shell from speeton

as i did not want it to dry out due to the cracks before i could paint it with pav

this type of shell seems quite common at speetom but they are mostly broken ends

this one seems to still have both shells and be complete

cannot seem to find any pics in the few fossil books i have

of anything with the shape curled over end

i have been on the friends of speeton clay site but theres nothing like this

thanks for any help with the id

 

tabfish this is the one i talked about when we met.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"both" shells, means both valves or both halves of the shell..i.e its complete. Hope this helps.

 

Steve

 

julian i know its not to clear in the pics

 but theres one large shell/valve with

a a smaller one nesting inside

heres some better pics

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

i have only only found single shells/ valves before at speeton mostly broken

i assume the valves must separate on death before becomming fossils

so was pleased to find a fossil with both shells/valves

 

ps i have always assumed/imagined that devils toenails were like a snail

with a single shell with a big foot sicking out

are these bivales ???

if so do you get fossils with both parts ??

and should i take this the general forum ??

 

thanks again for the ids

eddy bootlace

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I hope this clears up the confusion a little bit, devils toenails (Gryphaea) are in fact bivalves, they are a member of the oyster family, as is Exogyra (i think). Below is a pic of where the upper and lower valves separate.

Hope this helps

Thanks

Dave