bowtiemallia

Bowtiemallia is a genus of extinct marine gastropods known from fossil records dating to the Late Triassic to Early Jurassic. It is notable for a small to medium-sized, globose shell featuring a distinctive transverse constriction that yields a bow-tie-shaped cross-section when viewed from the side, a feature that gives the genus its name.

The name Bowtiemallia combines the bow-tie silhouette with the surname Mallia, in honor of paleontologist Maria Mallia who contributed to Triassic mollusk studies. It is placed in the family Bowtiemalliidae within the broader gastropod lineage, though taxonomic opinions have varied as new material has emerged. The type species is Bowtiemallia triassica.

As of current revisions, three species are recognized: Bowtiemallia triassica, Bowtiemallia undulata, and Bowtiemallia quadrata. Differences among species primarily involve shell size, the degree of constriction, and surface ornamentation. The shell is smooth to weakly ornamented, with a rounded to slightly keeled periphery. The aperture is typically rounded, with a short siphonal canal.

Fossils have been found in Late Triassic to Early Jurassic rock sequences in parts of Europe and North Africa, indicating a Tethyan distribution. Bowtiemallia is interpreted as a benthic organism inhabiting shallow subtidal environments, likely feeding on detritus and microalgae. The genus contributes to understanding early diversification of higher gastropod lineages and the evolution of distinctive shell morphologies that reflect ecological and developmental pressures.