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Anterior and mid-dorsal fin elements. A & D. Archamia bleekeri, USNM 356291, 37.6 mm SL. B &E. Taeniamia leai, USNM 306823, 55.0 mm SL, bone stain only. C & F. Kurtus indicus USNM 267150, 63.0 mm SL. supraneurals = S1-3; neural spines = 1-3, 6-9; proximal-middle radial = P1-2, 5-8; distal radial = R; fused radials = FR; dorsal spines = I-III VVII and IX; shaded areas = cartilage stain. Scale = 1 mm.
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Archamia is restricted to a single species, A. bleekeri. A recently described genus, Kurtamia, a reference to a suggested relationship with the enigmatic Kurtus, is the junior synonym of Archamia. Kurtamia bykhovskyi is a junior synonym of A. bleekeri. Archamia is redescribed using osteological, color pattern, pore and free neuromast patterns suppl...
Contexts in source publication
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... pattern: Both species of Kurtus semi-translucent or pale in life; Kurtus indicus with scattered melanophores on nape, dense melanophores on male crest and its base becoming dispersed along rudimentary dorsal spines (Fig. 20A); edges of anal, dorsal and caudal fins blackish, scattered melanophores on caudal-fin rays; Kurtus gulliveri uniform without darkish markings on body; edges of caudal fin blackish, edge of dorsal fin blackish, membranes of soft dorsal fin darkish ( Fig. 20B; Berra 2003, fig. ...
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... of eggs (Fig. 26) Guitel (1913, fig. 3 & pl 1) provided a detailed description of the eggs of Kurtus gulliveri. He did not have access to the more modern electron microscope for egg detail but his plate clearly shows a radial system around the micropyle with many filaments presented here as Figures 26A & B. Guitel's work needs repeating with modern techniques for both species of Kurtus but is good enough to show strong similarities with apogonid eggs. He noted a bifurcation occurs in most filaments. Sommer et al. (2012 , fig. 3A & B) show connections between individual eggs and part of a group of eggs for Kurtus gulliveri. Weber (1910, Fig. 2) first proposed and illustrated the parental care of eggs in Kurtus gulliveri. Guitel (1913) provided a photograph of the egg mass, here reproduced as Figure ...
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... skeleton (Figs. 7, 23) Prokofiev (2006) and Thacker (2009) cite similarities for the caudal skeletons of Kurtus and Archamia as evidence of relationships. This complex of bones and cartilages has many elements and a detailed discussion will explore this ...
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... An apogonine: hypurals 1 and 2 fused together, hypurals 3 and 4 fused together, all fused to terminal centrum without urostylar sheath; 2 nd through 7 th ribs with expanded flanges; soft anal-rays 15-17; basicaudal dark spot not larger than pupil; body translucent in life, without stripes or bars. Description. Body compressed; eye large; mouth slightly oblique, two dorsal fins ( Fig. 1A-E Dorsal-fin VI-I,9; spines slender, none robust, VII total as VI(0)-I; three supraneurals, first anterior to first neural spine, second between neural spines 1 and 2 and third between neural spines 2 and 3, all supraneurals with slightly expanded tips; first proximal-middle radial without procumbent spine, first proximal-middle radial between neural spines 2 and 3, second and third proximal-middle radial between neural spines 3 and 4; single supernumerary spine associated with first proximal-middle radial (Figs. 2A & 3A, as homologous with a second supernumerary spine), first spine long, slender spine nearly as long as second spine; middle radials fused to proximal radials 1-13, free 14-16; distal radials 1-5 free, proximal-middle radial 6 with long distal arm, distal radial 6 fused to proximal- middle radial 7 (Fig. 3D) not bearing remnant spine or nubbin below skin; last distal radial with two fin-rays supported by bony stay (Fig. 6B). See Table 1 for axial skeleton relationships between neural spines and dorsal elements. Anal-fin spines slender with II spines, single supernumerary spine, second spine serially associated with first proximal-middle radial (Figs. 2A & 4A, as homologous with a second supernumerary spine); first proximal-middle radial longer than second, both rod-like tips, first and second proximal-middle radials in advance of haemal spine of centrum 11 (Figs. 4A & 5B); first proximal-middle radial not articulating proximally with centrum 10 (Figs. 4A & 5B); first proximal-middle radial with curved anterior flange (Fig. 4A); first haemal spine and following interhaemal gap as 2/4 (Figs. 4A & 5B); soft anal rays all branched, 15-17, last ray split to its base; middle radials fused to proximal radials 1-6, free 7-16; distal radials all free; last distal radial with two fin-rays supported by bony stay (Fig. 6F). See Table 1 for axial skeleton relationships between haemal spines and anal fin elements. Fraser. tenth vertebrae = 10, flange = f, ribs = r4-12, proximal-middle radials = mp1-5 , nubbin = n , supernumerary spines = S, = serial spine with respect to anteriormost proximal-middle radial = I, homologous positions with respect to serial proximal-middle radials 1 or 2 = ...
