№ 26 of 100
Red Handfish
Thymichthys politus
Fish that walk on their hands across two reefs the size of football pitches — the entire species' world.
- Range
- Australia
- Region
- Oceania
- Habitat
- Two tiny rocky reefs in Frederick Henry Bay, Tasmania
The story
Red handfish don't swim so much as stroll, using pectoral fins like hands on the seafloor. Around 100 individuals survive on two fragments of Tasmanian reef being stripped by overgrazing urchins, so divers now run urchin culls, seagrass restoration and a captive breeding ark at local institutes.
What's killing them
- Habitat loss to urchin barrens
- Warming seas
- Pollution and coastal development
- Minute range
Who's fighting for them
IUCN Red ListInternational Union for Conservation of Nature — Species Survival Commission
Re:wildRe:wild — Global Wildlife Conservation
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Quick answers
How many Red Handfishs are left in the world?
Approximately ~100. The Red Handfish (Thymichthys politus) is listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List, and their population trend is declining. Figures are estimates compiled from the IUCN Red List and conservation organisations.
Where does the Red Handfish live?
The Red Handfish is found in Australia (Oceania). Their habitat: Two tiny rocky reefs in Frederick Henry Bay, Tasmania.
Why is the Red Handfish endangered?
The main threats to the Red Handfish are: Habitat loss to urchin barrens; Warming seas; Pollution and coastal development; Minute range.
Who is working to save the Red Handfish?
Organisations working on Red Handfish conservation include International Union for Conservation of Nature — Species Survival Commission; Re:wild — Global Wildlife Conservation.