Larvae characterized by photophores, whose pattern may be used for species identification. Morphological diversity high, also within families, and in eggs of known species (Ahlstrom et al., 1984c).
Families treated:
Family Gonostomatidae (bristlemouths)
Family Phosichthyidae (lightfishes)
Family Sternoptychidae (marine hatchetfishes)
Family Stomiidae (scaly dragonfishes)
Table Stomiiformes
22 geographic zones