The small, lethargic red handfish lives only off the coast of Tasmania and is one of the world’s rarest fish

A new population of what is believed to be the world’s rarest fish has been found off Tasmania. The red handfish, which scuttles along on hand-like flippers, is found only off the Australian island state’s southeast coast.

Divers acting on a tip-off from a member of the public spent two days trawling the ocean floor before they found the group of 20 to 40 fish.

The original population, identified in the 1880s, lives several miles away and has dwindled to 20. Dr Rick Stuart-Smith, of the Institute of Marine and Antarctic Studies, said: “Finding this second population is a huge relief as it doubles how many we think are left.”