After receiving a tip from the public that a rare fish species had been spotted on a reef miles off Tazmania’s south east coast, researchers from the University of Tasmania's Institute of Marine and Antarctic Studies and citizen scientists from Reef Life Survey went snooping. After a nearly 3.5 hour dive, Antonia Cooper, and the rest of her team had decided to bring the day to a close, but venturing half-heartedly back Cooper saw something red in the water that caught her eye.
As it turns out the team had found a small colony of red handfish, Thymichthys politus. Handfish are critically endangered, and the discovery of this population optimistically doubles the known population to around 80 individuals. However, this may not be completely accurate, a fellow Rick Stuart-Smith from University of Tasmania states, as other discovered populations may well exist since it is a rare and cryptic species. The first population was found in 1800s, in a pocket of water in Frederick Henry Bay, south-east of Hobart. This new second population was found in a small area of only about two tennis courts.
Arguably one of the rarest fish species in the world, they are named for their modified hand-shaped pectoral fins. They are a benthic species that propel or “walk” themselves along the sea floor using their fins, rather than swimming. Growing up to 15 cm in length they are an anglerfish, eating worms and crustaceans, but do not use their illicium as a lure. Red handfish come in two color variants, one marked by red embellishments and the other bright red.
Their life-history likely contributes to their scarcity and endangered status, coupled with being the subject of the aquarium trade. They have low reproductive potential, laying their eggs on seaweeds, that can easily become dislodged by any number of things. Being quite immotile their dispersal capabilities are very limited.
Importantly, upon discovering this second population, it is in a habitat that is not identical to the first population. This has important conservation implications as Stuart-Smith says, "So we can take some heart from knowing red handfish are not as critically dependent on that particular set of local conditions”. Further, due to the handfishs’ life-history it is likely that the newly discovered population is genetically differentiated to the first population. These facts seem to work in the handfishs' favour. Finally, the location of this second location will remain a secret for the benefit of the population.
For the original source for this info please see: National Geographic
