Divers exploring the wreck of the SS Tasman off the coast of Tasmania were astonished to discover an extremely rare pink handfish and managed to capture images of this endangered species.
Handfish (Brachiopsilus dianthus) hides among coral-covered debris, with its pectoral fins expanded like hands. Encounters with the pink handfish have been exceedingly rare since the species was first discovered in 1947.
Close-up of the pink handfish on the wreck of the SS Tasman. (Photo: James Parkinson).
The divers noticed the fish during their dive to explore the Dutch steamship SS Tasman. Brad Turner, a member of the dive team that found the fish, said: “We were there to explore the wreck, but the handfish caught everyone’s attention.”
The remains of the SS Tasman – a steamship built in 1873 used for transporting cargo and passengers – are located near Hippolyte Rocks, a granite island 10 km off the coast of Tasmania. The ship sank after hitting an uncharted coral reef while trying to navigate through a narrow passage. 29 passengers and crew members escaped, leaving 75 cattle on board.
This dive was part of a series of planned expeditions to commemorate the 140th anniversary of the shipwreck.
At a depth of 70 meters, the divers had 25 minutes to explore before returning to the surface. When the dive concluded, they were astonished to discover a second pink handfish just 10 meters from the first.
B. dianthus is one of four handfish species at risk of extinction found in Tasmania. Unlike other fish species, handfish lack a swim bladder to control buoyancy underwater, so they remain close to the rocky seabed and can only swim short distances.
