiginosus), last seen in 2009, later rediscovered in 2023.
Sangihe scops owl (Otus collari), last seen in 1867, rediscovered in 1985.
Santa Marta sabrewing (Campylopterus phainopeplus), last seen in 1946, later rediscovered in 2010 before going missing for another 12 years and was rediscovered in 2022.
São Tomé fiscal (Lanius newtoni), . There were records of sightings in 1888 and again in 1928. Another individual was sighted in 1990.
São Tomé grosbeak (Neospiza concolor), known only from three nineteenth-century specimens. It was rediscovered in 1991.
São Tomé ibis (Bostrychia bocagei), last recorded in 1928, rediscovered in 1990.
Satanic nightjar (Eurostopodus diabolicus), discovered in 1931, only known from a few unconfirmed reports until it was identified in 1996 in Lore Lindu National Park.
Short-tailed albatross (Phoebastria albatrus), assumed to be extinct and research became impossible with the outbreak of World War II. Rediscovered in 1949.
Sillem's rosefinch (Carpodacus sillemi), last seen in 1929, photographed in 2012.
Silvery pigeon (Columba argentina), confirmed photographically in 2008.
Sira barbet (Capito fitzpatricki), formally described in 2012, rediscovered in 2024.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Sira curassow (Pauxi koepckeae), known from only two specimens collected in 1969, rediscovered in 2000.
Sumatran ground cuckoo (Carpococcyx viridis), known from eight specimens and was last seen in 1916, rediscovered in 1997.
Takahē (Porphyrio hochstetteri), assumed extinct in 1898 but found again in 1948.
Togo yellow-billed barbet (Trachylaemus goffinii togoensis), no documented sightings between 2011 and 2022.
Unicolored thrush (Turdus haplochrous), no sightings between 2013 and 2024.
Urich's tyrannulet (Phyllomyias urichi), feared extinct in the 1940s until it was rediscovered in 2005, disappeared again until it was rediscovered again in 2021.
White-winged guan (Penelope albipennis), known from three specimens collected in 1876 and 1877. It was not positively seen again until 1977.
White-winged potoo (Nyctibius leucopterus), last seen in 1817, rediscovered in 1985.
White-tailed tityra (Tityra leucura), feared extinct after there were no sightings of the species after 1829, rediscovered almost 200 years later in 2006 near the Madeira River.
Georgia pigtoe (Pleurobema hanleyianum), rediscovered in 2003 after being listed as extinct by the IUCN in the Conasauga River in Georgia and Tennessee.
Greater Bermuda land snail (Poecilozonites bermudensis), last recorded sighting made in the early 1970s, rediscovered in City of Hamilton alleyway in 2014.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Lesser Bermuda land snail (Poecilozonites circumfirmatus), last recorded sighting made in the early 1970s, rediscovered in 2002 found a clutch of survivors in Gould's old sites. Several dozen snails were sent to London to aid their propagation.
Oblong rocksnail (Leptoxis compacta), not seen since 1933 and declared extinct in 2000, rediscovered in 2011.
Teardrop elimia (Elimia lachryma), last seen in the 1950's or 1960's but rediscovered in 2005.
Discussions
Because its definition is ambiguous, some, like R. B. Rickards and A. J. Wright, reject the very concept of the Lazarus taxon. Rickards and Wright have questioned the usefulness of the concept, writing in "Lazarus taxa, refugia and relict faunas: evidence from graptolites" that anyone could argue that any gap in the fossil record could potentially be considered a Lazarus effect because the duration required for the Lazarus effect is not defined.<ref name="RICKARDS 1–4">Template:Cite journal</ref> They have argued that accurate plotting of biodiversity changes and species abundance through time, coupled with an appraisal of their palaeobiogeography, is more important than using this title to categorize species.<ref name="RICKARDS 1–4"/>
Communication and education
The lack of public engagement around environmental issues has led conservationists to attempt newer communication strategies. One of them is the focus on positive messages, of which Lazarus species are an important part.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> One conservation outreach project that has focused exclusively on species rediscoveries is the Lost & Found project which aims to tell the stories of species once thought extinct but that were subsequently rediscovered.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
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