According to a recent article in Scientific American, the smooth handfish was declared extinct this past March, becoming the first extinct modern marine fish. Although the news only made a small story in their latest magazine, we must pay attention, because we are the reason many sea animals are beginning to be extinct or critically endangered.
The species may not be that well known, I know that I hadn’t heard of a smooth handfish before reading, but small species like the smooth handfish could prove useful to us. The marine fish that are endangered right now have an enzyme that we are using in tests to diagnose COVID-19.
So what exactly is a smooth handfish? Also called Sympterichthys unipennis, the smooth handfish was among a family of handfishes and lived near the Southwest Pacific. It used to be incredibly common. Although scientists aren’t sure if it was fishing or pollution that eventually killed off the species, they know their deaths are our fault.
All animals matter. If we continue to encroach their territory and kill more, we could lose a valuable resource that could aid us in the future.
Sources
Shiffman, David. “Smooth Handfish Extinction Marks a Sad Milestone.” Scientific American, Scientific American, July 2020, www.scientificamerican.com/article/smooth-handfish-extinction-marks-a-sad-milestone/.
Steadman, Daniel. “Farewell Smooth Handfish: What Can We Learn from the World’s First Marine Fish Extinction?” Phys.org, Phys.org, 2 July 2020, phys.org/news/2020-07-farewell-smooth-handfish-world-marine.html.