Subfamily Microspathodontinae

The subfamily Microspathodontinae is the sister group of all other pomacentrids. Jordan and Evermann (1898) originally described the subfamily for only Microspathodon . Cooper and Santini (2016) expanded it to include a number of closely related genera, primarily housing the various genera formerly classified in the Pomacentrinae ( sensu Allen, 1991) that are not closely related to Pomacentrus, plus one transplant ( Mecaenichthys) from the Chrominae . It contains several monotypic genera ( Hypsypops, Mecaenichthys, and Nexilosus). The subfamily includes some of the largest damselfishes, which are mainly temperate species from genera like Hypsypops, Microspathodon, Nexilosus, and Parma . Representatives from several genera ( Microspathodon, Hypsypops, Nexilosus, and Stegastes) are primarily benthic grazers that feed on filamentous algae and/or invertebrates (Aguilar-Medrano et al., 2011). Plectroglyphidodon and Stegastes, the two most species-rich and widespread genera, are not monophyletic. The results of this analysis show that the subfamily is also home to the enigmatic Lepidozygus . There is strong bootstrap support (100%) for Lepidozygus being the sister taxon of Stegastes sensu stricto (Fig. 1; Supplemental Fig. 1; see Data Accessibility), clearly demonstrating that Lepidozygus tapeinosoma is a member of the Microspathodontinae . We hereby place Lepidozyginae in the synonymy of Microspathodontinae .