Kyphosidae, sensu Randall, 2005

Knudsen, Steen Wilhelm & Clements, Kendall D., 2013, Revision of the fish family Kyphosidae (Teleostei: Perciformes), Zootaxa 3751 (1), pp. 1-101 : 9-10

Key to the Indo-Pacific species of Kyphosidae :

1. Fewer than IX dorsal fin spines (VI–VIII); more than 19 soft dorsal-fin rays (20–23); more than 22 soft anal-fin rays (23–26) ( South Africa, southern Mozambique), anterior part of soft dorsal- and soft anal fin distinctly elongate.......................................................................................... Neoscorpis lithophilus Stone bream

– More than IX dorsal fin spines (X–XI); fewer than 17 soft dorsal-fin rays (10–16); fewer than 16 soft anal-fin rays (10–15), anterior part of soft dorsal- and soft anal fin not distinctly elongate............................................. 2

2. Scales absent on interorbital region; fewer than 9 postorbital scales (5–8); 25 vertebrae in total; caudal fin with white upper and lower edges; 14–16 soft dorsal fin rays (Western Australia)......................... Kyphosus cornelii Buffalo bream

– Scales present on interorbital region; more than 9 postorbital scales (10–21); 26 vertebrae in total; caudal fin without white edges; not more than 15 soft dorsal fin rays................................................................ 3

3. More than 21 (occasionally only 19) total gill rakers (19–32); more than 56 total scale rows along the lateral line (usually more than 65) (56–85); often more than 70 scale rows along longitudinal row (50–76); unpaired fins not dusky................ 4

– Fewer than 21 (occasionally with up to 22) total gill rakers (15–22); fewer than 76 total scale rows along lateral line (usually less than 65) (52–76); fewer than 70 scale rows along longitudinal row (49–70); unpaired fins dusky................... 8

4. No more than 12 soft dorsal fin rays (occasionally 13) (11–13); 10–13 soft anal-fin rays (usually 11) (10–13); never more than 33 pterygiophores in total (32–33); not more than 68 scale rows along longitudinal row (45–68); often less than 70 scales in total along lateral line (56–81); soft rayed part of dorsal and anal fins often highly elevated in individuals with 13 dorsal fin rays; no conspicuous golden horizontal scale rows along body and no distinct yellow and blue wavy stripe on body........ 5

– Thirteen or more soft dorsal fin rays (13–15); 12–14 soft anal fin rays; 36 or more pterygiophores in total (36–39); often more than 70 scale rows along longitudinal row (59–77); regularly with 70 or more scales in total along lateral line (63–85); soft rayed part of dorsal and anal fin not elevated; body with either clear golden horizontal scale rows or with large distinct yellow and blue wavy stripe horizontally along body............................................................... 7

5. Soft-rayed part of dorsal and anal fins extended; fourth dorsal fin ray long (8.7–19.1 %SL); second anal fin ray long (10.4–22.3 %SL); 25 or more total gill rakers (25–30) (Atlantic Ocean, Indo-Pacific Ocean)...... Kyphosus cinerascens Highfin chub

– Soft-rayed part of dorsal- and anal-fin not extended; fourth dorsal fin ray short (4.8–12.0 %SL); second anal fin ray short (8.5– 16.1 %SL); 25 or fewer total gill rakers (22–25)............................................................. 6

6. More than 21 total gill rakers (22–25); pelvic fin short (11.8–19.0 %SL); second anal fin ray short (8.5–15.2 %SL) (Atlantic Ocean, Indo-Pacific Ocean)................................................... Kyphosus sectatrix Beaked chub

– Fewer than 23 total gill rakers (19–22); pelvic fin long (19.3–20.8 %SL); second anal fin ray long (13.5–16.1 %SL) (Hawaiian Islands).............................................................. Kyphosus hawaiiensis Hawaiian chub

7. Soft part of dorsal fin with 13–14 rays; soft part of anal fin with 11–14 rays; not more than 21 dorsal pterygiophores (22–24); not more than 14 anal pterygiophores (12–14); golden yellow horizontal scale rows along body from operculum to caudal fin; caudal fin not deep emarginated (Atlantic Ocean, Indo-Pacific Ocean)................. Kyphosus vaigiensis Lowfin chub

– Soft part of dorsal fin with 15 rays; soft part of anal fin with 14 rays; 24 dorsal pterygiophores; 15 anal pterygiophores; a blue and yellow wavy stripe horizontally across body from operculum to caudal fin; blue streak behind eye; caudal fin deeply emarginated (Pacific Ocean)...................................................... Kyphosus ocyurus Rainbow chub

8. Pored scales in lateral line 51–61; scales in longitudinal row 54–67; total gill rakers 18–22; anal fin base long (18.1–24.8 %SL); line along ventral edge of anal fin extended backwards through caudal peduncle follows dorsal edge of caudal fin (Atlantic Ocean, Indo-Pacific Ocean)........................................... Kyphosus bigibbus Darkfin chub

– Pored scales in lateral line 42–56; scales in longitudinal row 48–57; total gill rakers 15–20; anal fin base short (14.0–22.4 %SL); line along ventral edge of anal fin extended backwards through caudal peduncle cuts above dorsal edge of caudal fin........ 9

9. Vertebrae 10 precaudal +16 caudal; caudal peduncle not deep (9.9–11.8 %SL); sixth dorsal-fin ray length short (8.7–11.8 %SL); pelvic fin short (13.4–16.2 %SL); green vertical bar on operculum; line along ventral edge of anal fin runs parallel to the dorsal edge of the caudal fin (west Australia)............................... Kyphosus gladius Gladius drummer

– Vertebrae 11 precaudal +15 caudal; caudal peduncle deep (12.1–14.5 %SL); sixth dorsal-fin ray length long (11.4–16.1 %SL); pelvic fin long (14.7–22.5 %SL); no green bar on operculum; line along ventral edge of anal fin does not run parallel to the dorsal edge of the caudal fin (southern Australia, northern New Zealand).......... Kyphosus sydneyanus Silver drummer