Key to the genera of Acropomatidae
1 Abdominal luminous organ present................................................................ Acropoma
- Abdominal luminous organ absent........................................................................2
2 Pelvic-fin spine serrated............................................................................... 3
- Pelvic-fin spine smooth................................................................................. 4
3 D1 with IX spines visible externally; anal fin II + 7 to III + 6; if III, the third spine is weaker than the second; predorsal formula /0+0/0+2/; 8th interneural gap vacant; denticles present on ectopterygoid.............................. Parascombrops
- D1 with VIII visible spines (ninth spine strongly reduced and visible as a minute element on radiographs only); anal fin III + 9, all three spines of similar strength; predorsal formula 0/0/0+2/; 8th interneural gape with a corresponding D1 pterygiophore; no denticles on ectopterygoid................................................................. Caraibops n. gen.
4 No canines in jaws; chin often with antrorse spines................................................. Malakichthys
- At least symphyses of the premaxillae and dentaries with a pair of strong canines; chin always without antrorse spines..... 5
5 Swimbladder reaching cranium, with anterior part bifurcate, embraced by basioccipital fossae of skull; otolith with downward- inclined, triangular ostium and sharply bent cauda........................................................... 6
- Swimbladder not reaching cranium; basioccipital fossae absent; otolith with oval, horizontal ostium and nearly straight cauda.................................................................................................... 9
6 Body red in color, oral cavity black............................................................. Doederleinia
- Body brownish, grayish or blackish, oral cavity pale..........................................................7
7 Gill rakers on 1st arch 27–30; myodome closed posteriorly............................................. Apogonops
- Gill rakers on 1st arch 19–26; myodome open posteriorly......................................................8
8 Anal fin with 3 spines; top of head scaled; ectopterygoid without denticles............................. Neoscombrops
- Anal fin with 2 spines; top of head naked; numerous denticles on ectopterygoid............................ Synagrops
9 Supraneurals 2, predorsal formula /0/0+2/; dorsal fish profile regular, shallow (Fig. 5A); second and third anal-fin pterygio- phores separated by second haemal spine; dorsal otolith rim more strongly convex than ventral otolith rim.................................................................................................... Kaperangus n. gen.
- Supraneurals 3, pterygiophore formula 0/0/0+2/; dorsal fish profile hump-backed (Fig. 32A, C); second and third anal-fin pterygiophores placed before second haemal spin; ventral otolith rim more strongly convex than dorsal otolith rim... Ferilus