Clipperton angelfish (Holacanthus limbaughi)

Classification (WoRMS)

Full classification as recorded by WoRMS: Kingdom: Animalia · Phylum: Chordata · Class: Teleostei · Order: Acanthuriformes · Family: Pomacanthidae · Genus: Holacanthus.

Accepted name: Holacanthus limbaughi · Authority: Baldwin, 1963 · Taxonomic status: accepted · AphiaID: 276015.

Source: World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=276015 (CC BY 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Biology and life history (FishBase)

Measured values published by FishBase for Holacanthus limbaughi. Only fields the database actually holds for this species are shown; these are database values, not aquarium guidance.

Maximum length: 25 cm · Habitat zone: reef-associated · Body shape: short and / or deep · Vulnerability index: 15 of 100 · Aquarium trade: never/rarely.

Source: FishBase species summary (SpecCode 11177) — https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Holacanthus-limbaughi.html (CC BY-NC 3.0 — non-commercial use only). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Distribution and occurrence records (GBIF)

59 georeferenced occurrence records for Holacanthus limbaughi are published through GBIF from 4 countries or marine areas. The map above plots 3 distinct locations from a sample of 59 records, omitting 3 inland records that carry an institution's coordinates rather than a collection site; it shows where the species has been observed and reported, not a modelled range.

Most records by country or area: France (53); Mexico (3); Brazil (2); Egypt (1).

Source: GBIF Occurrence Search (taxonKey 5211466) — https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?taxon_key=5211466&has_coordinate=true (records CC0 / CC BY); WoRMS distribution records (MarineRegions) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=276015 (CC BY 4.0); Natural Earth 110m basemap — https://www.naturalearthdata.com/ (public domain). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Conservation status (IUCN Red List)

The IUCN Red List assesses Holacanthus limbaughi Baldwin, 1963 as Near Threatened (code NT). No trend, population estimate or threat analysis is given here, because none is available from this source without the Red List API; follow the source link for the full assessment, including its date.

Source: IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (taxon 165836) — https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/165836/0; GBIF IUCN Red List category endpoint (taxonKey 5211466) — https://api.gbif.org/v1/species/5211466/iucnRedListCategory. Accessed 2026-09-25.

Description and natural history (Wikipedia)

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. 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.

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. This species attains a maximum total length of 30 cm.

Distribution

The Clipperton angelfish is endemic to the waters of the French overseas territory of Clipperton Island, which is 2,560 km west of Costa Rica, in the Eastern Pacific Ocean.

Habitat and biology

The Clipperton angelfish is found at depths between 6 and 100 m. Very little is known about its habitat preferences and biology.

Systematics

The Clipperton angelfish was first formally described in 1963 by the American ichthyologist Wayne J. Baldwin. 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.

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. 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. He intended to sell the fish for $10,000 each.

Source: Wikipedia: Clipperton angelfish — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clipperton_angelfish (CC BY-SA 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-25.