Abstract

A new genus and species of lower caenogastropod, Ipunina vladimiri, is described from Neogene sediments of the islands Chiloé and Ipún, southern Chile. Ipunina has a protoconch with strong axial ribs on the upper side and a pattern of boxes on the periphery of the whorls, and a thin-shelled bucciniform teleoconch with strong spiral cords. Neither larval nor adult shell-morphology completely resolves the systematic placement. Affinities with Litiopidae, Planaxidae and Provannidae are discussed and placement in Litiopidae is favoured based on protoconch sculpture. This is the first record of Litiopidae from the Neogene of south-western South America. © The Author 2008. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of The Malacological Society of London, all rights reserved.