Longfin handfish

📖 Overview

Longfin handfish (Pezichthys macropinnis), first described by Last & Gledhill, 2009 is a tiny fish. Adults typically reach 2.10 cm in maximum length. It inhabits marine coastal and open-ocean environments. It occurs in Temperate waters. It is broadly omnivorous, taking invertebrates, plant matter, and detritus. On the IUCN Red List, it is classified as Data Deficient.

🔬 Taxonomy

🐟 Physical Description

Dorsal soft rays (total): 17; Anal soft rays: 8. This species is distinct in having the following characters: small esca, 12% of illicium length (including esca); very elongate and slender illicium, without dermal spinules, about 26% SL in length, 1.9 times in head length; head length about 5.4 times snout length; long snout, length 9% SL; eye 6.9 times in head length; robust body, maximum width about 32% SL; interorbit broad, width about 15% SL; scales with subcircular bases, monospinulate or with prominent, strongly diverging bifurcate spinules (except for those closely associated with pores of the acoustico-lateralis system); spinules variable in length over body; dorsal-fin elements mostly lack spinules, membranes of fins naked; first dorsal-fin base about 18% SL; second dorsal-fin rays 15, fin base 63% SL; fin rays very elongate, longest ray of second dorsal fin about 35% SL; length of second dorsal-fin spine 0.9 times length of longest ray of second dorsal fin; anal-fin rays 8; pale body with a network of reddish streaks .: elongated.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Longfin handfish is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

🥚 Reproduction

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Marine; demersal; depth range ? - 145 m . Temperate South Australia.

🌿 Ecology

📐 Morphometrics

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

🛡️ Conservation Assessment

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

🐠 Related Species

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