Rhabdolith

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Rhabdoliths are microscopic skeletal fragments of coccolithophores, a type of marine phytoplankton. Coccolithophores are single-celled algae that produce plates or scales made of calcium carbonate, known as coccoliths, that surround their cell walls. When these coccoliths shed or disintegrate, they can accumulate on the seafloor and form a sedimentary rock called limestone.

Rhabdoliths are small, needle-like structures that are typically less than 10 micrometers in size. They are thought to be the remains of the central spine that runs through the coccolith, which is often lost during the shedding process. Rhabdoliths can be used in paleontology to study the evolution and distribution of coccolithophores over time, as they can provide information about the size, shape, and morphology of these organisms.