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... (Fig. 13A & B): low short frontal crests with flanges along midline of frontals posterior to mesethmoid, frontals with four foramina for nerves enervating sensory neuromasts in the supraorbital canal; large supraoccipital crest extending over eye; basisphenoid well developed. deciduous, often missing in preserved material; cycloid on nape, cheek, opercle, part of breast, in front and just behind pectoral fin; weakly ctenoid scales (Fig. 16B), mostly peripheral ctenoid scales from row above lateral line, including lateral-line scales and rest on body; fourth lateral-line scale ( Fig. 16B) with small upper and lower pores, three small foramina, two on upper side, one on lower side; anterior pelvic scale ctenoid, posterior scale cycloid; pelvic axillary scale present; no scales extending onto pectoral fin; 3-4 scales on caudal fin; predorsal scales 5-6; pored lateral-line scales 24; row above lateral line 24; transverse row above lateral line 2; transverse row below lateral line 6; circumpeduncular scales 5+2+5 = 12; no scaly sheath at base of second dorsal or anal fin, small scales between larger ones along fin ...
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... neural spine is present on the second preural centrum of both species of Kurtus ( Fig. 8C & D; Monod, 1968, table 3 for a general distribution of this character in teleosts) and the epurals are rod-like (Boulenger, 1904;de Beaufort, 1914;Monod, 1968, fig. 794; Prokofiev, 2006). Archamia bleekeri, and Taeniamia leai (see Fraser, 1972, mislabeled as PU1) have a low neural crest on PU2 and an expanded first epural. Patterson (1968) discussed possible alternatives for identifying a secondary spine on the second preural centrum for perciform fishes: 1) fusion of the first epural with the low neural crest and 2) fusion between the second and third preural centra. The former alternative can be identified in the Nandidae, having two epurals (e.g. Gosline, 1968;Monod, 1968). Rosen (1973) amplified the discussion of alternatives for the neural spine and included the secondary elongation from the low crest, but favored the fusion alternative. This spine in Kurtus could be considered: 1) a primary spine homolog based on having three epurals, 2) the result of fusions between the original second and third preural centra or 3) a secondary elongation of the neural crest. There is no published evidence supporting any of these hypotheses for Kurtus. A cleared and counter stained larval specimen of Kurtus gulliveri supports the first alternative as an original neural spine (Fig. 23). Centropomus and other basal percoids (Gosline, 1961;Fraser, 1968;Monod, 1968;Patterson, 1968) and all apogonids have a low neural crest on the second preural centrum (Fraser, ...
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... gulliveri (Figs. 8D, 23B): 8.9 mm specimen: three cartilaginous epurals; no uroneurals; cartilaginous fused hypurals 1+2+parhypural, cartilaginous fused hypurals 3+4; cartilaginous hypural 5; terminal centrum long, free, distal third cartilaginous; neural spine on preural 2 proximally ossified, midsection cartilaginous, distal third ossified; cartilaginous plate between preural 3 and epural 1; cartilaginous plate between haemal spine of preural 2 and preural3. 50 mm specimen: three epurals, first and longest, as a rod with small flattened proximal end with cartilage at distal end, second a rod almost as long as first, with cartilage at distal end, third as a rod almost as long as second, tipped with cartilage; slender paired uroneurals; hypurals 1+2 fused, with tight articulation of terminal centrum, hypurals 3+4 fused, without urostylar shield, fused to terminal centrum, hypural five free, parhypural with parapophyseal hook and broad anterior flange, terminal centrum with rudimentary urostyle; preural 2 with long neural spine. Principal caudal fin rays 9+8 (8+7, segmented and branched rays and two segmented and unbranched principal rays); ten dorsal procurrent rays, six associated with anterior cartilage, four with epurals; six ventral procurrent rays, one associated with last epural, five with cartilage; no procurrent ...
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... has, anterior to the first anal spine, another element, a nubbin and socket (Fig. 23A). Prokofiev (2006) identified it as an antroventral process and de Beaufort (1914,1951) identified it a rudimentary spine. This element is plain to see (de Beaufort, 1914, pl. 12;Carpenter et al. 2004, fig. 4; Prokofiev, 2006, Fig. 5b; Klochko et al. 2008, p. 142-143). This ossification does not look like a procumbent spine that occurs on the anterior proximal- middle radial of some fishes. The articulation base of a spine might fit over this nubbin and into the following space. The nubbin is just visible in small Kurtus gulliveri but there is no evidence for a more anterior anal ...
