Siphamiini Smith 1955

Tribe Siphamiini Smith 1955

Type genus Siphamia Weber 1909

Diagnosis. Members of the Apogoninae: dorsal fin VI–VII + I,7–11; anal fin II,7–11; pored lateral-line scales 0–24; preopercular ridge smooth, edges smooth to serrate; supraneurals 1–2; supramaxilla absent; basisphenoid absent; uroneurals absent; two epurals; hypurals 1+2 and 3+4 fused into two plates, upper plate fused to terminal centrum; parhypural separate; one or two supernumerary dorsal spines; caudal fin emarginate or forked; bacteria bioluminescent system from hyal region to along body above or past anal-fin base.

Other characteristics. first segmented fin-ray in second dorsal-fin branched, first anal-fin ray branched and segmented; ctenoid, cycloid or spinoid scales; median predorsal scales 0–6; pectoral rays 11–16; segmented principal caudal rays 9+8, 15 branched, upper and lower unbranched; unbranched procurrent rays, longest segmented; villiform teeth in one or multiple rows on premaxilla, dentary, vomer, palatine, or absent on palatine; developed gill rakers 6–18; lateral-line scales usually with a vertical row of free neuromasts; six infraorbitals, bony shelf on third infraorbital; anterior ceratohyal smooth or notched; developed gill rakers 10–26; 10+14 vertebrae; 8 ribs; 8 epipleurals; stomach, intestine and peritoneum generally pale with variously sized melanophores; low crest on PU2.

Distribution. Representatives of the tribe are found from East Africa, Red Sea, islands in the Indian Ocean, throughout the West Pacific to Japan, onto the Pacific Plate to French Polynesia and Australia (Gon & Allen 2012).

Remarks. This tribe contains one genus Siphamia, corresponding to the clade VII in the molecular trees (Figs. 2–6, Table 4). All species of Siphamia have bioluminescent bacteria in a specialized organ (a synapomorphy for the species) unique among apogonines. Smith (1955) proposed placing species of Siphamia in its own subfamily Siphamiinae. Our results based on analysis of five of the twenty-three species suggest that Siphamia roseigaster Ramsay & Ogilby 1887 could be recognized in its own genus Adenapogon McCulloch 1921, because it was placed relatively far from the remaining species. Gon & Allen's (2012) results based on morphology suggest that two other Australian species belong in Adenapogon and that Fodifoa Whitley 1936 is available for another group of species. We defer to Ofer Gon who is continuing to work on relationships within this tribe (Gon & Allen 2012).