There are 14 species of handfish, which got their name because the fish has hand-like fins that it uses for walking.
Handfish are only found in Australia and scientists estimate that for the spotted handfish, there are fewer than 3,000 handfish left in the world. For the red handfish, there are only 100 left in the world.
Handfish are not extinct, but they are endangered. Habitat loss, pollution, siltation, direct disturbance, and climate change, all impact handfish populations.
A nursery at the University of Tasmania has been nurturing a cohort of little handfish. Already, they can walk, and soon they will be headed to school. After that, it will be time for them to enter the real world.
It may sound as though the nursery is caring for newborn humans or animals, but this nursery is for red handfish hatchlings. The rare species is facing extinction, and scientists are hoping ...
