During the 1990s the species was sighted regularly at Primrose Sands (Bruce et al. The largest known population, and the only population currently confirmed, is at Primrose Sands Reef in Frederick Henry Bay. Furthermore, there have been no dedicated systematic, quantitative or spatial surveys to census population parameters of red handfish. No other locations are known where red handfish can currently be found (Gledhill & Green unpub.) with only two reported observations from the Port Arthur area since the 1980's (Gowlett-Holmes, pers comm., cited in Last & Gledhill 2009).ĭetermining trends in red handfish populations is difficult because the species is small, cryptic and extremely rare. No red handfish were observed on the sediments in the bay during surveys in 2005 (Gledhill & Green unpub.), however small numbers of individuals (5-10) have been recorded at this location since the early 2010s (Jacques unpub.).
Red handfish were not seen at Primrose Sands Reef for several years following an infestation of native sea urchin destroyed the seaweed habitat (Last & Gledhill 2009). The largest known population was found at Primrose Sands Reef in Frederick Henry Bay during the 1990's (Last & Gledhill 2009) and 15 sightings of at least 10 individuals were reported by Bruce and colleagues (1997) during 1996, with additional specimens sighted on deeper soft substrate in the bay in 1999 (Gledhill & Green unpub.). A few specimens were also found at Port Arthur and off the Forestier Peninsula during the 1980's, and one additional specimen was collected off Bridport (Bass Strait) in 1950 (Last & Gledhill 2009).
The red handfish was first collected near Port Arthur in the 19th Century and was rediscovered at a small reef near the Actaeon Islands in the 1980's (Last et al. One morph is a uniform vivid red over the body and fin bases with the outer parts of the fins bluish and white the second morph is a less strikingly mottled pink with extensive reddish patches and spots over the body and (usually) also the fins (Last & Gledhill 2009). There are two primary colour morphs, both dominated by reddish tones.
#REDHAND FISH SKIN#
Unlike the spotted handfish, most scales and the associated spines of this species are fully embedded in the skin (Last & Gledhill 2009). The skin is covered in small, close-set, flattened warts. The species grows to at least 136 mm total length and has a relatively elongate and moderately compressed body that tapers towards the tail. Red handfish are small, slow moving benthic fish that are mostly red in colour. Thymichthys is a genus of fish in the family Brachionichthyidae (commonly known as "handfishes").
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