Finding zombies, ghosts and Elvis in the fossil record

When there ’s no more room in fossil hell, do the dead walk the earth again?Now that Easter is over, we ’re firmly in Halloween now right through until the end of October. So what better time to tenuously justify taking a look at some paranormal concepts in palaeontology and biology such as ghosts, zombies and, err ... Elvis. Not actual ghosts, you understand, although there is much research needed into why we don’t see ghosts of graptolites andSinotubulitesmore often*.Recently, there have been a number of high-profile discoveries of species known better from fossil relative remains than living animals, and sightings of not-so-long extinct animals. It ’s therefore timely to take a look at some of the horror-themed terms in palaeobiology used to described species and lineages that are apparently out of place.Continue reading...
Source: Guardian Unlimited Science - Category: Science Authors: Tags: Fossils Science Evolution Biology Source Type: news