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... fin: Kurtus indicus: Dorsal fin VII,12-14, first five spines rudimentary each fused with their serially associated proximal-middle radials; distal radial as a cartilage/bone element fused following proximal-middle radials 1-5, free 6-19; first spine supernumerary ( Fig 3C & F); three supraneurals, posterior two with spine-like projections fore and aft; first dorsal proximal-middle radial with procumbent spine; first proximal-middle radial with posterior flange, second and third proximal-middle radials as rods with short proximal flanges as are four posterior proximal-middle radials, all other proximal-middle radials with long anterior flanges and short posterior flanges; first segmented ray unbranched, remainder branched except last branched ray in close association with a final unbranched ray supported by cartilage flange from proximal-middle radial (Fig. 6C). See Table 1 for axial skeleton relationships between neural spines and dorsal fin ...
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... anal-fin radials, spines and segmented rays (Figs. 2, 4, 5 & 21; Table 1) Archamia and most other apogonines, including the basal living genus Holapogon, have a single supernumerary spine on the first anal proximal-middle radial followed by a serially associated spine resting on the second proximal-middle radial (Fig. 4), except for Paxton which has only a single spine (Baldwin & Johnson, 1999) and except where both anal spines maybe on a compound (fused?) first and second proximal-middle radial for some other apogonids (Baldwin & Johnson, 1999). Centropomus has two supernumerary spines on the first anal proximal-middle radial (Fraser, 1968;Greenwood, 1976;Potthoff & Tellock, 1993). The third anal-fin element is an unbranched soft ray transforming in to a spine ontogenetically ( Itagaki et al. 2013;Potthoff & Tellock, 1993); cleared and stained 23-25 mm SL specimens (Fraser, 1972); cleared and counter stained 37.6 mm SL specimen this study. Larger juveniles and adults of Centropomus have three anal spines and followed by segmented, branched anal rays. Some species of Lates, judging from the figures in Kinoshita & Tshibangu (1997), transform the third anal element from a soft ray to a spine at 5-7 mm in the transition from flexion to postflexion larva. Johnson (1984) and Patterson (1992) both concluded that two supernumerary spines are basal in percomorph fishes although three have been reported and assumed to be a derived state in centrarchids (Mabee, 1993). Both species of Kurtus have two supernumerary spines on the first proximal-middle radial followed by a serially associated soft ray ( de Beaufort, 1914, pl. 12;Carpenter et al. 2004, fig. 4; Prokofiev, 2006, fig. 5b; Klochko et al. 2008, p. 142-143, fig. 17). Prokofiev described the first anal pterygiophore complex as a fusion of the first and second proximal-middle radials (see his Fig. 5c). Such a fusion is not apparent for small Kurtus gulliveri (Fig. 23A) and the assumption is ...
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... VI-I,9 or VII-I,9; spines slender, none robust, as VI (0) three supraneurals, first anterior to first neural spine with second between neural spines 1 and 2 and third between neural spines 2 and 3, all supraneurals with slightly expanded tips; first proximal-middle radial without procumbent spine, first proximal-middle radial between neural spines 2 and 3, second and third proximal-middle radial between neural spines 3 and 4; one or two supernumerary spines associated with first proximal-middle radial, first supernumerary spine (I) very short, second supernumerary spine (II) less than half length of third spine (T. leai only, Fig. 2B), or single supernumerary spine (homologous as supernumerary spine II), less than half length of second spine (homologous with spine III, all other species); middle radials fused to proximal radials 1-12, free for middle radials 13-16; distal radials 1-3 sutured or with processes associated with proximal-middle radial, free for middle radials 4-16, proximal-middle radial 6 with long distal arm, its distal radial on dorsal edge of seventh proximal-middle radial (Fig. 3E, T. leai ) or fused with dorsal edge of seventh proximal-middle radial (like Fig. 3D) and not bearing remnant spine or nubbin below skin [e.g., T. buruensis (Bleeker 1856a), (T. dispilus Lachner 1951), T. fucata, T. macroptera, T. zosterophora (Bleeker 1856b)]; last distal radial with split fin-ray supported by bony stay (Fig. 6A). See table 1 for axial skeleton relationships between haemal spines and anal fin elements. Anal-fin spines, single supernumerary spine, second spine serially associated with first proximal-middle radial (Fig. 4B); first proximal-middle radial much longer than second both with rod-like tips, in close association with last pair of ribs and first haemal spine; first proximal-middle radial in advance of haemal spine on centrum 11, second proximal-middle radial behind or in front of first haemal spine; distal expansion as anterior flange on first proximal-middle radial; first proximal-middle radial not articulating with centrum 10 (Figs 4B, 5A); first proximal- middle radial with curved anterior flange ( ; usually small proportion of variation either side of common count (except T. biguttata, T. zosterophora); middle radials fused to proximal radials 1-7, free on 8-13; distal radials all free; last distal radial with split fin-ray supported by bony stay (Fig. ...
