Red handfish

📖 Overview

A benthic species which occurs in inshore waters , most often observed underneath algal canopies . Rare and cryptic, particularly vulnerable to extinction .

🔬 Taxonomy

🐟 Physical Description

Dorsal soft rays (total): 18 - 19; Anal soft rays: 9 - 10. This species is distinguished by the following combination of characters: large esca, 45-65% (mean 52%) of illicium length (including esca); short illicium, thick and fleshy, no dermal spinules, length 14-17% SL, 3-3.4 times in head length, well separated from upper jaw (pre-illicial length 3.3-7.9% SL); moderate size eye, 6.9-9.3 times in head; body variably covered with small, close-set flattened warts but no well-developed dermal flaps; posterior margins of warts usually with a small, sharp, prostrate spine (mostly embedded with its tip sometimes visible); deeply embedded scales, widely spaced; second dorsal-fin rays 16-17, fin base 63-71 (mean 67)% SL; length of second dorsal-fin spine 0.7-1 times length of longest ray of second dorsal fin; anal-fin rays 9-10; pectoral-fin rays 9 (rarely 10); body variable shades of red, often paler ventrally; often bluish or blackish near dorsal tips of pectoral and pelvic fins, and along margins of dorsal, anal and caudal fins .: elongated.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Red handfish is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

Diet information for Red handfish is currently being compiled.

🥚 Reproduction

Reproduction data for Red handfish is currently being compiled.

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Marine; demersal; depth range ? - 6 m . Temperate Southwest Pacific: Endemic to Tasmania.

🌿 Ecology

📐 Morphometrics

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

🛡️ Conservation Assessment

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

🐠 Related Species

👥 Community & Contribute