Pontonides Ve, gen. nov.

Key to the genera Pontonides, Ve le ro n i a and Pseudoveleronia gen. nov.

1. Orbits complete and closed. Basal segment of antenna with distolateral and lateral projections. Scaphocerite without distolateral tooth. Fingers of pereiopod I shovel-like, without stout setae along distal margin of cutting edges. Chelipeds of pereiopods II similar in shape, with smooth stout compressed palm, which is about twice longer than wide and twice longer than fingers. Merus of pereiopod III with large distoventral protuberance. Exopod of uropods with distolateral margin rounded, without fixed distolateral tooth and movable spine ................................................................ Pseudoveleronia laevifrons comb. nov.

- Orbits never closed. Basal segment of antenna normal, without lateral projection. Scaphocerite with distinct distolateral tooth. Fingers of pereiopod I simple, with stout setae along distal margin of cutting edges. Chelipeds of pereiopods II dissimilar; major chela with long curved palm, about 4 times as long as wide, covered with small teeth or tubercles; fingers of chelipeds less than ¼ palm length. Merus of pereiopod III normal, without large distoventral protuberance. Distolateral margin of exopod of uropod with fixed tooth, without movable spine ............................................................................................................ 2

2. Basal segments of maxilliped I–III bearing fusiform setae. Maxilla with reduced endites. Distolateral margin of exopod of uropods with tooth separated from the margin. Minor chela of pereiopod II dissimilar in males and females; fingers of minor chela in males are long, thin and straight, similar to palmar length while fingers are shorter and stouter in females. Basal part of appendix masculina bearing single plumose setae ....................................................................... Pontonides spp. (for a key to species, see Marin 2007)

- Basal segments of maxilliped I–III smooth. Maxilla with single upper endite. Distolateral margin of exopod of uropod with fixed tooth not separated from the margin. Minor chela of pereiopod II similar in males and females, with small stout fingers, not exceeding ¼ palm length. Basal part of appendix masculina without plumose setae....................................................................................................... 3 (Veleronia)

3. Carapace not gibbous, with distal supraorbital margin smooth. Exopod of maxilliped I well-developed ...... ..................................................................................................................................... Veleronia sympathes

- Carapace gibbous, with distal supraorbital margin bearing small triangular teeth. Exopod of maxilliped I rudimentary................................................................................................................ Veleronia serratifrons