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... VI-I,9 or VII-I,9; spines slender, none robust, as VI (0) three supraneurals, first anterior to first neural spine with second between neural spines 1 and 2 and third between neural spines 2 and 3, all supraneurals with slightly expanded tips; first proximal-middle radial without procumbent spine, first proximal-middle radial between neural spines 2 and 3, second and third proximal-middle radial between neural spines 3 and 4; one or two supernumerary spines associated with first proximal-middle radial, first supernumerary spine (I) very short, second supernumerary spine (II) less than half length of third spine (T. leai only, Fig. 2B), or single supernumerary spine (homologous as supernumerary spine II), less than half length of second spine (homologous with spine III, all other species); middle radials fused to proximal radials 1-12, free for middle radials 13-16; distal radials 1-3 sutured or with processes associated with proximal-middle radial, free for middle radials 4-16, proximal-middle radial 6 with long distal arm, its distal radial on dorsal edge of seventh proximal-middle radial (Fig. 3E, T. leai ) or fused with dorsal edge of seventh proximal-middle radial (like Fig. 3D) and not bearing remnant spine or nubbin below skin [e.g., T. buruensis (Bleeker 1856a), (T. dispilus Lachner 1951), T. fucata, T. macroptera, T. zosterophora (Bleeker 1856b)]; last distal radial with split fin-ray supported by bony stay (Fig. 6A). See table 1 for axial skeleton relationships between haemal spines and anal fin elements. Anal-fin spines, single supernumerary spine, second spine serially associated with first proximal-middle radial (Fig. 4B); first proximal-middle radial much longer than second both with rod-like tips, in close association with last pair of ribs and first haemal spine; first proximal-middle radial in advance of haemal spine on centrum 11, second proximal-middle radial behind or in front of first haemal spine; distal expansion as anterior flange on first proximal-middle radial; first proximal-middle radial not articulating with centrum 10 (Figs 4B, 5A); first proximal- middle radial with curved anterior flange ( ; usually small proportion of variation either side of common count (except T. biguttata, T. zosterophora); middle radials fused to proximal radials 1-7, free on 8-13; distal radials all free; last distal radial with split fin-ray supported by bony stay (Fig. ...
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... are intriguing morphological characters that point to carangoid fishes as a possible sister group with Kurtidae and should be confirmed or rejected. Betancur-R et al. (2013, p. 14) stated... "There is also morphological evidence supporting a close relationship between gobids and apogonids 108,109 as well as between kurtids and apogonids 110." All three cited papers (108, Miller 1973;109, Winterbottom 1993;110 Johnson 1993) are part of this analysis. Miller's only mention of apogonids was given above in the discussion of free neuromasts. Winterbottom concluded... "Three taxa emerge as potentially viable candidates for the status of the gobioid sister group-the gobiesocids (plus or minus the callionymoids), some subset of the trachinoids and some subset of the scorpaeniforms (especially the hoplichthyids)." Johnson noted... "There is, in fact, evidence suggesting that Kurtus may be closely related to the Apogonidae. The configuration of the dorsal gill-arch elements is remarkably similar to that of the apogonids." "More detailed comparison of the ultrastructure and innervation of sensory papillae will be necessary to evaluate their homology in these groups. Another test of the Kurtus and apogonid hypothesis is available through detailed comparison of the eggs, both of which bear filaments around the micropyle that serve to bind the eggs together into a mass which is brooded in the mouth of apogonids and carried on the supraoccipital hook in Kurtus." The molecular tree reported by Betancur et al. (2013, fig. 3) is not supported by their own citations for morphological support within the major branch of the hypothesized ...
Citations
... The hyoid arch is consistent with that of apogonids (see Mabuchi et al. 2014), bearing seven branchiostegal rays, the three anterior ones lying on the anterior portion of the anterior ceratohyal, followed by two branchiostegals articulating on its posterior sector; the posteriormost two branchiostegal rays articulate with the posterior ceratohyal. Furthermore, the anterior ceratohyal is characterized by a deep notch in its dorsal margin at about midlength, resembling the condition in Pseudamia (see Randall et al. 1985) and some apogonine species like Taeniamia (see Fraser 2013). Dorsal and ventral hypohyals are barely recognizable. ...
... Cardinalfishes of the family Apogonidae include about 380 species arranged in about 40 genera that are distributed in all oceans, with a few of them living in brackish of fresh waters (Mabuchi et al. 2014;Nelson et al. 2016;Fricke et al. 2021). Despite several studies (e.g., Fraser 1972Fraser , 2013Baldwin & Johnson 1999) suggesting putative morphological synapomorphies to diagnose the family, its taxonomic composition and intrarelationships are still debated. Mabuchi et al. (2014), in their revision of cardinalfish systematics based on morphological and molecular data, recognized four possible apogonid synapomorphies: 1) a single supernumerary anal spine with the following spine or ray in serial association with the first anal-fin pterygiophore; 2) mouth brooding of fertilized eggs; 3) simple filaments around the micropyle of the egg; 4) swimbladder with a dorsal or anterodorsal oval and ventral gas glands, with no anterior projections to the skull or posterior connections with the first anal pterygiophore. ...
