Smooth handfish

📖 Overview

Smooth handfish (Sympterichthys unipennis), first described by Cuvier, 1817 is a tiny fish. Adults typically reach 4.40 cm in maximum length. It inhabits marine coastal and open-ocean environments. 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 Data Deficient.

🔬 Taxonomy

🐟 Physical Description

Dorsal soft rays (total): 19; Anal soft rays: 9. This species is distinct with a combination of the following characters: minute esca, as a simple filament (possibly damaged); illicium with thick base, thin distally, no dermal spinules, length about 18% SL, 2.7 times in head length; close-set, embedded, nonimbricate, spiny scales cover the entire body; scale bases variable in shape, dendritic to narrowly thallate, with long unicuspid or bifurcate spinules (except for those closely associated with pores of the acoustico-lateralis system); adpressed spinules, posteriorly directed, originating from posterior region of scale base, apical spines moderately divergent; second dorsal-fin rays 17, fin base 64% SL; length of second dorsal-fin spine 1.3 times length of longest ray of second dorsal fin; anal-fin rays 9; pectoral-fin rays 9; fresh coloration unknown, pale in preservative with darker markings on first dorsal fin and membranes of pectoral, pelvic and caudal fins .: elongated.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Smooth handfish is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

🥚 Reproduction

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Marine; demersal. Temperate Southwest Pacific: Endemic to Tasmania, Australia.

🌿 Ecology

📐 Morphometrics

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

🛡️ Conservation Assessment

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

🐠 Related Species

👥 Community & Contribute