Development and Distribution of Larvae and Early Juveniles of the Commercial Lanternfish, Lampanyctodes hectoris (Gunther), Off the West Coast of Southern Africa with a Discussion of Phylogenic Relationships of the Genus

Lampanyctodes hectoris is a species of lanternfish which is becoming an important part of the pelagic fishery off South Africa. The Southwest Africa Pelagic Egg and Larval Survey has provided an abundance of larval specimens of this species. The larvae, transitional and early juvenile stages are described and illustrated for the first time and information on their distribution and relative abundance is provided. Larval characters are used in combination with selected adult characters to elucidate the phylogenetic affinities of this genus