Longfin handfish (Pezichthys macropinnis)

Scientific name: Pezichthys macropinnis Last & Gledhill, 2009

The Longfin handfish (Pezichthys macropinnis) is a marine fish of the family Brachionichthyidae. Native range: Eastern Indian Ocean, South Australia.

Biology

Dorsal soft rays (total): 17; Anal soft rays: 8. This species is distinct in having the following characters: small esca, 12% of illicium length (including esca); very elongate and slender illicium, without dermal spinules, about 26% SL in length, 1.9 times in head length; head length about 5.4 times snout length; long snout, length 9% SL; eye 6.9 times in head length; robust body, maximum width about 32% SL; interorbit broad, width about 15% SL; scales with subcircular bases, monospinulate or with prominent, strongly diverging bifurcate spinules (except for those closely associated with pores of the acoustico-lateralis system); spinules variable in length over body; dorsal-fin elements mostly lack spinules, membranes of fins naked; first dorsal-fin base about 18% SL; second dorsal-fin rays 15, fin base 63% SL; fin rays very elongate, longest ray of second dorsal fin about 35% SL; length of second dorsal-fin spine 0.9 times length of longest ray of second dorsal fin; anal-fin ray

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Pezichthys macropinnis
Family
Brachionichthyidae (Handfishes)
Order
Lophiiformes (Anglerfishes)
Class
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length
2.1
Depth range
145 m (476 ft)
Environment
Marine; demersal; depth range ? - 145 m
Climate
Temperate
Distribution
Eastern Indian Ocean: South Australia.
Conservation status (IUCN)
Not Evaluated
Threat to humans
Harmless

Sources

Taxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

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