A new pontocypridid genus, Peripontocypris gen. nov. and two new species are described from the Maldive Islands, Papua New Guinea and from Easter Island. The new genus has a remarkable set of characters, which are unknown in other members of the family: six adductor muscle scars, a Y-shaped Zenker's organ and a large furca. Some other characters of the valves and the soft parts are reminiscent of different pontocypridid genera, and suggest a mosaic type of evolution. The affinities of Peripontocypris with other genera, and its taxonomic position are discussed
