After Nelson, 1994, and Thacker, 2000, with Recent species from Froese & Pauly, 2001 [“The Fishbase”]

<==o Microdesminae [Microdesmidae sensu Thacker, 2000] (matotokot: wormfishes) [N: 5/30] [FB: 4/16]
   |--o Gunnellichthys [FB: 4; Thacker: 5]
   |  |-- G. monostigma Smith, 1958 (Onespot wormfish)
   |  `--+-- G. iredeus
   |     `--+-- G. viridescens Dawson, 1968 (Yellowstripe wormfish)
   |        `--+-- G. curiosus Dawson, 1968 (Curious wormfish)
   |           `-- G. pleurotaenia Bleeker, 1858 (Onestripe wormfish)
   `--+--o Paragunnellichthys [FB: 2; Thacker: 3]
      |  |-- P. seychellensis Dawson, 1967 (Seychelle's wormfish)
      |  `--+-- P. fehlmanni
      |     `-- P. springeri Dawson, 1970
      `--+--+-- Clarkichthys bilineatus [nor recognized by the Fishbase]
         |  `--o Cerdale [FB: 4; Thacker: 5]
         |     |-- C. fasciata
         |     |--+-- C. floridana Longley, 1934 (Pugjaw wormfish)
         |     |  `-- C. ionthas Jordan & Gilbert, 1882 (Spotted worm goby)
         |     `--+-- C. paludicola Dawson, 1974
         |        `-- C. prolata Dawson, 1974
         `--o Microdesmus [FB: 6; Thacker: 16]
            |--+-- M. lanceolatus Dawson, 1962 (Lancetail wormfish)
            |  `--+-- M. knappi
            |     `--+-- M. intermedius
            |        `--+-- M. multiradiatus
            |           |-- M. luscus
            |           `-- M. hildebrandi
            `--+--+--+-- M. affinis
               |  |  `-- M. longipinnis (Weymouth, 1910) (Pink wormfish)
               |  `--+-- M. dipus Günther, 1864 (Banded worm goby)
               |     `-- M. dorsipunctatus
               `--+--+-- M. africanus Dawson, 1979
                  |  `--+-- M. suttkusi
                  |     `-- M. carri Gilbert, 1966
                  `--+-- M. aethiopicus (Chabanaud, 1927)
                     `--+-- M. bahianus
                        `-- M. retropinnis

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