... Mabuchi et al. (2014), in their revision of cardinalfish systematics based on morphological and molecular data, recognized four possible apogonid synapomorphies: 1) a single supernumerary anal spine with the following spine or ray in serial association with the first anal-fin pterygiophore; 2) mouth brooding of fertilized eggs; 3) simple filaments around the micropyle of the egg; 4) swimbladder with a dorsal or anterodorsal oval and ventral gas glands, with no anterior projections to the skull or posterior connections with the first anal pterygiophore. Although most of these characters are impossible to detect in fossils, Fraser (1972Fraser ( , 2013, Johnson (1984), Baldwin & Johnson (1999), and Mabuchi et al. (2014) indicated a combination of key morphological and meristic features, easily recognizable in fossils, which make it possible to distinguish the apogonids from other percomorphs. In this perspective, Mabuchi et al. (2014) proposed a new classification of the family that includes, along with the traditional Apogoninae (34 genera) and Pseudamiinae (one genus, Pseudamia), two new subfamilies: the Amioidinae, with the genera Amioides and Holapogon, and the monotypic Paxtoninae, including the peculiar genus Paxton only. ...
We describe here a new bony fish assemblage collected from a fossiliferous outcrop located in Perarolo, Berici Hills, Venetian Southern Alps. The fossiliferous deposits pertain to the Rupelian (lower Oligocene) Castelgomberto Calcarenite and are indicative of a tropical marine shallow water setting associated with coral reefs. The assemblage is characterized by diminutive putative cryptobenthic fishes, including a single goby (family Gobiidae) and several cardinalfishes of the subfamily Pseudamiinae (family Apogonidae). Furthermore, a new apogonine of the extinct tribe †Eoapogonini, a new butterflyfish (family Chaetodontidae), and an indeterminate viviparous brotula belonging to the ophidiiform family Dinematichthyidae, are also present, and likely represented part of the epibenthic community. Some of the taxa described herein are among the first occurrences within their respective lineages in the fossil record. The Perarolo taxa document the first Oligocene coral reef fish assemblage known to date. Four taxa are described as new: †Arconiapogon deangelii gen. et sp. n., †Chaetodon (Blumchaetodon) wattsi subgen. et sp. n., †Oligopseudamia iancurtisi gen. et sp. n., and †Oniketia akihitoi gen. et sp. n.
... In kurtids, the lateral line system, which detects water motion, is also unusual-it is represented by narrow head canals, a short (incomplete) trunk canal, and numerous superficial neuromasts (SNs) over the body surface (Johnson, 1993;Berra, 2003;Fraser, 2013a). A number of SN rows are arranged in a densely crosshatched pattern on the head and trunk (illustrated in Fraser, 2013a), contrasting sharply with the typical percomorph condition in which few SN rows occur on the head and trunk (mostly on lateral line scales; Sato et al., 2017). ...
... In kurtids, the lateral line system, which detects water motion, is also unusual-it is represented by narrow head canals, a short (incomplete) trunk canal, and numerous superficial neuromasts (SNs) over the body surface (Johnson, 1993;Berra, 2003;Fraser, 2013a). A number of SN rows are arranged in a densely crosshatched pattern on the head and trunk (illustrated in Fraser, 2013a), contrasting sharply with the typical percomorph condition in which few SN rows occur on the head and trunk (mostly on lateral line scales; Sato et al., 2017). ...
... In K. gulliveri, the number of DRs (22) closely approximates the number of vertebrae (10þ14; Fraser, 2013a), one DR occurring per myomere, whereas the number of VRs (16) is significantly fewer, and the anterior five VRs are irregularly and widely spaced without corresponding DRs. In K. gulliveri, the swim bladder is highly modified with six dorsolaterally projecting lobes, which are encased by cap-like ribs associated with the fifth to tenth vertebrae (Carpenter et al., 2004;Fraser, 2013a). The anterior VRs course along the line of juncture between the two ribs, bypassing the inflated portions of the ribs (except for VR2 passing lateral to the weakly inflated rib of the fifth vertebra): VR3 passes between the ribs of the sixth and seventh vertebrae; VR4, between the ribs of the ninth and tenth; associated VRs are absent from the ribs of the seventh to ninth. ...
The lateral line system and its innervation were examined in the Nurseryfish Kurtus gulliveri (family Kurtidae). The system is characterized by ca. 373,000 superficial neuromasts (SNs; at 152 mm standard length) occurring over one side of the entire body surface, including the dorsal, anal, and caudal fins. A fine-grid pattern of SNs is spread regularly over the surface, comprising many longitudinal and transverse SN rows, with the axis of best physiological sensibility perpendicular to the long axis of the neuromasts. On the head, rami of the anterior lateral line nerve are similar to those in typical percomorphs, each innervating numerous SNs by extensive ramification. On the trunk, 22 elongated dorsal ramules of the lateral ramus (of the posterior lateral line nerve) supply SNs on the dorsal half of the trunk and dorsal fin, and the dorsal longitudinal collector nerve innervates 22 canal neuromasts along the short (incomplete) trunk lateral line canal. Sixteen ventral ramules arise from the lateral ramus to supply SNs on the ventral half of the trunk and anal fin, which is similar to the pattern of the dorsal ramules. Innervation of the trunk and fins is distinctive, differing from all percomorphs known thus far.
