Spotted Handfish

Australian fish · critically endangered · odd creatures · Tasmania

Walks on fins. The spotted handfish has special front fins that look like little hands with fingers, which it uses to walk along the ocean floor instead of swimming like other fish.

Lives in one place. This fish is found only in the Derwent River estuary in Tasmania, Australia, making it one of the rarest fish in the world.

Starfish enemy. The biggest threat to spotted handfish is an invasive species called the Northern Pacific seastar, which eats them and destroys their habitat.

Critically endangered. Scientists say spotted handfish are in critical danger of going extinct, which means the world is working hard to protect what's left.