Pistolikutes

Pistolikutes is a genus of extinct gymnophionan amphibians that lived during the Early Cretaceous period, around 125-100 million years ago. The name Pistolikutes is derived from the Greek words pistola, meaning "gun-like" or "pistol", and likutikos, a suffix indicating a resemblance.

The genus was first described in 1974 by French paleontologist Paul Tassy. Only one species, Pistolikutes sp., has been recognized within the genus, although additional specimens have been found in various locations across Europe and North America. These fossils have allowed researchers to gain insight into the evolution of gymnophionan amphibians, a group characterized by their limbless bodies and largely aquatic lifestyles.

Pistolikutes specimens are typically small to medium-sized, measuring between 10-30 centimeters in length. Their fossilized remains have been found with both preserved skeleton and skin impressions, providing valuable information about their anatomy and behavior. The genus is thought to have been more widespread than initially believed, with findings in both marine and terrestrial sediments.

Physiognomically, Pistolikutes is distinguished from other gymnophionans by its short, rudimentary limbs and tail. Contrasting this, however, are the complex, segmented vertebrae found in this genus. Studies suggest that Pistolikutes may have been an ancestor to the modern gymnophionans, exhibiting transitional morphological features that blend those of other extinct groups with those of modern species.

Despite its apparent evolutionary significance, Pistolikutes is relatively poorly represented in the fossil record, necessitating further research to understand the full scope of its biology and relationships within the gymnophionan clade.