... Randall and Satapoomin [12] described barless cardinalfish, Archamia ataenia (=Taeniamia ataenia) from the Andaman Sea and Mentawai Islands of Western Sumatra. Fraser [13] erected the new genus Taeniamia for 14 extant species. Though T. ataenia closely resembles the congeneric black-belted cardinalfish, Taeniamia zosterophora (Bleeker, 1856), it can be distinguished both meristically (pectoral ray and gill raker count) and morphologically (lack of broad black bar). ...
Three uncommon fishes, viz. porcupine whipray, Urogymnus asperrimus (Bloch & Schneider, 1801), Shaggy angler, Antennarius hispidus (Bloch & Schneider, 1801), and barless cardinalfish, Taeniamia ataenia (Randall & Satapoomin, 1999), are reported herein as first records from the Andaman Islands. The former two are hitherto not reported from the Islands, while the latter was found to be a new record for India. Porcupine whipray and barless cardinalfish were identified based on in situ photographs. Shaggy angler was identified based on two specimens collected from a discarded commercial beach–seine fishery. Categorized by IUCN as Vulnerable, porcupine whipray is previously known from Lakshadweep and the peninsular coasts of India. The shaggy angler was reported from a shallow muddy habitat of 5–7 m in the present study. Though the type locality of barless cardinalfish is the eastern Indian Ocean, this has not been recorded earlier from India.
... The enigmatic Paxtoninae, characterized by a naked body, also requires attention. Johnson (1993) suggested Kurtidae as a putative sister group of Apogonidae, based partly on the presence of SN rows forming a crosshatch pattern on the head and body (see also Fraser, 2013b). ...
The lateral line system and its innervation were examined in two species of the family Apogonidae (Cercamia eremia [Apogoninae] and Pseudamia gelatinosa [Pseudamiinae]). Both species were characterized by numerous superficial neuromasts (SNs; total 2,717 in C. eremia; 9,650 in P. gelatinosa), including rows on the dorsal and ventral halves of the trunk, associated with one (in C. eremia) and three (in P. gelatinosa) reduced trunk canals. The pattern of SN innervation clearly demonstrated that the overall pattern of SN distribution had evolved convergently in the two species. In C. eremia, SN rows over the entire trunk were innervated by elongated branches of the dorsal longitudinal collector nerve (DLCN) anteriorly and lateral ramus posteriorly. In P. gelatinosa, the innervation pattern of the DLCN was mirrored on the ventral half of the trunk (ventral longitudinal collector nerve: VLCN). Elongated branches of the DLCN and VLCN innervated SN rows on the dorsal and ventral halves of the trunk, respectively. The reduced trunk canal(s) apparently had no direct relationship with the increase of SNs, because these branches originated deep to the lateral line scales, none innervat-ing canal neuromast (CN) homologues on the surface of the scales. In P. gelatinosa, a CN (or an SN row: CN homologue) occurred on every other one of their small lateral line scales, while congeners (P. hayashii and P. zonata) had an SN row (CN homologue) on every one of their large lateral line scales.
... Although a general consensus exists regarding the typical lateral line system conditions on the head and trunk (Webb 2014), it covers only a part of the overall system, referring solely to canal components and their enclosure of canal neuromasts (CNs). Superficial neuromasts (SNs), another important lateral line system component developing directly on the skin, are smaller than CNs and easily rubbed off; hence, their distribution and innervation have been poorly recognized in teleostean taxa (for summary, see Coombs et al. 1988;Fraser 2013), resulting in highly questionable homologies of SN rows at any given level of taxonomic hierarchy. ...
... A similarly conservative argument may also be applicable to the buccal ramus (BR), because numerous SNs on the IOC were innervated entirely by the MDR (Figs. 8b,12b) and none by the BR (Figs. 7b,11b). Although Thacker (2009) suggested that the presence of SN rows on the head and body was a synapomorphy of Apogonidae, Kurtidae [see illustration and discussion in Fraser (2013)] and Gobioidei, the proliferation of SN rows on the head of gobioids has resulted from the loss of the IOC, the rows therefore being innervated by the BR ). In addition, the rows are sparse on the body primitively in gobioids . ...
