Optilistels

Optilistels are a genus of extinct reptiles that lived during the Early Cretaceous period. They were discovered in the early 21st century in a formation in North Africa. The name optilistels is derived from the Greek words "optos," meaning visible, and "steles," meaning pillars, referring to the animal's unique skeletal features.

Optilistels were characterized by their elongated bodies and columnar limbs, which were adapted for a terrestrial or possibly arboreal lifestyle. They were relatively small, with estimated body lengths ranging from 30 to 60 centimeters. Fossil evidence suggests that optilistels were likely carnivorous or omnivorous, with powerful jaws and conical teeth adapted for crushing and piercing prey.

The most distinctive feature of optilistels is their distinctive skeletal anatomy. They possessed a unique arrangement of axial vertebrae, with a long series of rigid, keel-like projections on the vertebrae that formed a series of pillars, or stelae. These stelae likely provided support and strength to the animal's long, slender body.

Only a few fossils of optilistels have been discovered, with most comprising incomplete or fragmentary specimens. However, based on these finds, scientists have reconstructed the animal's overall morphology and inferred its ecological niche. The discoverers of optilistels speculate that these animals may have played a unique role in their ancient ecosystem, perhaps as a specialized predator or scavenger. Further research is needed to fully understand the biology and evolution of this enigmatic genus of reptiles.