The generic name is in honour of France de Lapparent 227 de Broin (MNHN), a great specialist in the study of Laurasiatic and Gondwanic fossil turtles, including among others numerous lineages of Pleurodira such as those present in Gadoufaoua. It comprises her name, France, alongside emys (Greek), meaning freshwater turtle.
Full reference: A. Pérez-García. 2019. The African Aptian Francemys gadoufaouaensis gen. et sp. nov.: new data on the early diversification of Pelomedusoides (Testudines, Pleurodira) in northern Gondwana. Cretaceous Research 102:112-126
Parent taxon: Pelomedusoides according to A. Pérez-García 2019
Sister taxa: Apodichelys, Araripemydidae, Caririemys, Chrysemys montolivensis, Itapecuruemys, Naiadochelys, Palaeaspis, Panpodocnemidae, Peiropemydidae, Pelomedusera, Podocnemidera, Podocnemidoidae, Podocnemidoidea, Sahonachelyidae, Taphrosphys dares
Subtaxa: Francemys gadoufaouaensis
Type: Francemys gadoufaouaensis
Ecology: amphibious omnivore
Distribution: found only at Niveau des Innocents, Gadoufaoua (Cretaceous of Niger)
Specimen images are retrieved through the ePANDDA API.
Click image to enlarge. Click to access iDigBio record.