Sympterichthys unipennis (Cuvier, 1817)
Smooth handfish

Family:  Brachionichthyidae (Handfishes)
Max. size:  4.4 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  demersal; marine
Distribution:  Southwest Pacific: Endemic to Tasmania, Australia.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal soft rays (total): 19-19; Anal soft rays: 9-9. This species is distinct with a combination of the following characters: minute esca, as a simple filament (possibly damaged); illicium with thick base, thin distally, no dermal spinules, length about 18% SL, 2.7 times in head length; close-set, embedded, nonimbricate, spiny scales cover the entire body; scale bases variable in shape, dendritic to narrowly thallate, with long unicuspid or bifurcate spinules (except for those closely associated with pores of the acoustico-lateralis system); adpressed spinules, posteriorly directed, originating from posterior region of scale base, apical spines moderately divergent; second dorsal-fin rays 17, fin base 64% SL; length of second dorsal-fin spine 1.3 times length of longest ray of second dorsal fin; anal-fin rays 9; pectoral-fin rays 9; fresh coloration unknown, pale in preservative with darker markings on first dorsal fin and membranes of pectoral, pelvic and caudal fins (Ref. 82446).
Biology:  A benthic species (Ref. 75154) which occurs inshore (Ref. 7300, 75154).
IUCN Red List Status: Data deficient (DD); Date assessed: 09 September 2021 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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