A new genus and species of turrid neogastropod, Kyllinia parentalis, is described based on three shells from the Pliocene (North Italy) and the Pleistocene (northwestern Peloponnesus) of the central Mediterranean area. The new taxon is compared to the buccinid (sensu lato) genus MetulaH. and A. Adams, 1853 with which it shows a few superficial similarities mainly limited to the latticed sculptural pattern of the teleoconch. Kyllinia parentalis is placed in the turrid subfamily Mangeliinae on the basis of teleoconch characters (double sinuosity of the outer lip and the short, forward curved anterior canal) and protoconch (a characteristic pattern formed by narrow axial riblets giving a coronated suture to the larval shell). These taxonomic characters, together with the almost clathrate teleoconch sculpture, form an original combination within the Mangeliinae, thus justifying the description of a new genus. The Recent species Philbertia marchadiKnudsen, 1956 (for which we consider the previous attributions to PhilbertiaMonterosato, 1884 and Diaugasma, Melvill, 1917 incorrect) from the Republic of Guinea and Angola closely resembles K. parentalis, but differs in having axial folds on early teleoconch whorls, a more slender shell, and a proportionally taller last whorl. Philbertia marchadi fits well with the characteristics of the herein described genus, so that we propose the new combination Kyllinia marchadi (Knudsen, 1956). Kyllinia parentalis, a species originated in the Mediterranean Pliocene, is to be considered as the ancestor of K. marchadi. Kyllinia parentalis should be regarded as a meaningful marker in recognizing warm Mediterranean Pleistocene events.