Francemys, a new side-necked turtle from Niger

[Halichoeres]

The pelomedusoids (or pelomedusids, if you prefer), are a family of side-necked turtles restricted to Africa and the southern Arabian peninsula. Here's a new genus and species, Francemys gadoufaouensis ("France's freshwater turtle from Gadoufaoua"), named after France de Lapparent de Broin, a specialist in fossil turtles. It was found in Aptian (lower Cretaceous rock) in Niger, and adds to the relatively sparse Mesozoic record of this particular clade of turtles.

Some shells:


Paper (open access in Cretaceous Research): https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0195667118305226

[BlueKrono]

I like turtles.

[Halichoeres]

I like turtles.

I don't trust anyone who doesn't.

I hope that zombie turtle kid grows up to be a herpetologist.