Eggs among largest in marine plankton (1.5 to 4 mm). Larvae characterized by elongate, ornamented pelvic and anterior dorsal fins. With developed, protrusile jaws. Olney (1984) pointed out utility of caudal morphology, lateral pigmentation of body, and meristic characters in larval identification.
Families treated:
Family Lamprididae (opahs)
Family Radicephalidae (tapertails)
Family Regalecidae (oarfishes)
Family Stylephoridae (tube-eyes or thread-tails)
Family Trachipteridae (ribbonfishes)
Family Veliferidae (velifers)
Table Lampridiformes
22 geographic zones