Present-day representatives of the genus Kelliella are mostly confined to the abyssal zone (2000—6000 m), while paleontological data suggest shallower bathymetric requirements for their fossil congeners. The Late Eocene to Miocene records are from shallow-water (20—50 m) deposits; Pliocene and Pleistocene species come from deposits typical of bathyal zone (400—2000 m). New species Kelliella barbara sp. n. is described from the Badenian (Middle Miocene) shallow-water sands in the southern slopes of the Holy Cross Mts.