Mesopelagic fishes of the southeastern Indian Ocean are represented by a high number of lanternfish species (Myctophidae). The horizontal distribution patterns of their larvae have been previously studied; however, research on larval feeding habits is non-existent. The goal of this study was to describe the diet and trophic-based strategies of the most abundant myctophid larvae off Western Australia through stomach content analysis. Samples were collected in autumn 2007 off southwestern Australia when this oligotrophic area was under the influence of the seasonal Leeuwin Current, and in autumn 2010 on the tropical continental shelf of northwestern Australia. The species investigated during these periods were Benthosema fibulatum, B. pterotum, B. suborbitale, Dasyscopelus asper, Diaphus “deep” and “slender” morphotypes, Hygophum hygomii, Lampadena luminosa, Lampanyctus alatus, Lampanyctus spp. and Myctophum sp. Generally, myctophid larvae showed a diurnal feeding pattern. Only postflexion stages in L. alatus, L. luminosa, B. pterotum, Diaphus “slender”, and Myctophum sp. preyed at dawn or during the night. The highest feeding incidence was found in L. luminosa and the Diaphus “deep” morphotype, while the lowest, in H. hygomii. Generally, larvae were zooplankton feeders with nauplii and copepodites being the most abundant dietary groups, except for B. suborbitale and Myctophum sp. where the small non-calanoid genus Oncaea was dominant. Soft organisms such as appendicularians were frequent items in most fish diets throughout their entire larval phase, and highly abundant in Diaphus “deep” morphotype. The wide prey-size spectrum indicates that the majority of the fish species were not size-specific feeders for most of their larval life. Nevertheless, B. suborbitale, B. fibulatum, and L. alatus preferred larger prey, ignoring the smaller items as they grew. Larval feeding patterns of similar genera from other ecosystems are discussed and compared with those in Western Australia.

印度洋东南部的中生鱼类以大量的灯笼鱼（Myctophidae）为代表。先前已经研究了它们幼虫的水平分布模式。然而，关于幼虫摄食习惯的研究尚不存在。这项研究的目的是通过胃内容物分析描述西澳大利亚州最丰富的Myctophid幼虫的饮食和基于营养的策略。2007年秋季，该贫营养区受到季节性Leeuwin Current的影响，并于2010年秋季在澳大利亚西北部的热带大陆架上采集了样本。在这些时期中调查的物种是腓骨本氏菌，翼状芽孢杆菌，眶下芽孢杆菌，Dasyscopelus asper，肌的“深”和“细长”形态型，Hygophum hygomii，Lampadena luminosa，Lampanyctus alatus，Lampanyctus spp。和Myctophum sp。通常，食丝菌幼虫表现出昼夜摄食模式。在只有postflexion阶段L.矛，L. luminosa，B. pterotum，Diaphus “苗条”，和Myctophum SP。在黎明或夜间被捕食。进食率最高的是Luminosa和Diaphus的“深”形态，而最低的是H. hygomii。。一般而言，幼虫是浮游动物的食肉动物，无节食和co足类是最丰富的饮食群体，亚眶双歧杆菌和Myctophum sp。除外。小型非-属类Oncaea占优势。在大多数鱼类的整个幼鱼期中，诸如阑尾虫这样的柔软生物都是常见的食物，并且在Dia鱼的“深”形态中含量很高。猎物大小的光谱很宽，表明大多数鱼类在其大部分幼体生活中都不是特定大小的饲养者。尽管如此，B。suborbitale，B. fibulatum和L.矛宁愿选择较大的猎物，而忽略较小的物品，因为它们会越来越大。讨论了与其他生态系统相似属的幼虫取食方式，并将其与西澳大利亚州的幼虫取食方式进行了比较。