chelonophobia - what is it?!

<All his live [...] Victor had had a phobia. A teacher at college to whom he had been unwise enough to mention it had called it chelonophobia, which he claimed to have made up from the Greek. He made stupid cracks about it whenever the opportunity arose, such as when the Principla's catwandered into the lecture room one day or when someone was discussing 'Alice in Wonderland'>

Ruth Rendell Live Flesh

The word gets 1 Google hit: an online forum in which somebody says that it means "fear of turtles".

An online translator informs me that the Greek word for "turtle" is "χελώνα" (chelona), so yes, it must mean fear of turtles.

According to the excerption, it more likely would be fear of cats, wouldn't it?

OK. I will keep on reading, maybe it will get more clear then.

Sorry, I forgot to thank you, Lazar.

<<According to the excerption, it more likely would be fear of cats, wouldn't it?>>

Nope; fear of cats is ailurophobia.

<<Sorry, I forgot to thank you, Lazar.>>

No problem. ;-)

"An online translator informs me that the Greek word for "turtle" is "χελώνα" (chelona), so yes, it must mean fear of turtles."

Indeed. Χελώνα (chelona) = turtle, φοβία (phobia) = fear. Fear of turtles it is.

What about "phopinaciphobia"? Does anyone have that?

According to wiktionary, "Fear of phobia lists". But it sounds like someone just trying to be smart.