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Thymichthys Politus (Red Handfish) Thymichthys Politus Based On

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Thymichthys Politus (Red Handfish) Thymichthys Politus Based On Listing Statement for Thymichthys politus (Red Handfish) Thymichthys politus Based on Red Handfish T A S M A N I A N T H R E A T E N E D S P E C I E S L I S T I N G S T A T E M E N T Image by Tyson Bessell Common name: Red Handfish Scientific name: Thymichthys politus (Richardson, 1844) Group: Actinopterygii, Lophiiformes, Brachionichthyidae Status: Threatened Species Protection Act 1995: endangered Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999: Critically Endangered IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered (pending) Distribution: Endemic status: Endemic to Tasmania’s eastern coast Tasmanian NRM Regions: South Figure 1. The current known extant distribution Plate 1. Red Handfish. Images by Rick of the Red Handfish. Stuart-Smith (top) and Tyson Bessell (bottom). 1 Threatened Species Section – Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment Listing Statement for Thymichthys politus (Red Handfish) SUMMARY Red Handfish are a slow moving, benthic fish that use their hand-like fins to “walk” along the The Red Handfish (Thymichthys politus) is a small, seafloor, rather than swim (although they benthic fish endemic to Tasmania and is one of possess a limited capacity to swim over short three listed threatened handfish species. distances). The current known population (two colonies in The Red Handish feeds on small crustaceans close proximity) is approximately 100 individual and worms (Kuiter 1996). adult fish. Handfish depend upon vertical structures for Threats to the species include small population use as spawning substrate. Unlike the Spotted size, degradation and loss of habitat, poaching, Handfish, which use stalked ascidians upon stochastic events, and possibly warming seas. which to deposit eggs, the Red Handfish prefer to spawn amongst green algae (in particular, A Recovery Team oversees a collaborative Caulerpa simpliciuscula) and seagrass. Red research and management effort aimed at Handfish egg masses comprise around 30 – 60 improving the status of the species. eggs and are spawned in late spring (Bruce et al. 1997), producing far fewer eggs than the IDENTIFICATION AND ECOLOGY Spotted Handfish which produce egg masses of between 80 – 200 eggs (Last and Bruce 1996- Thymichthys politus (known as the Red Handfish) 97). An adult Red Handfish (it is assumed to is a member of the fish family be the mother) guards the egg mass for a period Brachionichthyidae, which comprises 14 extant of 7 – 8 weeks until the fully-formed young species of which 11 occur in the seas around hatch. Upon hatching, the young are Tasmania. approximately 6 – 7 mm in length (Pogonoski et al. 2002). The Red Handfish is a small and cryptic species. It is the smallest of the three Survey techniques threatened Tasmanian handfish species, with adults typically 7 – 9 cm in length (Handfish Surveying for Red Handfish should be Conservation Project 2019). Sexual systematic. Diver-based surveys are dimorphism is suspected (Bruce et al. 1997). recommended and should be undertaken by suitably experienced personnel. Any Despite its small size, the Red Handfish has a development-related proposals near to known rather elongate and somewhat compressed (current and historic) populations should be body that tapers towards the tail. The skin is informed by appropriate best-practice surveys. covered in small, flattened warts and most of the scales and associated spines of this species Confusing species are embedded in the skin (Gledhill and Green, unpublished). The Red Handfish is not easily confused with other handfish species due to their small size Despite its name, the Red Handfish can vary in and distinctive appearance. colouration across a continuum of white/cream, orange and red tones and with DISTRIBUTION AND HABITAT patches of black and/or white on fins (R. Stuart-Smith, pers. com.). Examples of the The Red Handfish is endemic to the east coast colourations that have been observed include a of Tasmania. There are historical records from solid bright red body and fin bases with the sites off Port Arthur, Fortescue Bay, Lobster outer parts of the fins bluish and white, and Point, the Forestier Peninsula and north coast another is a mottled pinkish colour with red of Tasmania, but they are now only known to patches and spots (Last and Gledhill 2009). occur in two small areas near Primrose Sands. 