Kanakina Herbert 2024, gen. nov.

Genus Kanakina gen. nov. urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: E943029C-AD4A-42CE-B3A7-40321F5F3B3F Type species Minolia glaphyrella Melvill & Standen, 1895. Diagnosis Shell turbiniform to depressed-turbiniform, periphery below mid-whorl; base somewhat flattened, umbilicate; sculpture of fine spiral cords and finer spiral lirae with close-set, microscopic axial threads in intervals; lacking gloss or iridescence. Umbilical margin bearing thickened cord crenulated by radiating pliculae; another thickened cord (funicle) within umbilicus, above which is a narrow, deep sulcus underlying insertion of inner lip; columella thickened and somewhat reflected, with distinct swellings at ends of umbilical cords; interior of outer lip smooth, slightly thickened subterminally at maturity. Operculum: surface lacking spiral microsculpture. Radula: marginals 3–10 with largest cusps; cusps with a large, bluntly lanceolate central denticle bearing a robust pointed denticle at its outer base and a minute denticle at inner base. External anatomy: eyestalks short, eyes small. Etymology Named for the Kanak people, aboriginal Melanesian inhabitants of New Caledonia. Gender – feminine. Remarks The generic position of the type species has long remained uncertain. Although originally referred to the solariellid genus Minolia A. Adams, 1860, it is clearly not referable to the Solariellidae. Preliminary molecular data have shown that material identified under this name clusters within a strongly supported clade otherwise comprising only species referable to Sericominolia Kuroda & Habe, 1954 (Williams et al. 2024). Its radula morphology is consistent with this, but nonetheless, there are features of the external anatomy, notably its short eyestalks and small eyes, which set Kanakina gen. nov. apart from Sericominolia species. In addition, the shell has more uneven spiral sculpture, composed of fine lirae and stronger cords, and it is never as glossy and iridescent, even when live-taken. Furthermore, the umbilical rim is not simply thickened, but instead bears a discrete cord and the interior of the outer lip is somewhat thickened at maturity. I believe these anatomical and conchological differences are sufficient to indicate that ‘ Minolia ’ glaphyrella is generically distinct from Sericominolia. Additional molecular studies with more representative sampling will be needed to explore further the relationship between Kanakina gen. nov. and Sericominolia.