The spotted handfish, Brachionichthys hirsutus, is a rare
Australian fish from the family Brachionichthyidae. It is classified as Critically Endangered (CR - A1cde) on the IUCN Red List 2002. It is a benthic fish usually found in depths of 5 to 10 metres.
with overall sightings varying from a minimum of 2 metres depth up to a maximum of 30 metres deep. They have been recorded from depths between 2-30 m but appear to be most common in 5-10 m.
The spotted handfish is unusual in that it has highly adapted pectoral fins, which appear like hands (hence the name) and allow it to walk on the sea floor.
The handfishes are a unique, Australian family of anglerfish, the most speciose of the few marine fish families that are endemic to Australia.
Handfish are unusual, small (up to 120mm in length), slow moving benthic fishes that prefer to 'walk' rather than swim. The pectoral, or side fins, are leg-like with extremities resembling a human hand (hence their common name). It is believed that females reach sexual maturity after 2-3 years when they have reached a length of 75-80mm