Growth and related traits of the red handfish (Thymichthys politus)

Lengths at tagging and recovery on the Critically Endangered red handfish Thymichthys politus (Richardson,

1844), family Brachionichthyidae, were used to estimate the parameters L_∞ and K of the von Bertalanffy growth function as ≈ 82 mm total length (TL) and ≈ 0.3 year^-1, respectively, the latter implying a longevity of about 10 years. The relationship between standard length and total length is 1.3, and the length-weight relationship of red handfish is W = 0.019·L^3.04, with live weight (W) in g and TL in mm, which yields an estimate of asymptotic weight of W_∞ = 12.1 g. These parameter estimates are all tentative but are provided here as better estimates are not likely to be obtained, given the protected status of their declining population.