Apogon

Fraser, Thomas H., 2005, description of a new species of cardinalfish from the Indo­West Pacific (Perciformes: Apogonidae), Zootaxa 924, pp. 1-30 : 5

Key to species of Apogon with a blackish to brownish midline stripe from snout to end of caudal­fin rays and without a caudal peduncular or basicaudal spot

1 Six spines in first dorsal fin; first spine not tiny 8–12 % of SL .................................... 2

­ Seven spines in first dorsal fin, first spine tiny usually less than 3% of SL. ............... 3

2 Two dark stripes on body, one from over eye to posterior base of second dorsal fin, the second a broad midlateral stripe (width of pupil) from snout to end of caudal fin; 16– 18 well developed gill rakers (rarely 15, 19 or 20). Japan and East China Sea .............. ........................................................................ Apogon kiensis Jordan & Snyder, 1901.

­ Three dark stripes on body reaching to caudal fin base, uppermost stripe commencing over eye and broad midlateral stripe (width of pupil) from snout to end of caudal fin, faint narrow stripe just above midlateral stripe; 21–24 well developed gill rakers. Red Sea, East Africa to Philippines and Australia..................... Apogon bryx Fraser, 1998 .

3 No dark nape stripe extending along base of dorsal fins............................................... 4

­ Dark nape stripe extending along base of dorsal fins....................................................5

4 Middle dark stripe uniform, upper arch and roof of mouth pale; 16 (15) pectoral­fin rays; 14–17 well developed gill rakers (rarely 12, 13 or 18). Red Sea, East Africa to Japan, Philippines and Australia.......................... Apogon fasciatus ( White, 1790) .

­ Middle dark stripe with lower edge developing into narrow vertical bars, and roof of mouth with melanophores; 15 (14 or 16) pectoral­fin rays; 17–20 well developed gill rakers (rarely 16 or 21). India to China, Philippines and New Guinea........................... ........................................................................................ Apogon pleuron new species.

5 Two dark stripes reach onto caudal peduncle; 13–14 pectoral­fin rays. Philippines to Australia............................................................ Apogon septemstriatus Günther, 1880 .

­ Three dark stripes reach onto caudal peduncle; 15 pectoral­fin rays. Maldives............ ........................................................................ Apogon quinquestriatus Regan, 1907 .