Apogoninae Günther 1859

Mabuchi, Kohji, Fraser, Thomas H., Song, Hayeun, Azuma, Yoichiro & Nishida, Mutsumi, 2014, Revision of the systematics of the cardinalfishes (Percomorpha: Apogonidae) based on molecular analyses and comparative reevaluation of morphological characters, Zootaxa 3846 (2), pp. 151-203 : 175-176

Subfamily Apogoninae Günther 1859

Type genus Apogon Lacepède 1801

Diagnosis. Two dorsal fins, VII to IX dorsal spines deeply divided as VI, VII, VII(I), VIII+I,9–13; anal fin II,8–18; internal support of spines by serial proximal-middle radials closely associated, 6th and 7th elements broadening at fin division or wide separation between dorsal fins; internal support of dorsal spines by serial proximal-middle radials not in close articulation, far apart at 6th between and 7th elements; one or two supernumerary dorsal spines; 0–3 supraneurals; first anal proximal-middle radial straight; 13–15 branched, upper and lower unbranched; basisphenoid present, reduced or absent; preopercle ridge smooth or serrate, preopercle edges smooth, serrate or with unossified lower portion; vertebrae 9–10+14–16; rod-like or proximally expanded ribs on 3rd to 10th vertebrae; epineurals present on ribs of 3rd to 8th or 9th vertebrae; PU2 and PU3 with autogenous haemal spines; anterior pair of uroneurals absent, posterior pair of uroneurals reduced or absent; 0–3 epurals; hypural 1–5 present, free or combinations of fusion by hypurals 1–4 or with terminal centrum, hypural 5 always free, splint-like; parhypural free or fused to hypurals 1+2; prootic included as part of the inner orbit ring; anterior and posterior ceratohyals sutured together by a few interdigitating struts medially or without struts; free medial extrascapular or fused with lateral extrascapular; scales ctenoid, spinoid, cycloid or absent; a scale sheath at base of second dorsal fin or not; single lateral-line present from posttemporal to base of caudal fin either as pored, pitted or grooved scales, or if without scales, with linear free neuromasts; secondary lateral-line scales or linear free neuromasts on lower body present or absent; cephalic pore system complex with many small pores and canal flutes, two or more pores in single row of lateral-line scales; pored lateral-line scales 3–48.

Distribution. Members of the Apogoninae are known from the eastern Pacific, Atlantic basin and the Indo-Pacific. The distribution is complete in the tropics and subtropical coastal zones down to nearly 300 meters.

Remarks. This subfamily contains most of the species in the family and has the greatest diversity of body shapes and sizes, color patterns (internal and external), habitats occupied and the only subfamily with bioluminescent species. Diversity is expressed in the molecular analysis by the clades that are consistent with morphology. The presence of a small, slender supramaxilla is a synapomorphy for some of the genera relative to the large supramaxilla found in the Amioidinae . Absence of a supramaxilla, another possible synapomorphy, is shared by a portion of the Apogoninae and the two other subfamilies. No single morphological synapomorphy has been identified that is inclusive of all members of this subfamily. Many are partial synapomorphies, shared across tribes as characters trending to fusion, reduction and loss (see tables in Fraser 2013b ; remarks under tribes).

See Appendix A for species allocation in tribes. Distribution is described under each tribe.