Nomenclature of Pigmentation of the Larvae of Lanternfish (Myctophidae)

Abstract

Here we propose a unified terminology for the pigmentation of the lanternfish larvae (Myctophidae). The distinguished two main groups of pigmentation (external and internal) are subdivided into subunits according to their location on the fish body, in total including 77 structural units corresponding to a particular pigment cluster. The use of this nomenclature enables uniform description of pigmentation by different authors. Examples of characteristics of larval pigmentation are given using the proposed nomenclature in the forms of a formal description and summarized diagnostic tables.