{{Short description|Species of fish}} {{Speciesbox | image = Holacanthus limbaughi.jpg | status = NT | status_system = IUCN3.1 | status_ref = <ref name="iucn status 20 November 2021">{{cite iucn |author=Craig, M.T. |author2=Pyle, R. |author3=Rocha, L.A. |date=2010 |title=''Holacanthus limbaughi'' |volume=2010 |article-number=e.T165836A6144988 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-4.RLTS.T165836A6144988.en |access-date=20 November 2021}}</ref> | taxon = Holacanthus limbaughi | authority = Baldwin, 1963<ref name = Baldwin>{{cite journal | author = Baldwin, WJ. | year = 1963 | title = A new chaetodont fish, ''Holacanthus limbaughi'', from the Eastern Pacific | journal = Contributions in Science (Los Angeles)| volume = 74 | pages = 1–8 | url = https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/52105023#page/363/mode/1up}}</ref> }} The '''Clipperton angelfish''' ('''''Holacanthus limbaughi''''') is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a marine angelfish belonging to the family Pomacanthidae. It is endemic to Clipperton Island, a French possession in the eastern Pacific Ocean.
==Description== left|thumb|''Holacanthus limbaughi'' The Clipperton angelfish has a deep, laterally compressed body. It has a small mouth that has bristle-like teeth. The preoperculum has a sizeable spine at its corner and a serrated rear margin while there are 4 spines between the preoperculum and the operculum.<ref name = STRI>{{cite web | url = https://biogeodb.stri.si.edu/sftep/en/thefishes/species/1558 | title = Species: Holacanthus limbaughi, Clipperton angelfish | access-date = 23 February 2021 | work = Shorefishes of the Greater Caribbean online information | publisher = Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute}}</ref> The juveniles are a dark bluish-grey on their bodies, which is marked with a number of vertical blue bars, 2 on the head and 5 on the flanks, these fade as they mature into adults.<ref name = Saltcorner>{{cite web | url = http://www.saltcorner.com/AquariumLibrary/browsespecies.php?CritterID=97 | title = ''Holacanthus limbaughi'' | access-date = 23 February 2021| publisher = Bob Goemans | year = 2012 | work = Saltcorner!}}</ref> They also have a white spot on the upper side and white caudal and pectoral fins. The adults are similar, lacking the barring, and have vivid blue margins to the dorsal, anal and pelvic fins. The dorsal fin contains 14 spines and 17-18 soft rays while the anal fin has 3 spines and 17-18 soft rays.<ref name = STRI/> This species attains a maximum total length of {{convert|30|cm|in}}.<ref name = Fishbase>{{Fishbase|Holacanthus|limbaughi|month=December|year=2019}}</ref>
==Distribution== The Clipperton angelfish is endemic to the waters of the French overseas territory of Clipperton Island, which is {{convert|2,560|km|miles}} west of Costa Rica, in the Eastern Pacific Ocean.<ref name = Fishbase/>
==Habitat and biology== The Clipperton angelfish is found at depths between {{convert|6|and|100|m|ft}}. Very little is known about its habitat preferences and biology.<ref name="iucn status 20 November 2021" />
==Systematics== The Clipperton angelfish was first formally described in 1963 by the American ichthyologist Wayne J. Baldwin.<ref name = CofF>{{Cof genus| genus = Holacanthus | access-date = 21 February 2021}}</ref> The specific name honours the American scuba diver, zoologist and underwater photographer Conrad Limbaugh (1925–1960) who played a vital role in the collection of the type.<ref name = ETYFish>{{cite web | url = http://www.etyfish.org/acanthuriformes1/ | title =Order ACANTHURIFORMES (part 1): Families LOBOTIDAE, POMACANTHIDAE, DREPANEIDAE and CHAETODONTIDAE | work = The ETYFish Project Fish Name Etymology Database | access-date = 23 February 2021 | date = 21 July 2020 | author1 = Christopher Scharpf | author2 = Kenneth J. Lazara | name-list-style = amp | publisher = Christopher Scharpf and Kenneth J. Lazara}}</ref>
==Utilisation== The Clipperton angelfish has such a remote and restricted distribution that it is extremely scarce in the aquarium trade. When it has appeared in that trade it has commanded very high prices.<ref name="iucn status 20 November 2021" /> In 2009, a California tropical fish dealer was caught trying to bring 52 illegally collected Clipperton angelfish into the United States, falsely declaring them as king angelfish to federal wildlife authorities.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Hayward Fish Dealer Facing Prison For Importing Rare Species |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/sanfrancisco/news/hayward-fish-dealer-facing-prison-for-importing-rare-species/ |access-date=2023-04-02 |website=www.cbsnews.com |date=22 August 2011 |language=en-US}}</ref> He intended to sell the fish for $10,000 each.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2012 |title=United States v. Steven Robinson, No. 11-CR-00513 (N.D. Calif.) |page=17 |work=Environmental Crimes Section Monthly Bulletin |publisher=United States Department of Justice |url=https://www.justice.gov/sites/default/files/enrd/legacy/2015/04/13/jan_2012_508.pdf |access-date=2023-04-01}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
{{taxonbar|from= Q2019400}}
Clipperton angelfish Category:Fish described in 1963 Category:Fauna of Clipperton Island