Clarion angelfish facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Clarion angelfish |
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| Holacanthus clarionensis | |
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The Clarion angelfish (Holacanthus clarionensis) is a beautiful fish that lives in the ocean. It's a type of marine angelfish, part of a group called Pomacanthidae. You can mostly find it in the eastern Pacific Ocean, especially around islands near Mexico's coast.
Contents
What Does It Look Like?
The Clarion angelfish has a body that is flat from side to side. It's shaped a bit like a square. It has a small mouth with teeth that look like bristles.
- Young Fish: When they are young, these fish are yellowish-orange. They have several blue stripes going up and down their bodies. These blue stripes fade away as the fish gets older. Young fish might also have blue lips and blue edges on their top and bottom fins.
- Adult Fish: Grown-up Clarion angelfish have a brownish face. The part of their body right behind the face is reddish-orange. The back part of their body is browner. Their top fin (dorsal fin) and bottom fin (anal fin) are bright orange. Their tail fin is a bright red color, like vermilion.
This fish can grow up to 20 centimetres (7.9 in) long.
Where Do They Live?
The Clarion angelfish lives in a very small area of the eastern Pacific Ocean. They are mostly found around the Revillagigedo Islands in Mexico.
Sometimes, a few fish are seen in other places. These include the southern tip of Baja California and the southeastern part of the Gulf of California. They have also been spotted near Clipperton Island, which belongs to France.
Their Home and Habits
Clarion angelfish like to live in rocky areas of the ocean. They can be found at depths of up to 30 metres (98 ft).
You might see them swimming alone. Sometimes, they gather in groups called shoals. Scientists are still learning a lot about this species because it's not studied very often.
How We Know About Them
The Clarion angelfish was first officially described in 1890. An American fish expert named Charles Henry Gilbert gave it its scientific name. He found them near Clarion Island, Socorro Island, and San Benedicto Island. These islands are all part of the Revillagigedo Islands in Mexico. The fish's name, clarionensis, comes from Clarion Island.
Why Are They Important?
In the past, people used to collect Clarion angelfish for aquariums. However, the Revillagigedo Islands are now a protected area. This means it is against the law to collect these fish from their natural home.
Good news! These fish have been successfully bred in captivity. This means that fish raised in special tanks can now be sold to people who want them for their aquariums. This helps protect the wild fish.
