Divers James Parkinson, Brad Turner, and Bob Van Der Velde were exploring the wreck of the SS Tasman earlier this year when they discovered an uncommon and endangered creature– a pink handfish. The grumpy-looking fish is not only really rare but also extremely odd.
The handfish has a large mouth, which appears somewhat downturned, as if it’s frowning. Living up to its name, the handfish likewise “walks” along the seafloor with its “hands” (modified pectoral fins). Handfishes are a type of anglerfish (related to the deep-sea anglerfish with the dangling lure), so that mohawky thing on top of the pink handfish’s head just runs in the household.
All dozen or two handfish species live in the waters surrounding Tasmania and Australia. The SS Tasman wreck sits 230 feet listed below the surface area near the Tasman Peninsula, and that’s where Parkinson, Turner, and Van Der Velde found and filmed this specific animal.
In a YouTube video by Tasmanian Underwater Explorer, who doesn’t recognize himself by name, you can watch the moments leading up to the discovery and the discovery itself. The caption claims divers have only seen a pink handfish on 3 other events. Tasmanian Undersea Explorer also claims these are the first images scuba divers have taken of the unusual fish.
Enjoy the discovery here:
Pink Handfish Are at Threat of Extinction
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) lists pink handfish as “endangered” on its Red List of Threatened Types. Because handfishes’ variety is extremely restricted (these are strolling fish, after all, how far can they go?), the animals are especially at threat from environment damage and altering climate in their environment. In fact, IUCN declared one types, the smooth handfish, extinct as just recently as 2020.
Have you ever became aware of a fish with “hands”?
3 scuba divers checking out a shipwreck encountered an unusual creature, a pink handfish. These endangered fish have “hands” and mohawks.