During the course of 25 years of ichthyoplankton investigations in the tropical and sub-tropical East Atlantic, 21 larval to juvenile specimens of deep-sea smelt Bathylagus greyae Cohen, 1958,were recorded from subtropical latitudes of both hemispheres. Morphology, development and pigmentation are described. Larger specimens had vertebrae counts of 44-46. Bathylagus greyae larvae have sessile, slightly oblong eyes of medium size, a relatively long head, high reaching gill slit, ventrally located pectoral fins, a straight gut with slightly trailing anus located at 72-83% of body length in early larvae and at 76-84% later. Diagnostic features are a paired series of numerous small, but conspicuous supraintestinal melanophores, early development of dorsolateral pigment above the anus, and a lateral series of melanophores developing from midbody. Yolk sac larvae of B. greyae were 2.1 to 4.3 mm long (at maximum). Notochord flexion and caudal fin skeleton development start at approximately 8 mm notochord length. Transformation to juvenile starts at approximately 20 mm length.