The Spotted Hand Fish (Brachionichthys hirsutus)

Environment Australia, 2002

Tasmania - Threatened Species Day fact sheet
Lend a hand for the walking fish!

The Spotted Hand Fish

Illustration: Barbara Cameron-Smith
The endangered Spotted Handfish is a small, unusual fish that is slow-moving and prefers to 'walk'
on its pectoral and pelvic fins rather than swim. The pectoral or side fins are leg-like and resemble a
human hand hence their common name. Their body is white or cream and is covered in numerous
small, closely set orange, brown or blackish spots.
The Spotted Handfish is a bottom dwelling fish that lives in coarse to fine silt and sand at depths of
230 metres. They spawn from September to October and lay an interconnected egg mass of 80
250 eggs on objects attached to the sea bottom. The female remains with the egg mass for 78
weeks until hatching. Their diet includes small crustacea and worms and they are often found in
shallow, shell-filled depressions near low relief rocks projecting from the sand.
What is its habitat and why is it important?
Common throughout the lower Derwent estuary and adjoining bays prior to the mid 1980s, the
Spotted Handfish has suffered a serious decline in distribution and abundance. Only a handful of
populations are now found around the mouth of the Derwent estuary.
Handfish lack a larval stage and hatch as fully formed juveniles (67mm in length) which move
straight to the sea floor and appear to remain in the vicinity of spawning throughout their lives. This
has two important consequences. First, colonies may be relatively isolated (ie mixing between them
is restricted) and a reduction in spawning success may seriously impact on a colony. Second, the
ability for Handfish to recolonise areas from which they have been displaced is likely to be low.
What are the threats?
The cause of the decline of the Spotted Handfish is yet to be accurately determined. Suggested
threats include:
predation on egg masses, or on the food supply of the Handfish by the northern Pacific
Seastar Asterias amurensis, an exotic pest;

loss of the natural sandy habitat through increased siltation caused by land clearing; and
heavy metal contamination of sediments and urban effluent.
What is being done to help?
Spotted Handfish are protected under Tasmanian law and the Commonwealth's Environment
Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. Over the last five years, the Commonwealth
Government, through the Natural Heritage Trust, has contributed over $390 000 to help ensure the
survival of the Handfish. These projects, which have included researching and monitoring existing
populations; public education and awareness raising; and identifying threats, have been undertaken
in conjunction with the Tasmanian Department of Primary Industries, Water and the Environment
and the CSIRO.
How can you help?
You can help protect Tasmanian threatened species, including the Spotted Handfish by:
protecting habitat for all our native animals;
supporting local efforts to conserve threatened species in your area by joining a local conservation
organisation, 'friends', Bushcare or Coastcare group, or by volunteering for Conservation Volunteers
Australia; and
participating in special events such as information nights, tree planting days, weed eradication
programs, and seastar eradication events.