Australian spotted handfish (Brachionichthys australis) fish species and information / pictures of Australian spotted handfish - Brachionichthys australis

Australian spotted handfish (Brachionichthys australis) fish species information

Scientific Name
Brachionichthys australis

Common Name
Australian spotted handfish

Biology
Dorsal soft rays (total): 18-20; Anal soft rays: 8 - 11. This species possess the following set of characters: esca small, 8-24% (mean 14%) of illicium length (including esca); illicium elongate, no dermal spinules, length 23-28% SL, 1.8-2.1 times in head length; eye large, mainly less than 5.4 times in head; body entirely covered with close-set, non-imbricate scales; scale bases subcircular with long unicuspid spinules (except for those closely associated with pores of the acoustico-lateralis system); spinules originating from middle of scale base, variable in length over body; second dorsal-fin rays 16-18 (mean 17), fin base 55-61% (mean 58%) SL; length of first ray of first dorsal fin 1.1-1.4 times length of longest ray of second dorsal fin; anal-fin rays usually 9-10; pectoral-fin rays 7; upper body lightly covered with longitudinal streak-like markings not spots; caudal fin with sparse coverage of large dark spots, not forming a broad submarginal bar (Ref. 72490).

Classification

Classified By
Last, Gledhill & Holmes, 2007
Class
Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)
Order
Anglerfishes (Lophiiformes)
Family
Handfishes (Brachionichthyidae)

Distribution

Region
Southern Indian to Pacific
Distribution
Southern Indian to Pacific: Australia.
Range
33°S - 43°S, 128°E - 150°E

Environment

Climate
Subtropical
Water Temperature From
Unknown °C
Water Temperature To
Unknown °C
Depth From - meters
18 m
Depth To - meters
210 m
Zone
demersal
Environment
Marine; demersal; depth range 18 - 210 m (Ref. 72490), usually 40 - 150 m (Ref. 72490)
Trophic Level
3.6 s.e. 0.50 Based on size and trophs of closest relatives
Occurs in Marine / Salt water
True
Occurs in Brackish water
False
Occurs in Fresh Water
False
Occurs on Reefs
False
Is kept in Aquariums
False

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length
6.4 cm
Common Length
Unknown cm
Phylogenetic Diversity Index
PD50 = 0.7501 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses
Unknown
Vulnerability
Low vulnerability (10 of 100)
Resilience
Unknown
Threat To Humans
  Harmless
IUCN Red List Status
  Not Evaluated