Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jun 20, 2026

Litakis

Litakis is an extinct genus of lizard from the Late Cretaceous of Wyoming. It was named in 1964 by American paleontologist Richard Estes for partial jaw bones found in the Lance Formation showing unique tooth anatomy, stored in the collections of the University of California Museum of Paleontology. The uniqueness of the tooth anatomy led Estes to suggest it was possibly related to Cteniogenys and a questionable member of Eolacertilia, though it would be the youngest member of the group.

Last revised
Jun 20, 2026
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Litakis
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Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Genus: Litakis
Estes, 1964
Type species
Litakis gilmorei
Estes, 1964

Litakis is an extinct genus of lizard from the Late Cretaceous of Wyoming. It was named in 1964 by American paleontologist Richard Estes for partial jaw bones found in the Lance Formation showing unique tooth anatomy, stored in the collections of the University of California Museum of Paleontology. The uniqueness of the tooth anatomy led Estes to suggest it was possibly related to Cteniogenys and a questionable member of Eolacertilia, though it would be the youngest member of the group.1

References

References

  1. Estes, R. (1983). "Part 10A. Sauria terrestria, Amphisbaenia". In Kuhn, O. (ed.). Handbuch der Palaoherpetologie. Gustav Fischer Verlag. p. 210.