Red handfish

The red handfish (Thymichthys politus) is a species of handfish in the genus Thymichthys, found in Frederick Henry Bay, Tasmania.[2]

Red handfish
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Lophiiformes
Family: Brachionichthyidae
Genus: Thymichthys
Species:
T. politus
Binomial name
Thymichthys politus
(Richardson, 1844)

Description

The red handfish is distinguished by its small, flattened wart-like protuberances that cover its body and red coloration. Two color morphs exist, a bright red morph with red color on both body and fins, with a black line separating the white fin edges and a mottled morph with pink body covered in many red patches, with translucent pink fins expressing some bright red patches. They measure an average standard length of 61.4 mm (2.4 in) and an average total length of 80.1 mm (3.2 in).[2] Like other handfishes, they have large developed pectoral fins, which they use to walk along the sea floor.[3]

Distribution

Historically, the species was found in multiple subpopulations in Tasmania, including Port Arthur, Fortescue Bay, the Actaeon Islands, D'Entrecasteaux Channel, and the Forestier Peninsula. Currently, the species has been found only on 2 small reefs in Frederick Henry Bay. These reefs measure a circular area of no more than 75 meters and 50 meters in diameter.[1] It is found at depth ranges from 1 m up to 20 m.[2]

Threats

General threats to red handfish include small, very fragmented populations and local increases in density of native purple urchins. Native purple urchins overgraze the seaweed habitat required for shelter and spawning for the red handfish. Summer observations of low seaweed on urchin barrens suggest that loss of seaweed habitat might represent a key threat to long term viability of the population In addition, the close vicinity of urban development increases the risk of nutrient runoff, pollution, siltation, and turbidity. This results in habitat degradation through the ruin of the red handfish’s preferred seaweed habitat.

References
  1. Stuart-Smith, R.; Edgar, G. & Last, P.R. (2020). "Thymichthys politus". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN. 2020: e.T123423510A123424379. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-1.RLTS.T123423510A123424379.en. Listed as Critically Endangered (CR B1ab+2ab;C2a)
  2. Last, P.R. & Gledhill, D.C (2009). "A revision of the Australian handfishes (Lophiiformes: Brachionichthyidae), with descriptions of three new genera and nine new species.". Zootaxa. Magnolia Press. 2252 (1): 1–77. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.2252.1.
  3. "Issues paper: Population status of and threats to four handfish species" (PDF). Australian Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment. Australian Department of the Environment and Heritage. 2004. Retrieved April 20, 2020.
  • Graham J. Edgar. (2017). New opportunities for conservation of handfishes (Family Brachionichthyidae) and other inconspicuous and threatened marine species through citizen science. ScienceDirect. 174-182. doi:10.1016/j.biocon.2016.07.028.
  • Jemima, Smith. (2020). Conservation challenges for the most threatened family of marine bony fishes (handfishes: Brachionichthyidae). ScienceDirect. doi:10.1016/j.biocon.2020.108831

These sources are from the science citation index. Specifically, they were found through the University of Illinois at Chicago database.

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