The Cretaceous ocean witnessed intervals of profound perturbations such as volcanic input of large amounts of CO<sub>2</sub>, anoxia, eutrophication, and introduction of biologically relevant metals. Some of these extreme events were characterized by size reduction and/or morphological changes of a few calcareous nannofossil species. The correspondence between intervals of high trace metal concentrations and coccolith dwarfism suggests a negative effect of these elements on nannoplankton biocalcification process in past oceans. In order to verify this hypothesis, we explored the potential effect of a mixture of trace metals on growth and morphology of four living coccolithophore species, namely <i>Emiliania huxleyi</i>, <i>Gephyrocapsa oceanica</i>, <i>Pleurochrysis carterae</i> and <i>Coccolithus pelagicus</i>. These taxa are phylogenetically linked to the Mesozoic species showing dwarfism under excess metal concentrations. The trace metals tested were chosen to simulate the environmental stress identified in the geological record and upon known trace metal interaction with living coccolithophores algae. <br><br> Our laboratory experiments demonstrated that elevated trace metal concentrations not only affect coccolithophore algae production but, similarly to the fossil record, coccolith size and/or weight. Smaller coccoliths were detected in <i>E. huxleyi</i> and <i>C. pelagicus</i>, while coccoliths of <i>G. oceanica</i> showed a decrease in size only at the highest trace metal concentrations. <i>P. carterae</i> coccolith size was unresponsive for changing trace metal amounts. These differences among species allow to discriminate most- (<i>P. carterae</i>), intermediate- (<i>E. huxleyi</i>), and least- (<i>C. pelagicus</i> and <i>G. oceanica</i>) tolerant taxa. The fossil record and the experimental results converge on a selective response of coccolithophores to metal availability. These species-specific differences must be considered before morphological features of coccoliths are used to reconstruct paleo-chemical conditions.