Fossil dinoflagellate cyst

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This specimen is an undescribed species of dinoflagellate cyst found in early Late Cretaceous (Albian, around 110 million years old) cliffs at Folkstone, Kent, UK. It was found recently and is currently being described by researchers at the NHM. It may become an important 'guide fossil' that can be used in the age dating of sedimentary rocks. Dinoflagellates are single-celled marine organisms and most of them photosynthesize like true plants. A cyst closely resembles the case of a land plant's pollen grain.

The true size of the specimen is about 35 micrometres wide by 60 micrometres long (0.035 µm by 0.06 µm).