Reptilia - Testudines - Podocnemididae

Derivation of name. The species epithet derives from the Kurdish name (Lelun) of the highland area where the fossil was found, also known as Mount Semaan. Lelun may refer to the olive fruit before ripening (LeLun), meaning excessive bitterness, or stem from LeyLan, which denotes a mirage. Another possible origin is Lulan, meaning twisting or crescent-shaped, a characteristic that aligns with the mountain's crescent-like form on its western end (Barakat 2006).

Full reference: W. A. Alhalabi, D. J. Martucci Neto, G. S. Ferreira, I. Bou Jaoude, H. M. Naser, J. Ayoub, L. Abboud, R. Shati, E. A. M. Koutsoukos and M. C. Langer. 2025. Recovering lost time in Syria: a new Eocene stereogenyin turtle from the Aleppo Plateau. Papers in Palaeontology 11(4):1-14

Belongs to Syriemys according to W. A. Alhalabi et al. 2025

Sister taxa: none

Type specimen: GEGMRD 0002, a partial shell (an internal shell cast, but also includes parts of the entoplastron, the right hyoplastron, and both epi-, hypo- and xiphiplastra. The right and left pelvic bon). Its type locality is Al-Zarefeh Quarry, which is in an Eocene coastal limestone in Syria.

Ecology: aquatic herbivore-carnivore

Distribution: found only at Al-Zarefeh Quarry

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Specimen images are retrieved through the ePANDDA API.