Description and occurrence of postlarval stages of rattail fishes (Macrouridae) in the western Ross Sea, Antarctica

Postlarval stages of rattail fishes (family Macrouridae) were collected in the western Ross Sea in November 1989-January 1990 and November 1994-Januar y 1995. All 23 specimens caught were identified as Macrourus whitsoni (Rega n, 1913), one of the few macrourid species inhabiting the Southern Ocean so uth of the Polar Front. Body morphology and pigmentation patterns of some d evelopmental stages of this species are described. Most captures were in th e upper layer of the water column within 300 m depth and close to the seaso nal thermocline. The stomach content of one individual constituted exclusiv ely of several copepods.