| Family: |
Brachionichthyidae (Handfishes) |
| Max. size: |
9.95 cm SL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
demersal; marine; depth range - 38 m |
| Distribution: |
Eastern Indian Ocean: Australia: Tasmania. |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 19-21; Anal spines: 9-10. Member of the genus Brachiopsilus with a combination of the following characters: esca of
medium size, 29–38% of illicium length; illicium smooth, thin, not exceedingly fleshy, length 15–16% SL, 3–3.5 times in head length, 2.0–2.3 times in length of second dorsal-fin spine; with illicium adpressed, apex of esca situated above posterior half of eye; esca much wider than illicial stem, covered with dense, short, filaments; head slightly compressed; moderate-sized eye (horizontal diameter 6–7% SL); mouth narrow; lips fleshy with irregular folds; body and fins entirely naked in adults (except for scales associated with pores of the acoustico-lateralis system); 5 sensory pores above eye; long first dorsal-fin base (length 26–30% SL); second dorsal-fin rays 17–18, fin base 73–76% SL; length of second dorsal-fin spine 1.3–1.5 times length of longest ray of second dorsal fin; 9–10 anal-fin rays, length of anal-fin base 38–39% SL; 9–10 pectoral-fin rays; very short caudal peduncle (length 1–2% SL); caudal fin of medium size, its length much longer than fin rays of pectoral fin, length 3.2–4.0 times caudal peduncle depth; body pinkish red, darker reddish brown markings along dorsal fin margins remnant in preservative. |
| Biology: |
Attains at least 99.5 mm SL (ca. 136 mm TL); smallest specimen examined 68.5 mm SL (Ref. 82446). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Endangered (EN); Date assessed: 30 April 2018 (B1ab(v)+2ab(v)) Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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