A leptocephalus (meaning "slim head" [1]) is the flat and transparent larva of eels and other members of the superorder Elopomorpha. This is one of the most diverse groups of teleosts , containing 801 species in 4 orders, 24 families, and 156 genera.

Mar 25, 2017 · Eels hatch in the open ocean as clear larvae, then go through several stages, including a “glass eel” stage, during which they're the size of a darning needle and “virtually invisible," John...

This undulating creature is a large Leptocephalus, a not-often-seen eel in its larval stage. It was filmed by Barry Haythorne and Rob Rutgers while they were scuba diving in Bali. The six-minutes of footage provides a look at the swimming eel larva’s tiny head and face and its long transparent body. More from Scientific American:

May 5, 2015 · Eels and other members of the Superorder Elopomorpha have a leptocephalus larval stage, during which they are flat and transparent. This group is quite diverse, containing over 800 species spanning several orders and families, becoming prevalent during the Cretaceous period, over 140 million years ago.

Apr 25, 2023 · Leptocephali are a peculiar species because they are different from the larva of most eel and fish species. Most larvae consume their yolk sack after hatching like leptocephalus, but they don’t begin feeding externally until the next stage in their lives. They are also very fragile, which is clear from their physical appearance.

Jan 12, 2013 · The marine eels and other members of the Superorder Elopomorpha have a leptocephalus larval stage, which are flat and transparent. This group is quite diverse, containing 801 species in 24 orders, 24 families, and 156 genera. They arose in the Cretaceous period 140 million years ago.

Eels are elongated fish, ranging in length from 5 cm (2 in) in the one-jawed eel (Monognathus ahlstromi) to 4 m (13 ft) in the slender giant moray. [8] . Adults range in weight from 30 g (1 oz) to well over 25 kg (55 lb). They possess no pelvic fins, and many species also lack pectoral fins.

Jan 20, 2013 · Leptocephalus (meaning=slim heads) are ribbonlike, translucent, pelagic larva of marine eels and some freshwater eels and other members of Elopomorpha. Eels with this transparent larva stage includes some of the popular and …

Jan 2, 2013 · A leptocephalus (meaning “slim head”) is the flat and transparent larva of the eel, marine eels, and other members of the Superorder Elopomorpha. This is the most diverse group of teleosts, containing 801 species over the span of 24 orders, 24 families, and 156 genera.

Jun 28, 2018 · Fishes with a leptocephalus larval stage include the most familiar eels such as the conger, moray eel, and garden eel as well as members of the family Anguillidae. Glass eel is a developmental stage from the end of metamorphosis in the …