The spotted handfish (Brachionichthys hirsutus), endemic to the Derwent River, is listed as critically endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature red list. It is also listed as endangered on the Tasmanian threatened species list. Handfish are coastal anglerfish that walk on the sea floor on their “hands”. There are 14 species distributed across South East Australia, with seven endemic to Tasmania and Bass Strait. Spotted handfish once extended up Tasmania’s East Coast as well as Frederick Henry Bay in the South East. But since the 1990s they have been in decline, with estimates of about 1000 left across nine sites in the Derwent and one in D’Entrecasteaux Channel.
Source: The Mercury, Sept 30, 2017
http://www.themercury.com.au/news/tasmania/battle-to-save-spotted-handf…
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