Easy to miss, but still found: fossil 66 million years old

A tiny fossil of a Cyclida, discovered in Maastricht, offers significant insights into this extinct group of crustaceans. Measuring just 1.55 millimeters, it was found by fossil collector Dirk Eysermans and is the only known specimen of its kind, named Alsasuacaris dirkeysermansi. Researchers from the National Museum of Natural History highlight its international importance, as only a few Cyclida species are known worldwide. The fossil dates back to the period just before the dinosaurs' extinction, and its ecological role remains unclear. The museum hopes to find more fossils to better understand these creatures' lives and their potential parasitic relationship with marine reptiles.