Appearance and lifestyle:
Tristan five fingers (Nemadactylus monodactylus) also known as St. Pauls fingerfin are characterised by the structure of their pectoral fins which resembles a hand with five fingers. They can grow to a size of at least 67cm, a weight of 4kg and can reach an age of at least 25 years.
The fish on display were donated to the Aquarium by a rock lobster fishing vessel that collected them as by-catch off Tristan da Cunha Island.
Habitat:
Found only around oceanic islands and seamounts in the south Atlantic- and south Indian Oceans. Juvenile and adult five fingers occur in a wide variety of habitats and in depths from 1.5m to 200m. They can be seen in large shoals in the kelp forests off Tristan da Cunha. They are known to be territorial, resting in caves and crevices.
Diet:
The Tristan Five Fingers is a carnivorous fish that primary feeds on shrimp and small fish.
Threats:
Overfishing, climate change, habitat loss etc.