Spotted Handfish — printable fact sheet
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Spotted Handfish
Brachionichthys hirsutus
The Spotted Handfish is a small, benthic fish notable for its hand-like pectoral fins, which it uses to 'walk' along the sea floor instead of swimming. This critically endangered species is endemic to the estuaries and coastal waters around southeastern Tasmania, Australia. Char…
Did you know?
- The Spotted Handfish is so rare that it was once believed to be extinct before being rediscovered in the 1990s.
- The Spotted Handfish uses its pectoral fins to walk along the ocean floor like hands. It lays its eggs in clusters attached to stalked ascidians, and the female guards them until they hatch. This species was one of the first marine fish to be classified as critically endangered due to habitat loss and invasive species.
What I learned
Draw the spotted handfish
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