The Australian Handfish has a small mouth and gill openings that are restricted to a tubular pore behind the pectoral fins. It has prominent hand-like pectoral fins and jugular (glossary) pelvic fins.

The dorsal fin is divided into three parts; an illicium (glossary) on the snout, a tall sail-like spinous fin on top of the head, and a long-based soft-rayed dorsal fin along the back.

The Australian Handfish is pale with yellow to brown dashes. Most fins are clear with black spots.

This species grows to 8cm in length.

It is endemic to (only known from) Australia, occurring in marine waters from southern Queensland to South Australia. It is usually seen in the catches of trawls taken at depths between 40m and 100m.