The early stages of development of the scorpionfish Sebastes capensis in the Southeast Atlantic are described. A morphometric study of the larval stages, which includes the allometric relationships between different parts of the body and the standard length during development, are given. The larvae of this species were distinguished from those of other scorpionfish in the region on the basis of larval morphology and the pigmentation pattern, in conjunction with the bathymetric distribution of the adults. A comparative study of these larvae and those of other Sebastes spp. from the southern coasts of South America is included. Considering the usefulness of larval characters in systematic studies the description presented here could contribute in elucidating the confused taxonomic status of the genus Sebastes in the Southern Hemisphere. In the Southeast Atlantic spawning of S. capensis takes place all year long, but it is most intense in spring and summer, coinciding with maximum upwelling and lower temperatures inshore. The spatial distribution of the larvae revealed that they prefered cool South Atlantic waters, with the 16°C isotherm being the upper limit of their distribution

7 pages, 4 figures, 2 tables