Completed genome gives critically endangered ‘uglycute’ fish a helping hand

Individual spotted handfish can be identified based on their unique spot patterns Credit: © Carlie DevineScientists trying to save the spotted handfish refer to it as an “uglycute” little fish. In 1996, the spotted handfish (Brachionichthys hirsutus) nabbed the dubious distinction of first marine fish to be declared critically endangered. The AGI team got their chance to sequence the spotted handfish genome when a captive individual died of natural causes. Notwithstanding the challenges of sequencing the spotted handfish genome, “generating the data is not the problem anymore, it’s the analysis of it,” says Walsh. Devine says they will use the handfish genome information for future studies and to help with population monitoring.