Fontainechelon is an extinct genus of testudinid from Saint Papoul, France during the Early Eocene. It is known from a single species, F. cassouleti.
Fontainechelon is the oldest European testudinid, and the most basal of all testudinids.
Etymology It was named after Jean de La Fontaine, alluding to some of his fables in which the protagonist was a tortoise.
Taxonomy Fontainechelon cassouleti was historically considered a species of Achilemys. The genus Achilemys is now restricted to North America. Fontainechelon was found to be the most basal of all testudinids.
Description The species is known primarily from the holotype, which includes a partial carapace, a complete plastron, the right humerus, and the left femur. There are also several highly fragmentary referred specimens. The holotype had an estimated shell length of 37 cm.
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