The Spotted handfish, (Brachionichthys hirsutus), is a rare Australian fish from the family Brachionichthyidae. It is classified as Critically Endangered (CR - A1cde) on the IUCN Red List 2002. It is a benthic fish usually found in depths of 5 to 10 metres, with overall sightings varying from a minimum of 2 metres depth up to a maximum of 30 metres deep. They have been recorded from depths between 2-30 m but appear to be most common in 5-10 m (Bruce et al., 1998). It has a highly restricted territory, being found only in the estuary of Derwent River, Tasmania, and nearby areas.