Ziebell’s Handfish, Brachiopsilus ziebelli Last & Gledhill 2009


Other Names: Actaeon Handfish, Waterfall Bay Handfish, Waterfall Handfish, Yellow-finned Handfish

Ziebell’s Handfish, Brachiopsilus ziebelli, guarding her egg mass. Source: Karen Gowlett-Holmes. License: All rights reserved

Summary:
The large pink to whitish handfish with purple to brownish irregular blotches on the upper surface and sides, bright yellow fins, and sometimes the yellow extending onto the body near the fins. 

Known only from eastern and southern Tasmania - in the southern parts of the D’Entrecasteaux Channel, Cox Bight in south-west Tasmania, and the Forestier and Tasman peninsulas, and off Bicheno, eastern Tasmania.

Cite this page as:
Dianne J. Bray, Brachiopsilus ziebelli in Fishes of Australia, accessed 13 Nov 2024, https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/2678

Ziebell’s Handfish, Brachiopsilus ziebelli Last & Gledhill 2009

More Info


Distribution

Known only from eastern and southern Tasmania - in the southern parts of the D’Entrecasteaux Channel, Cox Bight in south-west Tasmania, and the Forestier and Tasman Peninsulas, and off Bicheno, eastern Tasmania.

Inhabits rocky areas and soft bottoms, often near rocky patches with sponge and macroalgal communities.

Biology

Females lay their egg masses around sponges in depths of about 20 m. On hatching, the young settle directly to the bottom near the egg mass.

Conservation

Commonwealth of Australia 2015 Recovery Plan for Three Handfish Species

Author

Dianne J. Bray

Ziebell’s Handfish, Brachiopsilus ziebelli Last & Gledhill 2009

References


Commonwealth of Australia 2015 Recovery Plan for Three Handfish Species

Edgar, G.J., P.R. Last & M.W. Wells (1982). Coastal Fishes of Tasmania and Bass Strait. Tasmanian Underwater Photographic Society, 176 pp. Edgar GJ, Stuart-Smith RD, Cooper A, Jacques M, Valentine J. 2016. New opportunities for conservation of handfishes. Biological Conservation (Family Brachionichthyidae) and other inconspicuous and threatened marine species through citizen science. Biological Conservation http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2016.07.028

Last, P.R. & Gledhill, D.C. 2009. A revision of the Australian handfishes (Lophiiformes: Brachionichthyidae), with descriptions of three new genera and nine new species. Zootaxa 2252: 1-77.

Last, P.R., E.O.G. Scott, & F.H. Talbot (1983). Fishes of Tasmania. Hobart: Tasmania Fisheries Development Authority.

Pogonoski, J.J., D.A. Pollard & J.R. Paxton (2002). Conservation Overview and Action Plan for Australian Threatened and Potentially Threatened Marine and Estuarine Fishes. [Online]. Canberra, ACT: Environment Australia. Available from: http://www.environment.gov.au/coasts/publications/marine-fish-action/pubs/marine-fish.pdf.

Quick Facts


CAAB Code:37209006

Conservation:EPBC Act Vulnerable; TAS Protected

Depth:10-20 m

Habitat:Reef associated, soft bottoms

Max Size:15 cm TL

Native:Endemic

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