Devils Toenail's 'Gryphaea'

Also known as devil’s toenail fossils, these are an extinct species of oyster commonly found in England. Folklore says they were created when the devil clipped his toenails, due to their curved, ridged appearance resembling a nail.

They lived in large colonies in warm shallow waters, sitting on the sea floor with their shells half-buried in the mud. Each fossil measures approximately 5-7 cm.

This genuine Jurassic specimen, around 200 million years old, is part of our website exclusive fossils collection.