ABSTRACT
Lanternfishes are the most ubiquitous fishes in the world ocean with a total biomass estimated at >600 million tons (Hulley 1994). There are at least 70 species representing approximately 20 genera in the western central Atlantic (Nafpaktitis et al. 1977; Hulley 1981; Bekker 1983; Gartner et al. 1987; Richards 1990). Larval stages are known for approximately 40 species representing all 20 genera in the region (Table Myctophidae 1). Lanternfish larvae are among the most abundant larvae encountered in plankton samples from this region and rank first in total abundance in SEFSC collections (Richards et al. 1993).
