We review intrinsic traits of the early life stages of marine fishes to gain a better understanding of how climate-driven changes in abiotic (temperature) and biotic (match mismatch dynamics with prey) factors may differ among taxonomic groups and/or habitats (from low to high latitudes). Intrinsic traits related to the thermal sensitivity of development of endogenously feeding life stages included the time required for eggs to hatch (58 species, 26 families), the size of larvae at hatch (31 spp., 15 families) and the time required for young larvae to deplete energy reserves (48 spp, 22 families). These intrinsic factors will influence spatiotemporal match mismatch dynamics at first feeding, a critical period for growth and survival. In exogenously feeding larvae, key intrinsic traits reviewed included differences in early morphology and developmental trajectories (64 spp, 20 families) and the foraging ability of marine fish larvae. Routine and critical swimming speeds were 5-10 times higher in the larvae of species from low (tropical) versus higher (temperate/polar) latitudes. Based solely on routine metabolic losses (26 spp, 15 families), sevenfold increases in larval foraging requirements were estimated between 5 and 25 degrees C to offset starvation. Finally, a thorough review of larval diets (57 spp, 20 families) found clear differences (particularly at first feeding) by taxon and habitat. Our review and synthesis highlights gaps in knowledge and recommends future research directions to stengthen how larval development, feeding, and growth are depicted within individual-based models, which are useful tools for examining climate-driven processes affecting marine fishes and how intrinsic properties and extrinsic factors interact to influence survival. We argue that thorough, taxonomic and habitat-based comparisons of intrinsic properties of fish larvae are required to adequately project potential impacts of climate change on the distribution and productivity of marine fish species.