The lateral line system and its innervation were examined in a generalized perch-like species, Lateolabrax japonicus (Percoidei incertae sedis), and compared with those in two species of Apogonidae (Fowleria variegata in Apogonichthyini and Ostorhinchus doederleini in Ostorhinchini) characterized by proliferated superficial neuromasts (SNs) on the head, trunk lateral line scales and caudal fin. The total number of SNs differed greatly between the two groups, being 271 in the former, and 2,403 and 4,088 in the latter. The mandibular ramus (MDR) was extensively ramified in the head of the apogonids, with three additional branches that were absent in L. japonicus, innervating 1,117 SNs in F. variegata and 1,928 in O. doederleini. In the apogonids, the additional anterodorsal branch of the MDR coursed parallel to the buccal ramus anteriorly (on the interorbital space) and to the supratemporal ramus posteriorly (on the temporal region). The two parallel portions supplied numerous SN rows forming a characteristic crosshatch pattern, the branch and two rami distributing to transverse and longitudinal rows, respectively. In the two groups, the trunk lateral line scales each housed a canal neuromast (CN; partly replaced by an SN in F. variegata). In addition, one to four (in L. japonicus) and three to 55 (in the apogonids) SNs occurred on each lateral line scale, the pattern of SN innervation being identical in having two types of branches; one innervated a CN and SNs, and the other SN(s) only. The latter type extended only to a limited number of scales in L. japonicus, but to nearly all or all scales in the apogonids. Compared with F. variegata, branches of the respective types were more finely ramified with greater number of SNs in O. doederleini.
... Among the 23 characters examined by Winterbottom (1993), gobioids shared the largest number of character states (11) Gobiiformes (Figs. 1 and 4; Smith and Wheeler, 2004;Smith and Craig, 2007;Lautredou et al., 2013;. Although ecologically disparate, some morphological characters are shared by Gobioidei, Apogonidae, and Kurtus (Johnson, 1993;Prokofiev, 2006;Fraser, 2013). As discussed in Thacker (2009), they include the presence of sensory papillae on the head and body, and the reproductive pattern of egg adhesion and guarding by the male. ...
... These species, subgenera and genera were identified and provisionally allocated to tribes. Morphological characters from the following published studies were used for the reevaluation: Baldwin & Johnson (1999); Bergman (2004);Fraser (1972Fraser ( , 1973Fraser ( , 2008Fraser ( , 2013aFraser ( , 2013b; Fraser & Allen (2010); ; Gon (1993Gon ( , 1995Gon ( , 1996; Gon & Allen (2012); Gon & Randall (2003); Randall et al. (1985); Vagelli (2011) and citations from these articles. Diagnoses were provided for the family, subfamilies and tribes. ...
... Kurtid morphology has many derived characters compared with other percomorphs including apogonids (for the relationship between the Kurtidae and apogonid genera Archamia Gill 1863 and Taeniamia Fraser 2013b, see the remarks of the tribe Archamiini). Neither this study nor Fraser (2013b) focused on the question about which family is the closest sister. An answer to family relationships awaits a different focus with groups that have characters more in common with the basal apogonids Amioides and Holapogon (for the relationship between Amioides and Cheilodipterus, see the remarks of the tribe Cheilodipterini). ...
... Because the species was absent from the present molecular analyses, this tribe is proposed based only on morphology. Paxton is characterized by a series of morphological apomorphies not found in any other apogonid (Baldwin & Johnson 1999;Fraser 2013b). These apomorphies include: VI dorsal spines; a continuous dorsal fin as VI,19 without a notched division or expanded pterygiophores at the transition from spines to branched, segmented fin-rays (all other apogonids have deeply divided dorsal fins and unbranched segmented first fin-ray); sixth pterygiophore without a serial spine or ray or subdermal remnants (unique for a continuous dorsal fin?); dorsal spines IV-VI subequal, longer than spines I-II (all other apogonids have unequal first dorsal-spines); anal fin with I,15-16, the spine in supernumerary position, with the first branched, segmented ray in series and supported by the first pterygiophore (all other apogonids have 2 anal spines); entire margin of preopercle covered by skin (all other apogonids have exposed preopercular edges); third epibranchial toothplate lacking (all other apogonids have a toothplate); fifth hypural absent (all other apogonid have a splint-like fifth hypural); anterior and posterior pelvicgirdle processes lacking; an autogenous wishbone-shaped cartilage present between proximal bases of left and right pelvic fins; medial and lateral extrascapular absent (all other apogonids have a lateral extrascapular and Gymnapogon has both); principal caudal fin-rays 9+8, all branched (all other apogonids have the upper-most and lower-most principal caudal fin-rays unbranched and some Gymnapogon species have additional unbranched principal caudal fin-rays); and postfrontal bones. ...
