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    • ROUNDSCALE SPEARFISH branchiostegal morphometric data

    Metadata Updated: April 1, 2026

    The morphometric characteristics that separate white marlin Kajikia albidus from roundscale spearfish Tetrapturus georgii can be difficult for non-experts to distinguish, particularly when the animals are in the water. Using the measurements of the lower jaw tip to the longest branchiostegal ray (LJBR) and the opercle (LJOP), a discriminant function is presented that will help field observers separate the two species. The function DR-W LJBR (3.31861) LJOP (-2.84856) 6.37198 classified specimens as roundscale spearfish when DR-W was 0 and as white marlin when DR-W 0 with a 95 correct classification rate overall. Since only the head of a specimen needs to be closely observed, the method has particular utility for tournament anglers during the hook removal process.

    Access & Use Information

    License: No license information was provided. If this work was prepared by an officer or employee of the United States government as part of that person's official duties it is considered a U.S. Government Work.

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    Dates

    Metadata Date March 4, 2026
    Metadata Created Date November 12, 2020
    Metadata Updated Date April 1, 2026
    Reference Date(s) (publication)
    Frequency Of Update

    Metadata Source

    Harvested from NMFS SEFSC

    Other Data Resources

    Additional Metadata

    Resource Type Dataset
    Metadata Date March 4, 2026
    Metadata Created Date November 12, 2020
    Metadata Updated Date April 1, 2026
    Reference Date(s) (publication)
    Responsible Party (Point of Contact, Custodian)
    Contact Email
    Guid gov.noaa.nmfs.inport:30416
    Access Constraints Cite As: Southeast Fisheries Science Center, [Date of Access]: ROUNDSCALE SPEARFISH branchiostegal morphometric data [Data Date Range], https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/30416., Access Constraints: Waiver Needed
    Bbox East Long -44
    Bbox North Lat 46
    Bbox South Lat 7
    Bbox West Long -95
    Coupled Resource
    Frequency Of Update
    Harvest Object Id ff8cb702-45d9-4777-8f2d-5c7965f025ff
    Harvest Source Id ca759a40-507d-4d0c-8f8c-64b3c5e05066
    Harvest Source Title NMFS SEFSC
    Licence NOAA provides no warranty, nor accepts any liability occurring from any incomplete, incorrect, or misleading data, or from any incorrect, incomplete, or misleading use of the data. It is the responsibility of the user to determine whether or not the data is suitable for the intended purpose.
    Lineage
    Metadata Language eng
    Metadata Type geospatial
    Old Spatial {"type": "Polygon", "coordinates": [[[-95.0, 7.0], [-44.0, 7.0], [-44.0, 46.0], [-95.0, 46.0], [-95.0, 7.0]]]}
    Progress underDevelopment
    Spatial Data Service Type
    Spatial Reference System
    Spatial Harvester True
    Temporal Extent Begin 2008
    Temporal Extent End 2009

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