Cardinalfishes are a family, Apogonidae, of ray-finned fishes found in the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans; they are chiefly marine, but some species are found in brackish water and a few (notably Glossamia) are found in fresh water. A handful of species are kept in the aquarium and are popular as small, peaceful, and colourful fish. The family includes about 370 species. They are generally small fish, with most species being less than , and are often brightly coloured. They are distinguished by their large mouths, and the division of the dorsal fin into two separate fins. Most species live in tropical or subtropical waters, where they inhabit coral reefs and lagoons. They are nocturnal, spending the day in dark crevices within the reef. At least some species brood their eggs inside the mouths of the males. Males do not feed during this incubation period. Males incubate the eggs in their mouth due to having longer heads and a larger jaw, which females do not acquire. Classification The fifth edition of Fishes of the World recognises only two subfamilies of the Apogonidae: Apogoninae Amioides H.M. Smith & Radcliffe, 1912 Apogon Lacépède, 1801 Apogonichthyoides J.L.B. Smith, 1949 Apogonichthys Bleeker, 1854 Archamia T.N. Gill, 1863 Astrapogon Fowler, 1907 Cercamia J. E. Randall & C. L. Smith, 1988 Cheilodipterus Lacépède, 1801 Fibramia T. H. Fraser & Mabuchi, 2014 Foa D. S. Jordan & Evermann, 1905 Fowleria D. S. Jordan & Evermann, 1905 Glossamia T.N. Gill, 1863 Holapogon T. H. Fraser, 1973 Jaydia J. L. B. Smith, 1961 Lachneratus T. H. Fraser & Struhsaker, 1991 Lepidamia T. N. Gill, 1863 Neamia H. M. Smith & Radcliffe, 1912 Nectamia D. S. Jordan, 1917 Ostorhinchus Lacépède, 1802 Paroncheilus J. L. B. Smith, 1964 Phaeoptyx T. H. Fraser & C. R. Robins, 1970 Pristiapogon Klunzinger, 1870 Pristicon T. H. Fraser, 1972 Pterapogon Koumans, 1933 Rhabdamia M. C. W. Weber, 1909 Siphamia M. C. W. Weber, 1909 Sphaeramia Fowler & B. A. Bean, 1930 Taeniamia T. H. Fraser, 2013 Verulux T. H. Fraser, 1972 Vincentia Castelnau, 1872 Yarica Whitley 1930 Zapogon T. H. Fraser, 1972 Zoramia D. S. Jordan, 1917 Pseudaminae Gymnapogon Regan, 1905 Paxton C. C. Baldwin & G. D. Johnson, 1999 Pseudamia Bleeker, 1865 Pseudamiops J. L. B. Smith, 1954 Timeline References External links Smith, J.L.B. (1961): "Fishes of the family Apogonidae of the Western Indian Ocean and the Red Sea". Ichthyological Bulletin; No. 22. Department