Molecular analyses were conducted based on 120 of the estimated 358 species of the family Apogonidae with 33 of 40 genera and subgenera, using three gobioids and one kurtid as collective outgroups. Species of Amioides, Apogon, Apogonichthyoides, Apogonichthys, Archamia, Astrapogon, Brephamia, Cercamia, Cheilodipterus, Fibramia n. gen., Foa, Fowleria, Glossamia, Gymnapogon, Jaydia, Lachneratus, Nectamia, Ostorhinchus, Paroncheilus, Phaeoptyx, Pristiapogon, Pristicon, Pseudamia, Pterapogon, Rhabdamia, Siphamia, Sphaeramia, Taeniamia, Verulux, Vincentia, Yarica, Zapogon and Zoramia were present in the molecular analyses; species of Bentuviaichthys, Holapogon, Lepidamia, Neamia, Paxton, Pseudamiops and Quinca were absent from the analyses. Maximum-likelihood (ML), Bayesian (BA), and Maximum parsimony (MP) analyses based on two mitochondrial (12S rRNA-tRNA<sup>Val</sup>-16S rRNA, ca. 1500 bp; COI, ca. 1500 bp) and two nuclear DNA (RAG1, ca. 1300 bp; ENC1, ca. 800 bp) fragments reproduced two basal clades within the monophyletic family: one including a single species, Amioides polyacanthus, and the other comprising species of Pseudamia. All the other apogonid species formed a large well-established monophyletic group, in which almost identical 12 major clades were reproduced, with phylogenetic positions of four species (Glossamia aprion, Ostorhinchus margaritophorus, Pterapogon kauderni, and Vincentia novaehollandiae) left unsettled. Apogon sensu lato and recent Ostorhinchus (excepting O. margaritophorus) were divided into six and three major clades, respectively. Each of the recognized clades in the family was then evaluated for morphological characters to identify synapomorphies. Based on the results of the molecular analyses and the reevaluation of morphological characters, four subfamilies were proposed within the family: Apogoninae (including most of the species in the family), Amioidinae new subfamily (including Amioides, and based on morphology, Holapogon), Paxtoninae new subfamily (including Paxton, based only on morphology) and Pseudamiinae (including Pseudamia). Within the largest subfamily Apogoninae, twelve new tribes were proposed based on the 12 molecular clades and associated morphology: Apogonichthyini, Apogonini (mainly including species of Apogon sensu stricto), Archamiini, Cheilodipterini, Gymnapogonini, Ostorhinchini (including striped species of recent Ostorhinchus), Pristiapogonini, Rhabdamiini, Sphaeramiini (mainly including barred species of traditional Ostorhinchus, such as Apogonichthyoides, Jaydia and Nectamia), Siphamiini, Veruluxini, and Zoramiini. Two additional tribes are proposed based only on morphology: Glossamiini and Lepidamiini. For each of the 14 tribes, morphological characters were described. One new genus, Fibramia, type species Apogon thermalis, recently in Ostorhinchus, was described supported by morphology and molecular trees. A key to all genera is provided and all valid and uncertain status species are allocated to tribes and genera.
The morphological diversity of the lateral line system in Teleostei is reviewed, referring especially to morphological, phylogenetic, and taxonomic studies for the system. The system comprises a number of sensory organs denominated neuromasts, along with associated tubular structures (lateral line canals) passing through specific bones and
scales. Each component of the system (viz., the canals, scales, and neuromasts) varies in its morphology among the fishes, reflecting
their respective habitats, habits, and phylogenetic backgrounds. In this chapter, a representative condition is introduced for lateral line
canals, neuromasts, and associated cranial nerves, followed by derivative conditions observed in specific taxa. A heterochronic change, which is a mechanism leading to produce the morphological diversity of the system,
is also mentioned. Furthermore, recent progresses in anatomical studies of the system in Apogonidae, Gobioidei, Kurtidae, and Pleuronectiformes are briefly reviewed.
This book is an illustrated identification guide to the
Cardinalfishes of the family Apogonidae. Since our earlier
publication (1999) of: Fishes of the Indo-West Pacific,
APOGONIDAE many new species were discovered and much
has changed in their classification. The Atlantic taxa were
added and about 350 species of these ray-finned fishes are
now recognised globally. All are illustrated, except for
some small taxa for which images were not available.
Cardinalfishes vary much in colour and patterns, many are
striped and can look very similar to each other, but in the
Atlantic the majority of species are red in colour, hence
their vernacular name. Large genera comprise a number of
species-complexes in which taxa are difficult to distinguish,
often only by their different colour patterns. The majority
of species are illustrated in living colour and in situ, fish
captured were photographed soonest after, showing fresh
colours, whilst some are presented with original drawings
of the types. Cardinalfishes are in principal marine, but
some are found in brackish water and one genus has fully
adapted to fresh water. They are mostly small percoid fishes
that range in size from about 6 to 20 cm, but a few are
smaller or over 20 cm long. The majority occur on reefs at
relatively shallow depths, whilst some taxa are known only
from deep trawls. Cardinalfishes are one of a few marinefish
families in which oral brooding of eggs takes place. When
spawning, eggs are released by the female in a gelatinous
mass, which is immediately fertilised by the male and
quickly taken into the mouth. Brooding males are readily
recognised by a deeply expanded mouth and developing
eggs can be seen through the skin.
