The Taxonomic Status of the Cardinalfish species Apogon Niger, A. Nigripinnis, A. Pharaonis, A. Sialis, and Related Species (Perciformes: Apogonidae)

Apogon niger Döderlein, 1883 of the western Pacific and Apogon nigripinnis Cuvier, 1828 (Apogon thurstoni Day, Amia nigripes Ogilby, and Amia atripes Ogilby are synonyms) of the eastern Indian Ocean and Australia are regarded as valid species distinct from Apogon pharaonis Bellotti, 1874 of the western Indian Ocean (Apogon suezii Sauvage, Amia ocellata Von Bonde, and Apogon duops Barnard are synonyms). Apogon nigripinnis differs from A. niger in having a large ocellus between the lateral line and the pectoral fin. A lectotype for A. niger is designated. A. pharaonis differs from both these species in having shorter pelvic fins, 16-21 instead of 15-18 gill-rakers, and 3 dark bars on the body. Apogon sialis (Jordan & Thompson, 1914), type locality Japan, is the senior synonym of Amia cathetogramma Tanaka, 1917, also described from Japan. Apogon pseudotaeniatus Gon, 1986 from the Red Sea, previously misidentified as A. bifasciatus Rüppell, is very similar in colour pattern to A. sialis; it differs in having a larger caudal spot, a dark instead of pale intestine, and in several morphometric characters.