Apogonidae: phylogenetics and taxonomy

Research on the South African species of cardinal fishes for Smiths' Sea Fishes introduced me to the taxonomic problems of the fish family Apogonidae. Evidence suggested that this widely distributed, speciose (over 300 species) and ecologically important group is one of the least known among tropical reef fishes and was therefore in urgent need of research.  This is a long term programme aiming to resolve synonymies, describe new species, and elucidate phylogenetic relationships within the Apogonidae through a series of revisions of genera and subgenera, as well as regional reviews.  At present I am revising the genus Siphamia in collaboration with Gerry Allen of Conservation International. This genus now has 23 species, including eight new ones.