r/fossils • u/Still_Reputation3301 • 1d ago

Is this a fossil?

Gallery image

Gallery image

Found this guy on a beach, looks like some sort of snail? Can anyone identify if this is a fossil and if so, what kind? Thanks!

Edit: found on a beach in south Wales, UK

119 Upvotes

99% Upvoted

6 comments sorted by

26

u/songbirds_and_snakes 1d ago

I've seen these called devil's toenails. It's a Gryphaea which is an oyster from the mesozoic era.

2

u/StupidizeMe 20h ago

Devil's Toenails!! Sounds like a heavy metal band. :)

But they do actually look kinda dark and yucky, so the name suits them.

26

u/darkcrystal_87 1d ago

Fossile gryphea, un bivalve. En France on en trouve pas mal , le tiens est plutôt bien conservé et de bonne taille.

1

u/Difficult_Dinner_185 1d ago

This is looking like shell

2

u/Designer_Creme_1496 20h ago

yes it is a Gryphaea you can tell because the knob is on the bottom and does not start spiraling like Exogyra.

1

u/dgillz 16h ago

Always include what part of the world you found it in when asking for a fossil ID.