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Titanochelon punicum
Taxonomy
Testudo punica was named by Arambourg (1979). Its type specimen is MNHN.F 1948-2-39 , a limb element (left femur), and it is a 3D body fossil. Its type locality is Ichkeul, which is in a Pliocene terrestrial horizon in Tunisia.
It was recombined as Centrochelys punica by de Lapparent de Broin (2000), Georgalis et al. (2021); it was recombined as Titanochelon punicum by Vlachos (2025).
It was recombined as Centrochelys punica by de Lapparent de Broin (2000), Georgalis et al. (2021); it was recombined as Titanochelon punicum by Vlachos (2025).
Sister species lacking formal opinion data
Synonymy list
| Year | Name and author |
|---|---|
| 1979 | Testudo punica Arambourg |
| 2000 | Centrochelys punica de Lapparent de Broin |
| 2021 | Centrochelys punica Georgalis et al. |
| 2025 | Titanochelon punicum Vlachos |
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If no rank is listed, the taxon is considered an unranked clade in modern classifications. Ranks may be repeated or presented in the wrong order because authors working on different parts of the classification may disagree about how to rank taxa.
†Titanochelon punicum Arambourg 1979
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Diagnosis
| Reference | Diagnosis | |
|---|---|---|
| G. L. Georgalis et al. 2021 | “Centrochelys” punica can be diagnosed as a member of Testudinidae and Geochelona by the full list of appendicular characters provided for these clades above. “Centrochelys” punica can be differentiated from other species of geochelonans by its giant size (estimated carapace length 150–200 cm), distal part of the femur widely forward curved and head longer than great trochanter (also in “Centrochelys” burchardi), and a long and robust tibia. | |
| E. Vlachos 2025 | The Ichkeul tortoise “Testudo” punica can be referred to Testudinidae based on the proximal fusion of the trochanters of the femur. It belongs to Geochelonini based on the articular surface of the femoral head extends towards the major trochanter, but it never reaches it nor it is connected with a ridge. Similar to the massive femur of the Samos tortoise Titanochelon schafferi from which it differs on the rounded major trochanter proximally, the slightly more curve diaphysis, and the less expanded tibial and fibular condyles distally. |
Measurements
No measurements are available
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| Source: f = family, c = class, subp = subphylum | |||||
| References: Carroll 1988, Ernst and Barbour 1989, Hendy et al. 2009 | |||||
Age range: Early/Lower Pliocene or 5.33300 to 3.60000 Ma
Collections: one only
| Time interval | Ma | Country or state | Original ID and collection number |
|---|---|---|---|
| Early/Lower Pliocene | Tunisia (Bizerte ) | Testudo punica (type locality: 211247) |