A new genus, Karnekampia (type species: Pecten bruei Payr.), is proposed in order to establish the position of four species of Pectinidae known from Europe, the Mediterranean, Western and Southern Africa. The new genus can be distinguished from Chlamys s.s. and Manupecten, to which the species were assigned previously, mainly by its microsculpture. The importance of microsculpture for the taxonomy of Pectinidae is discussed.