2 Threatened Species Section – Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment Listing Statement for Thymichthys politus (Red Handfish) Red Handfish have a strong association with In 2016, the species was added to Schedule 3 reefs but may inhabit a variety of locations (extant endangered species) of the Threatened including: the top of rocks, amongst Species Protection Act 1995. Eligibility for this macroalgae, in sandy areas between rocks and listing was based on Criteria B (extent of the reef-sand and on sediments with seagrass occurrence and/or area of occupancy), form 1 and weed clumps near reefs – but all within a (severely fragmented or known to exist at no depth distribution ranging from 1 to 20 m more than five locations), forms 2c, d and e (Commonwealth of Australia 2015). (continuing decline in: area, extent and/or quality of habitat; number of locations or Due to their small population size and small subpopulations, and; number of mature and disjunct distribution, all areas within which individuals). Red Handfish have been found (and around these areas) are considered vital habitat for the THREATS, LIMITING FACTORS & species’ survival. MANAGEMENT ISSUES POPULATION PARAMETERS Threats, limiting factors and management issues for Red Handfish include: The species was once abundant in places along the south-east coast but is now one of the Degradation and loss of habitat: The most rarest marine fish species in the world (Marine significant threat to Red Handfish is the Biodiversity Hub 2019a). increase in the abundance of sea urchins which has resulted in significant overgrazing of the At time of preparation of this Listing algae upon which the Red Handfish depends. Statement, only two small colonies are known, The causes of sea urchin density increase on both in Frederick Henry Bay (Marine multiple occasions in the last two decades are Biodiversity Hub 2019b). The most recent unknown, but likely includes a reduction in estimates, based on extrapolation of rock lobsters through fishing. Research is being observations, suggest that there are likely to be conducted to improve our understanding of sea approximately 100 adult Red Handfish in urchin ecology and their impacts, including existence (T. Bessell, pers. com.); although no population surveys and barren extent and the formal population estimate has been possible to trial of control measures. Other threats date. include: pollution and siltation; inappropriate development that may result in direct RESERVATION STATUS disturbance of Red Handfish or adversely affect its habitat; and possibly increasing water Both known extant colonies are within temperatures. Coastal developments, Frederick Henry Bay, which is not a reserved particularly those that involve dredging have area. the potential to impact the Red Handfish which live in shallow coastal environments. CONSERVATION STATUS Low number of colonies and small The Red Handfish was listed as Vulnerable population size: The small population size is a under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity limiting factor on the recovery of the species. Conservation Act 1999 (EBPCA) in 2004 and was Small populations are more at risk from low uplisted to Critically Endangered in 2012 based genetic diversity and the impact of threatening on Criterion 2 (its geographic distribution is processes and stochastic events. precarious for the survival of the species and is very restricted, restricted or limited) (Threatened Species Scientific Committee 2011). 3 Threatened Species Section – Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment Listing Statement for Thymichthys politus (Red Handfish) Direct human impact: A potential threat is Captive husbandry trial: Ex-situ breeding and physical damage to the Red Handfish and its restocking of wild populations has been habitat through actions such as trampling at identified as a priority for bolstering current low tide, boat propeller wash disturbing populations and possibly re-establishing handfish eggs, anchoring, and accidental populations at sites previously occupied. A damage during sea urchin harvesting or preliminary captive husbandry and head- recreational lobster and abalone harvest. starting trial has been started, but more experimental aquaculture research is needed to Illegal collection: Due to their charismatic progress this priority. The captive trial has also appearance Red Handfish are likely to be highly provided the opportunity to raise awareness of sought after by collectors. Due to the extremely the plight of the species through public display small population size, any illegal collection for and awareness information sessions. the purposes of personal aquaria or the aquarium trade would be a significant threat to Community awareness: In 2018, the this species. Handfish Conservation Project (https://handfish.org.au) was established to Climate change: An increase in water raise awareness and funds to further handfish temperatures is a potential threat (Gledhill and research and conservation management efforts. Green, unpublished). Warmer water A Red Handfish Fact Sheet is also available temperatures may impact upon Red Handfish from the NESP Marine Biodiversity
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