devils toes nail

Devils Toenail Fossil

Gryphaea, common name devil’s toenails, is a form of extinct oyster. These fossils range from the Triassic period to mainly the Jurassic and are common in many parts of Britain.

The bivalve Gryphaea was nicknamed the Devil’s Toenail because its of its curved shape, marked with prominent growth bands. This resembles a thick toe with a toenail. It was believed these were made as the Devil clipped his toenails and were believed to cure arthritic joint pains.

For more information see our blog post Devils Toenail Gryphaea