Notes on taxonomy and biology of the symbiotic shrimp Vir euphyllius Marin et Anker, 2005 (Decapoda: Palaemonidae: Pontoniinae), associated with scleractinian corals Euphyllia spp. (Cnidaria: Caryophyllidae)

Abstract

Recent collections of numerous specimens of shrimps associated with cariophyl-lid corals in Nhatrang Bay, Vietnam, add new data to the taxonomy and biology of the pontoniine shrimp Vir euphyllius Marin et Anker, 2005. A comparison of the morphology and coloration of the freshly collected specimens with the type material of V. pareuphyllius Marin et Anker, 2005 and V. euphyllius leads to the conclusion that V. pareuphyllius should be considered as junior synonym of V. euphyllius. A key to the species of the genus Vir Holthuis, 1952 is provided. In Nhatrang Bay, V. euphyllius is exclusively associated with three species of the caryophyllid coral genus Euphyllia Dana, 1846. The shrimps appear to live in heterosexual pairs and are possibly territorial and aggressive towards conspecifics.