Table 2. — Morphometric data for three specimens' of Tetraptiinis georgei expressed in millimeters and in percentage of 

 body length. Measurements are as defmed by Rivas (1956) unless otherwise indicated. Numbers in parentheses refer to 

 the numbered definitions of Rivas; see Robins and de Sylva, 1960:384-385 for explanation of abbreviations. 



ments were taken. 



Flesh color is of uncertain value in istiophorid 

 taxonomy but does reflect differences in myoglobin 

 content. In T. georgei the flesh is distinctly redder 

 than in belone and more like T . alhidus. 



Perhaps the most diagnostic feature of georgei is 

 its lateral squamation. An area 100 x 100 mm is 

 illustrated in Figure 2. Dorsal and ventral to this 

 area, the scales are more elongate, stiffer, and with 

 only one point or two closely approximated points. 

 The lateral scales are softer and more flexible than in 

 all other istiophorids. In counting vertebrae, the au- 



thor makes a slit along one side to expose the centra. 

 In running one's hand along this section, one always 

 moves from front to back to avoid the very sharp 

 posterior spine of istiophorid scales. The soft scales 

 oi georgei offer no such danger. 



The lateral line is simple as in all species of 

 Tetrapturus. 



Relationships. T. georgei most resembles the 

 white marlin, T. ulbidus. This is due largely to the 

 somewhat humped nape and the broadly rounded 

 anterior lobes of the first dorsal and anal fins. 



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