Abstract:

Aim: Cardinalfishes (Apogonidae) are one of the numerically dominant reef fish families. The taxonomy of cardinalfish genus Jaydia in China was unclear for a long time. This study aims to revise the the taxonomy of the genus from China.
Methods: The taxonomic revision was based on comprehensive examination of specimens and review of literatures. Jaydia sp. was distinguished from J. smithi by molecular comparison.
Results: Eight species were identified morphologically, including Jaydia carinata (Cuvier, 1828), J. lineata (Temminck & Schlege, 1842), J. novaeguineae (Valenciennes, 1832), J. poeciloptera (Cuvier, 1828), J. smithi Kotthaus 1970, J. striata (Smith & Radcliffe, 1912), J. striatodes (Gon, 1997), J. truncata (Bleeker, 1854). But J. tchefouensis was not found from China seas. The results of molecular analysis of J. smithi showed the Chinese population and the Mediterranean population formed two exclusive lineages which have obvious interspecific-level mean genetic distance (0.044). The previously recorded species from China, J. ellioti, J. arafurae, J. albomarginata, and J. smithi, should be revised as J. truncata, J. poeciloptera, J. novaeguineae, and Jaydia sp., respectively. Jaydia tchefouensis may be a junior synonym of J. lineata. The synonyms, distribution, morphological diagnosis and description, and a key to species were provided. The taxonomic problems were also discussed.
Conclusion: Nine Jaydia species were recognized from China. Our results will promote the taxonomic study of family Apogonidae.

Key words: Jaydia, taxonomy, morphological characters, DNA barcodes, key of species