Apogonidae, Gunther, 1859

Mabuchi, Kohji, Fraser, Thomas H., Song, Hayeun, Azuma, Yoichiro & Nishida, Mutsumi, 2014, Revision of the systematics of the cardinalfishes (Percomorpha: Apogonidae) based on molecular analyses and comparative reevaluation of morphological characters, Zootaxa 3846 (2), pp. 151-203 : 174

Key to the subfamilies of Apogonidae

1 Two dorsal fins, I, 8–13 in second dorsal fin; first dorsal spines all with uneven lengths............................... 2

- Single dorsal fin, VI,19; spines III–VI similar lengths................................................. Paxtoninae

2 Supramaxilla small or absent, if large, dorsal fin VI–I,9–10.................................................... 3

- Supramaxilla large, dorsal fin VII or VIII–I,9–10................................................... Amioidinae

3 A single lateral line when scales present or absent; if scales absent, lateral line composed of free neuromasts.... Apogoninae

- Double lateral lines, first pored or notched from posttemporal, second abdominal with only notched scales..... Pseudamiinae