Key to the genera of Apogonidae
Note this key uses external characters where possible to afford more use. Where the key is inclusive of all genera in a subfamily or a tribe that half of the couplet is so indicated.
1 Some pored lateral-line scales on body..................................................................... 3
- No pored lateral-line scales or scales absent on body.......................................................... 2
2 Single dorsal fin, six spines [ Paxtoninae].............................................................. Paxton
- Two dorsal fins, seven spines ( Gymnapogonini)............................................................. 4
3 One pored lateral line, sometimes partially pored followed by pits or grooves...................................... 7
- Two inconspicuous lateral-line scales, one dorsal (pored then notched), one ventral (notched) [ Pseudamiinae].... Pseudamia
4 Scales present........................................................................................ 5
- Scales absent............................................................................... Gymnapogon
5 Second dorsal fin I,8–9................................................................................. 6
- Second dorsal fin I,12–13...................................................................... Lachneratus
6 Anal rays 11–13................................................................................ Cercamia
- Anal rays 8 or 9............................................................................. Pseudamiops
7 Silver or blackish band (bioluminous in life) along ventral side from hyal region extending past abdomen onto caudal peduncle ( Siphamiini)................................................................................... Siphamia
- No such bioluminous bands............................................................................. 8
8 Longest procurrent caudal-fin rays segmented.............................................................. 10
- Longest procurrent caudal-fin rays spinous, not segmented..................................................... 9
9 Dorsal-fin rays 9; anal-fin rays 9................................................................. Sphaeramia
- Dorsal-fin rays 13–15; anal-fin rays 12–14......................................................... Pterapogon
10 Dorsal-fin rays 8–13.................................................................................. 11
- Dorsal-fin rays 14–15; anal-fin rays 13–14............................................................. Quinca
11 Lateral-line scales less than 29.......................................................................... 12
- Lateral-line scales greater than 32 ( Lepidamiini)..................................................... Lepidamia
12 Preopercular ventral edge ossified, serrated, crenulated or smooth.............................................. 13
- Preopercular ventral edge with unossified flap ( Apogonini)................................................... 15
13 First three infraorbitals with upper edges smooth to crenulated................................................. 19
- First three infraorbitals with upper edges strongly serrated ( Pristiapogonini)...................................... 14
14 Dorsal fin VI–I,9; Dark spot on body below lateral line under first dorsal fin; dark spot(s) under posterior base of second dorsal fin; No stripe from snout onto opercle through eye..................................................... Pristicon
- Dorsal fin VII–I,9; No spots on body below dorsal fins; Stripe from snout onto opercle through eye, may continue on body............................................................................................. Pristiapogon
15 Predorsal scaled...................................................................................... 16
- Predorsal without scales along the center line to origin of first dorsal fin.................................. Astrapogon
16 Anal-fin rays 8....................................................................................... 17
- Anal-fin rays 9.............................................................................. Paroncheilus
17 Stomach and intestine pale............................................................................. 18
- Stomach and intestine black....................................................................... Zapogon
18 Preopercular flap not extends past vertical edge......................................................... Apogon
- Preopercular flap extends past vertical edge......................................................... Phaeoptyx
19 Supramaxilla large, easy to detect........................................................................ 20 - Supramaxilla small difficult to detect or absent............................................................. 23
20 First dorsal spines 7 or 8 [ Amioidinae].................................................................... 21
- First dorsal spines 6 ( Glossamiini)....................................................................... 22
21 Anal-fin rays 8; canine teeth; basicaudal bar......................................................... Amioides
- Anal-fin rays 7; villiform teeth; spots on body....................................................... Holapogon
22 Preopercle edges serrate; only a basicaudal spot......................................................... Yarica
- Preopercle edges smooth; body with many markings.................................................. Glossamia
23 Anal-fin rays 8–9..................................................................................... 27
- Anal-fin rays 10–19................................................................................... 24
24 Edge of preopercle serrated ( Archamiini).................................................................. 26
- Edge of preopercle smooth ( Rhabdamiini)................................................................. 25
25 Anal fin rays 10–11; Dorsal fins VII–I,10–11; Some canine teeth......................... Rhabdamia (Bentuviaichthys)
- Anal-fin rays 12–13; Dorsal fins VI–I,9; Villiform teeth.................................... Rhabdamia (Rhabdamia)
26 Anal-fin rays 15–17; No bars or stripes on head or body; First dorsal-fin spine 1.1–1.4 in second dorsal-fin spine... Archamia
- Anal-fin rays 12–19; two yellow bars on head, or 1–23 bars on body, or darkish or yellowish mid-line stripe; First dorsal spine 1.3–3.4 in second dorsal-fin spine................................................................. Taeniamia
27 No canine teeth; some lateral dentary teeth may be slightly enlarged............................................ 28
- Canine and canoid teeth present ( Cheilodipterini)................................................. Cheilodipterus
28 First dorsal spines 6–8, if 6 spines then second dorsal-fin rays 8 or anal-fin rays 9.................................. 29
- First dorsal spines 6; second dorsal-fin rays 9, anal-fin rays 8............................................ Fibramia
29 First dorsal spines 6–8, if 6 spines then body with one or more stripes extending to caudal fin........................ 32
- First dorsal spines 6; no body stripes..................................................................... 30
30 Anal-fin rays 9; no cheek mark.......................................................................... 31
- Anal-fin rays 8; narrow or broad cheek mark......................................................... Nectamia
31 Preopercle edge serrate; caudal peduncle and/or caudal base with one small dark spot or diffuse large darkish region; no small dark snout mark................................................................................. Zoramia
- Preopercle edge smooth; no dark marks on caudal base or caudal peduncle; small dark snout mark................ Verulux
32 Stomach and intestine pale; first dorsal spines 7 or 8......................................................... 34
- Stomach and intestine with melanophores to completely blackish; first dorsal spines 7.............................. 33
33 Fourth dorsal spine longer than third spine; caudal fin emarginate, truncate or rounded........................... Jaydia
- Third dorsal spine longer than fourth, if fourth longer then caudal fin forked ( Ostorhinchini)................ Ostorhinchus
34 Edge of preopercle serrated............................................................................. 38
- Edge of preopercle smooth............................................................................. 35
35 Palatine teeth absent.................................................................................. 36
- Palatine teeth present................................................................................. Foa
36 Pored lateral-line scales from posttemporal to base of caudal fin................................................ 37
- Pored lateral-line scales usually short, only pits present past dorsal fins..................................... Fowleria
37 First dorsal fin with 8 spines, or dark mark on opercle if 7 spines.............................. Neamia and Fowleria * *Species of Neamia have fused hypurals 2 + 3 and 4 + 5; Species of Fowleria have 5 free hypurals
- No dark mark on opercle..................................................................... Apogonichthys
38 Posttemporal serrate; basisphenoid present.................................................... Apogonichthyoides
- Posttemporal smooth; basisphenoid absent........................................................... Vincentia