Genus

Brachionichthys

1 species

Brachionichthys is the type genus of the handfish family Brachionichthyidae. Originally, all species of handfish were included in Brachionichthys, but researchers have since split species off into five additional genera.

Species of handfish use their pectoral fins to walk about on the sea floor. These highly modified fins have the appearance of hands, hence the generic epithet, from Latin brachium meaning "arm" and Greek ichthys meaning "fish".

The prehistoric handfish, Histiontophorus bassani, from the Lutetian of Monte Bolca, was once described as a species of Brachionichthys.

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Brachionichthys is the type genus of the handfish family Brachionichthyidae. Originally, all species of handfish were included in Brachionichthys, but researchers have since split species off into five additional genera.

Species of handfish use their pectoral fins to walk about on the sea floor. These highly modified fins have the appearance of hands, hence the generic epithet, from Latin brachium meaning "arm" and Greek ichthys meaning "fish".

The prehistoric handfish, Histiontophorus bassani, from the Lutetian of Monte Bolca, was once described as a species of Brachionichthys.

show less