Scientists have discovered a new kind of fish which could well be tagged as one of the rarest fish in the world. This discovery was at the Southeast coast of Tasmania island in Australia. What’s more interesting is these fish could have gone unnoticed of their existence if it wasn’t for this discovery now. It was thought only a small population of 20-40 fishes existed, but this new discovery is a little hopeful that more of the colony resides in the deeper underwaters. These fishes not exactly swim but tread with their fins which looks like hands. So, it appears that the fish maybe walking on the seabed than swimming swiftly in the water. Handfish are regionally specific to Australia and scientists had been monitoring a known colony in the Frederick Henry Bay.

Someone from the common public had reported seeing just one of this rare fish. Following this information, divers from Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies (IMAS) and the citizen science Reef Life Survey took to the waters to search for more. This search was proving pointless for the team of 7 divers when they could not spot any fish. On the verge of giving up, when technical officer Antonia Cooper flicked an algae which showed the elusive fish colony! The team then narrowed their search to the specific area and found just 8 red fishes in the site. But there is a possibility double the numbers exist in the colony nearby.

This discovery of red handfish is important considering there may be other similar species residing under the deeper underwaters which are unexplored. Ziebell’s handfish, a kind of fish is said to have been extinct since it is not spotted in 10 years. Scientists are now looking at possibilities to save this species, like making a separate zone so that there is less human impact on them. The exact location of where this colony is still not revealed for the same purpose. There is also a possibility of undertaking captive breeding of these fish. Tasmania is actually quiet a pristine area and rare species do exist commonly in the underwaters of the islands.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 24, 2018 06:54 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).