Fossil group

Acritarchs

Microflora & algae

Tiny, organic-walled microfossils of uncertain affinity, mostly interpreted as the resting cysts of marine algae. They are among the most useful fossils for the Precambrian and early Palaeozoic, when shelly life was scarce.

A broad fossil group rather than a single taxon — the units below record it among their fauna or flora.