Seeing Red
Seeing Red
Photograph courtesy CSIRO
The red handfish, a previously known species, is listed as vulnerable in Australia, where it's found only around the southern island state of Tasmania.
Not much is known about handfish, because their populations are low and they are not often seen in the wild. But researchers suggest handfish lay fewer eggs than most other fish species, which means their long-term survival is a concern.
Handfish also tend to stay very close to home, so they don't adapt well to new places, said fish taxonomist Gledhill.
Published May 24, 2010
