Handfish

These small, unusual, slow-moving fish prefer to 'walk' on their pectoral and pelvic fins rather than swim. These fins are leg-like, with extremities resembling a human hand.

Five of the eight currently identified species of handfish are endemic to Tasmania and Bass Strait. They are generally found on sandy sediments. Spotted handfish, once common in their range, are now a threatened species, possibly because their habitat is being destroyed by the introduced northern Pacific seastar.