The coral-associated shrimp genus Pontonides (Caridea, Palaemonidae, Pontoniinae) in Nhatrang Bay, Vietnam, with description of two new species

Three of the six known species of the palaemonid shrimp genus Pontonides Borradaile, 1917 are reported from Nhatrang Bay, Vietnam. Pontonides unciger Calman, 1939 is redescribed based on an ovigerous female collected from the bushy black coral, Antipathes sp. (Antipatharia, Antipathidae), at a depth of 40-45 m. Pontonides maldivensis (Borradaile, 1917) associated with the coral Tubastrea micrantha Ehrenberg, 1834 (Scleractinia, Dendrophylliidae) and P. asperulatus Bruce, 2005 associated with the sea whip Cirripathes sp. (Antipatharia, Antipathidae) are recorded for the first time from Vietnam, and the latter species-for the first time outside their type locality. Two new species, P. ankeri n. sp., and P. tatianae n. sp., are described from a sea whip Cirripathes sp. and from bushy black coral Rhipidipathes sp. (Antipatharia, Antipathidae), respectively. A diagnosis of the genus Pontonides and a key to all currently recognized species are provided.