Postlarvae and juveniles of Thyrsitops lepidopoides Cuvier (Pisces: Gempylidae) [morphology, collected from the coast of Brazil]

Five postlarval and 2 juvenile specimens of gempylid fish, T. lepidopoides , collected from the southeastern coast of Brazil were examined. Their meristic and morphological features are described. The postlarvae can be easily distinguished from other larval forms of the family by the smooth-edged spines of the dorsal and pelvic fins. Body pigmentation, head spination, and meristic counts of the fin spines are also distinctive for the species. Juveniles of this fish are characterized by the straight lateral line, 2 pairs of fang-like teeth on the upper jaw, and the fin ray counts, which distinguish them from Thyrsites atun . These specimens were caught by subsurface larva-net tow and by hand-line. T. lepidopoides spend their early life stages near the sea surface.