Apogonoides macassariensis Blkr.

Fraser, Thomas H. & Bogorodsky, Sergey V., 2019, Status of the cardinalfish genus Apogonoides and its type species Apogonoides macassariensis (Percomorpha: Apogonidae), Zootaxa 4577 (3), pp. 579-584 : 580

Apogonoides macassariensis Blkr.

Ap. corpore oblongo compresso altitudine 4 ½ circiter in ejus longitudine, capite 4 in corporis longitudine, pinna caudali biloba.

B. 6, D. 6 - 1/9, P. 11, V. 1 /5, A. 2/11, C. 16.

Hab. Macassar. Mare.

Species habilu Apogon glaga Blkr. afflnis. Specimina mihi 7 minus bene

conservata colores nee viscera monstrant.”

Bleeker (1849) described Apogonoides as a valid genus from southwestern Sulawesi, Indonesia. However, no type is known and the genus has only been identified as belonging to an unknown species of Apogonidae . All three species of Cercamia agree with Bleeker’s description (dorsal fin VI-I,9; anal fin II,11; pectoral fin 11; no teeth on the palatines and on the vomer, villiform teeth on dentary and premaxilla; and slender body). We assume the lack of a spine or serrations on the “gill cover” by Bleeker may be the fact that the 1–3 spines on the preopercle are very tiny. Bleeker likely overlooked the anteriormost branchiostegal ray. The probability of finding the lost type is very low given the known facts.

Prevailing usage must be maintained for Cercamia Randall & Smith 1988 (Article 23.9) if its two conditions are both met. Article 23.9.1.1 of the Code (International Code of Zoological Nomenclature, 1999) has been met because Apogonoides has not been used after 1899 as a senior synonym or homonym. Article 23.9.1.2 has been met because Cercamia as a junior synonym or homonym has been used for a particular taxon as its presumed valid name in at least 25 works published by at least 10 authors in the immediately preceding 50 years (see Table 1 for 1988–2004 usage in 32 publications) and encompassing a span of not less than 10 years (see Table 2 for 13 years from 2005 to 2017 usage in 25 publications and more than 10 authors). Based on the evidence presented here we declare that Cercamia is the valid younger generic name (nomen protectum) while Apogonoides is the invalid older name (nomen oblitum) following Article 23.9.2.

Geographic evidence from the literature cited in the Tables 1 and 2 leads to the conclusion that Cercamia cladara is not conspecific with macassariensis . Bleeker never obtained any fishes or described any fishes from Polynesia (Weber & de Beaufort 1964). Bleeker’s description is no help in deciding if he had a specimen of eremia (widespread), melanogaster (known only from the eastern side of New Guinea) as the younger species name. The known station locations in the literature ( Table 2) for the younger synonym eremia supports identifying macassariensis as the senior synonym. Article 23.9.1.2 is met for eremia as the junior synonym or homonym has been used for a particular taxon, as its presumed valid name, in at least 25 publications (57 cited publications, the majority using eremia ), published by at least 10 authors in the immediately preceding 50 years and encompassing a span of not less than 10 years. Based on the evidence presented here we declare that eremia is the valid younger species name (nomen protectum) while macassariensis is the invalid older name (nomen oblitum) following Article 23.9.2.