Apogonichthyoides

Fraser, Thomas H. & Allen, Gerald R., 2011, A new cardinalfish of the genus Apogonichthyoides (Perciformes, Apogonidae) from Raja Ampat Islands, with a key to species, Zootaxa 3095, pp. 63-68 : 67-68

Key to adult species of Apogonichthyoides

1 Anal fin II,8; second dorsal fin I,9;........................................................................ 2

- Anal fin II,9; second dorsal fin I,10 or 11........................................... Apogonichthyoides opercularis

2 No dark stripes on body above and/or below lateral line....................................................... 4

- Dark stripes on body................................................................................... 3

3 Faint bars on upper body; ocellated spot on anterior body above pectoral fin and below lateral line; 14–15 pectoral fin rays................................................................................. Apogonichthyoides taeniatus

- No body bars; no ocellated spot on body; dark spot mid soft dorsal fin near base; 16 pectoral fin rays.............................................................................................. Apogonichthyoides brevicaudatus

4 Pectoral fin rays 14.................................................................................... 5

- Pectoral fin rays 15–17 (rarely 14)........................................................................ 7

5 Inside of mouth behind symphysis of dentaries pale.......................................................... 6

- Inside of mouth with dark spot behind symphysis of dentaries............................ Apogonichthyoides cantoris

6 Two bars on body; wide blotch on caudal peduncle..................................... Apogonichthyoides gardineri

- Two or three bars on body; two faint bars and one dark bar on caudal peduncle.............. Apogonichthyoides umbratilis

7 Body patterns various, frequently with two dark bars or saddles, one under each dorsal fin; a third dark bar sometimes present posteriorly on caudal peduncle, bars/saddles sometimes faint ( A. timorensis ), absent (adult A. enigmaticus ) or with medium to small dark spots on scales............................................................................... 8

- Body and all fins except caudal fin dark brown or with multiple narrow body bars; caudal fin pale or white; no dark spot above

pectoral fin and below lateral line...................................................... Apogonichthyoides niger 8 Dark spot as ocellus or if not, spot red or brown on anterior body below lateral line................................. 9

- No dark spot or ocellus on anterior body below lateral line.................................................... 13

9 Dark ocellated spot usually present between lateral line and pectoral fin; body with bars and/or a basicaudal spot......... 10

- Dark\red spot between lateral line and pectoral fin; body with or without faint bars; no basicaudal spot................ 20

10 Dark basicaudal peduncle bar........................................................................... 12

- No dark basicaudal peduncle bar........................................................................ 11

11 Small ocellated spot on body, much smaller that pupil of eye; small dark spot at origin of first dorsal fin, and at origin and end of pale second dorsal fin....................................................... Apogonichthyoides heptastygma

- Large ocellated spot on body, larger than pupil of eye; proximal portion of second dorsal fin dark, distal portion of soft dorsal and caudal fin pale or yellow....................................................... Apogonichthyoides atripes

12 Dark basicaudal peduncle spot wider than narrow bar; developed gill rakers 12–15........... Apogonichthyoides pharaonis

- Dark basicaudal peduncle spot within bar; developed gill rakers 10–12................... Apogonichthyoides nigripinnis

13 Dark bars/saddles on body and/or dark edging to all body scales............................................... 14

- No dark bars/saddles; scale edges unmarked on body........................................................ 17

14 Dark bar below both dorsal fins about 1–2 scales wide, both confluent with leading edge of fin above them; no dark or dusky bar posteriorly on caudal peduncle; dark caudal spot usually present (may be faint or absent in adult A. enigmaticus )...... 15

- Dark bars below dorsal fins usually 3–4 scales wide, frequently indistinct; second bar below posterior half of second dorsal fin; dusky to dark bar posteriorly on caudal peduncle; dark caudal spot absent.................. Apogonichthyoides timorensis

15 Total developed gill rakers 9–11; bars below dorsal fins black, usually two scales wide and extend ventrally beyond pectoral fin; scale edge pale................................................................................... 16

- Total developed gill rakers 12–17; when present bars below dorsal fins dark brown above lateral line, usually one scale wide, fading out at level of pectoral fin; scales edge dark.................................. Apogonichthyoides enigmaticus

16 Intestine pale, axil of pectoral dark..................................................... Apogonichthyoides sialis

- Intestine blackish, axil of pectoral pale......................................... Apogonichthyoides pseudotaeniatus

17 Developed gill rakers 8–9; one developed gill raker on upper limb body; no series of blackish spots or irregular spots on body................................................................................................... 18

- Developed gill rakers 10–11; two developed gill rakers on upper limb; body with 7–9 series of small blackish spots, more or less one per scale.................................................................. Apogonichthyoides regani

18 No teeth on ectopterygoid.............................................................................. 19

- Tooth patch on ectopterygoid..................................................... Apogonichthyoides chrysurus

19 Irregular dark spots on head and body, pectoral fin rays 17.............................. Apogonichthyoides euspilotus

- Few scattered small dark dots on body, pectoral fin rays 14............................ Apogonichthyoides maculipinnis

20 Cheek and post ocular dark marks; faint dark bars under second dorsal and on caudal peduncle....................... 21

- No cheek or post ocular dark marks; no faint bars on body or caudal peduncle................ Apogonichthyoides miniatus

21 Faint diagonal cheek mark, body spot larger than pupil of eye........................... Apogonichthyoides uninotatus

- Dark horizontal cheek mark, body spot smaller than pupil of eye......................... Apogonichthyoides erdmanni