Gryphaea: Difference between revisions
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{{Unreferenced|date=June 2008}} |
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{{Taxobox |
{{Taxobox |
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| name = ''Gryphaea'' |
| name = ''Gryphaea'' |
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| image = Devil's toenails.JPG |
| image = Devil's toenails.JPG |
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| image_width = 240px |
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| regnum = [[Animal]]ia |
| regnum = [[Animal]]ia |
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| phylum = [[Mollusca]] |
| phylum = [[Mollusca]] |
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| familia = [[Gryphaeidae]] |
| familia = [[Gryphaeidae]] |
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| genus = '''''Gryphaea''''' |
| genus = '''''Gryphaea''''' |
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| genus_authority = |
| genus_authority = (Lamarck, 1801) |
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| subdivision_ranks = Species |
| subdivision_ranks = Species |
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| subdivision = |
| subdivision = |
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}} |
}} |
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'''''Gryphaea''''' |
'''''Gryphaea''''', [[common name]] '''Devil's toenails''', is a [[genus]] of [[extinct]] [[oyster]]s, [[Marine (ocean)|marine]] [[bivalve]] [[mollusk]]s in the [[family (biology)|family]] [[Gryphaeidae]]. |
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These [[fossil]]s range from the [[Jurassic]] to the [[Cretaceous]] periods. They are particularly common in many parts of the [[British Isles|Britain]]. |
These [[fossil]]s range from the [[Jurassic]] to the [[Cretaceous]] periods. They are particularly common in many parts of the [[British Isles|Britain]]. |
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==See also== |
==See also== |
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*[[St Cuthbert's beads]] |
* [[St Cuthbert's beads]] |
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== External links == |
== External links == |
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Revision as of 07:27, 21 January 2009
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| Genus: | Gryphaea (Lamarck, 1801)
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Gryphaea, common name Devil's toenails, is a genus of extinct oysters, marine bivalve mollusks in the family Gryphaeidae.
These fossils range from the Jurassic to the Cretaceous periods. They are particularly common in many parts of the Britain.
These oysters lived on the sea bed in shallow waters, possibly in large colonies. The complete fossils consist of two articulated valves: a larger gnarly-shaped shell (the "toenail") and a smaller, flattened shell, the "lid". The soft parts of the animal occupied the cavity between the two shells, just like modern oysters. The shells also feature prominent growth bands. The larger, curved shell sat within the mud on the sea floor.
A classic location to find these fossils is Redcar on the North-East coast of England. There used to be a common folk belief that carrying one of these fossils could prevent rheumatism.
The name "Devil's toenail" is also used for some fossil species of the genus Exogyra, which is in the same family (Gryphaeidae) as Gryphaea.
Pycnodonte newberryi (Stanton), is a related species from the Cretaceous period, 90 to 130 million years old. P. newberryi fossils generally exist in large layers or beds. In the state of Utah, in the USA, in the Capital Reef National Park area, this layer of fossils ranges up to ten feet thick. The layer is present in the lower Tununk section of the Mancos Shale Fraction, just above the Dakota Sandstone and below the Blue Gate Shale layer. In the Hanksville, Utah area the Pycnodonte newberryi oyster bed is exposed over a large area. Studies are currently being conducted to determine if there is more than one species in these beds.
See also
External links
- Warwickshire page
- The Bedford Museum: Gryphaea
- Fossil Folklore: Devil's Toenails
- Pycnodonte newberryi oyster fossil samples free to schools and educators
