Ziebell's Handfish
📖 Overview
Ziebell's Handfish (Brachiopsilus ziebelli), first described by Last & Gledhill, 2009 is a small fish. Adults typically reach 11.70 cm in maximum length. It inhabits marine coastal and open-ocean environments. Recorded depth range: 10 to 20 metres. It occurs in Temperate waters. It feeds on a mix of small fish and invertebrates as a mid-level predator. On the IUCN Red List, it is classified as Critically Endangered.
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 Physical Description
Dorsal spines (total): 18 - 20; Anal spines: 9 - 10. Member of the genus Brachiopsilus with a combination of the following characters: esca small, 19–32% of illicium length; illicium thick, fleshy, length 18–24% SL, 2.4–3.0 times in head length, 1.2–1.4 times in length of second dorsal-fin spine; apex of esca situated well posterior of hind margin of eye when illicium adpressed; esca slightly wider than illicial stem, covered with dense, short papillae; head bulbous; eye small (horizontal diameter 5–6% SL); mouth broad; lips very fleshy with vertical folds; body and fins entirely naked in adults (except for scales associated with pores of the acoustico-lateralis system); 4 sensory pores above eye; short first dorsal-fin base (length 21–25% SL); second dorsal-fin rays 16–18, length of fin base 63–70% SL; length of second dorsal-fin spine 0.8–1.2 times length of longest ray of second dorsal fin; 9–10 anal-fin rays, length of anal-fin base 34–38% SL; 9 pectoral-fin rays; short caudal peduncle (length 2–5% SL); caudal fin small, its length barely longer than fin rays of pectoral fin, length 2.7–3.4 times caudal peduncle depth; body whitish with fine, greyish purple peppering; fins vivid yellow .: elongated.
🌀 Behaviour
Behavioural data for Ziebell's Handfish is currently being reviewed.
🦐 Diet
🥚 Reproduction
🌍 Habitat & Distribution
Marine; demersal; depth range 10 - 20 m . Temperate; 43°S - 44°S, 146°E - 148°E Indian Ocean: Restricted to eastern and southern Tasmania, Australia.
🌿 Ecology
📐 Morphometrics
🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance
🛡️ Conservation Assessment
📊 Population Risk & Fisheries
👥 Community & Contribute
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