This study describes the taxonomic composition and horizontal distribution of Serranidae larvae along Southeastern Brazilian Continental Shelf (SBSC), and investigates how environmental and biological factors influence the larval distribuction. The samplers, deposited in the Marine Biological Collection "Prof. E. F. Nonato", were collected on the 10 survey cruisers conducted on january, may, september and december from 1975 to 1981, between cape Frio (RJ) to cape Santa Marta Grande (SC). Larvae of Serranidae (933) were identified into 14 taxa (Diplectrum formosum, Diplectrum spp., Serranus spp., Epinephelus itajara, Epinephelus morio, Epinephelus nigritus, Epinephelus tipo 1, Epinephelus spp., Mycteroperca spp., Pseudogramma gregoryi, Rypticus spp., Anthias menezesi, Hemanthias vivanus, Pronotogrammus martinicensis), included in nine genera and three subfamilies (Serraninae, Anthiinae and Epinephelinae). Except for Diplectrum formosum, that was widely distributed throughout the southeastern continental shelf, and Epinephelus type 1 and Hemanthias vivanus, that were distributed into the south portion of the SBSC, other taxa distributed into the north portion of the SBSC (from cape Frio to São Sebastião), not exceeding the 200 m isobath. The salinity, latitude and distance of islands were significant factors in the horizontal distribution of Diplectrum formosum, Diplectrum spp., Serranus spp., Epinephelus type 1 and Mycteroperca spp., most abundant taxa. A significant progress was considered in identifying grouper larvae (Epinephelus morio, Epinephelus itajara and Epinephelus nigritus) and ratified the morphology of the elongated spines of E. nigritus.