bolustrackingia

Bolustrackingia is a genus of extinct, marine, bivalved mollusks that lived during the Late Cretaceous period, approximately 99.6 to 93.9 million years ago. The genus is known from a single species, Bolustrackingia bolli, which was first described in 1995. Fossils of Bolustrackingia have been found in the Western Interior Seaway of North America, specifically in the Niobrara Formation of Kansas and Nebraska.

Bolustrackingia is characterized by its distinctive, elongated shell, which is typically 10-15 centimeters in length and 5-7 centimeters in width. The shell is composed of two valves, with the left valve being larger and more convex than the right valve. The shell surface is smooth and lacks any notable ornamentation, such as ribs or growth lines. The hinge line, where the two valves meet, is straight and extends along the entire length of the shell.

The genus is named after the fossil collector, William B. Bolus, who discovered the first specimen of Bolustrackingia. The specific epithet, bolli, is in honor of the paleontologist, John W. Bolli, who described the genus and species.

Bolustrackingia is considered to be a member of the family Nuculanidae, which includes a diverse group of bivalved mollusks that have a similar shell morphology. The genus is of particular interest to paleontologists because it provides valuable insights into the evolution of bivalved mollusks during the Late Cretaceous period. The discovery of Bolustrackingia has helped to fill a gap in the fossil record, as it represents one of the few known bivalved mollusks from the Western Interior Seaway during this time.