Known eggs of Argentinidae, Microstomatidae and Bathylagidae spherical, with moderate to narrow perivitelline space, segmented yolk, pustules on inner surface of chorion (Ahlstrom et al., 1984b). Salmoniform-like larvae with voluminous fin fold, in many species with dorsal and anal fins developed within fin-fold tissue some distance from body (Moser, 1981).
Families treated:
Family Alepocephalidae (slickheads)
Family Argentinidae (argentines)
Family Bathylagidae (deepsea smelts)
Family Microstomatidae (pencilsmelts)
Family Opisthoproctidae (spookfishes or barreleyes)
Table Osmeriformes
22 geographic zones