Why are these angels really "rare"

[myerst2]

Well there are at least a half dozen angels that come to mind that are classified as "rare." Rarity can mean extremely localized, live in extremely deep water, are found only in protected areas banned from collection, or they are just rare finds.

So I was hoping some people can give me more clarification, besides my little knowledge on each species, on why these particular Angels are so hard to come by.

Note pics below are not mine but have been collected over the years.

First being G. Teckuchi sp?

Well I really have no idea why this is never comes up for sale? Personally top on my wish list.

Narcosis

Name kinda says it all. Deep water?

The Clipperton angel. Seems like there are few in this pic.

From what I know they swim in very similar areas as the clarion but is a big no no for collection. Do some searching and you can find yourself in a world of trouble.

What's the real story??

Balinae.

Pretty positive that this angel is Aussie's national angelfish, joking, sort of, and it is highly protected from being collected. Very cool looking and looks like no other angel much less fish.

The there are C. Debelious and Nahayki. Sorry for bothering the spelling. Not really sure why these are so rare.

Debelious. Pretty sure I didn't mix them up.

There are many more and please add pics and info that you may have but the last I'll post here is the kingi. From what I read they aren't found in very deep water and not too uncommon. Is it location?

Last but not least. Forgot about this pic. From pic description only found around lord howe, Aussie. Conspic land. This is stunning. Semicirc.

 

[ThRoewer]

Centropyge resplendens, one of the most beautiful pygmy angels, is one of the really rare ones now as it is endemic to Ascension Island and collection or export is off limits.

 

[wayne in norway]

To the best of my knowledge....
Takeuchi + found in deeper semi temperate water off Japan where no scuba collection allowed. Not bustingly common either.

Narcosis + elusive, hard to catch in deep, deep water

Clipperton angel + onl found Clipperton island (+one other similar), collection VERY controlled.

Limited distribution, Balls pyramid, Lord Howe Island ?, no collection allowed.

Debelious, nahaycki + deeper water than collectors dive. Wasn¨t the last one caught with an ROV? You get the picture.

Kingi. No legal export allowed.

The last Genicanthus + world heritage site, no collection allowed.

I dont think the population densities for most of these are too high either

 

[wayne in norway]

C resplendens is also found at Pitcairn, but as of a few years ago Pitcairn didnt even have a landing strip. Ive seen film from a friend diving at Pitcairn, and resplendens are pretty common in that limited range

 

[ThRoewer]

C resplendens is also found at Pitcairn, but as of a few years ago Pitcairn didnt even have a landing strip. Ive seen film from a friend diving at Pitcairn, and resplendens are pretty common in that limited range

I seriously doubt that C resplendens can be found in the waters around Pitcairn. C resplendens is endemic to Ascension, an Atlantic island off the coast of West Africa. There would be simply no way for it to get half around the globe to the South Pacific.

What you've seen in you friends film may have been Chrysiptera starki, a damsel fish with very similar coloration. While it's most eastern distribution is reportedly Tonga it's possible that they have made it also to Pitcairn.

 

[RDtrack]

More than likely it was a Centropyge aurantonotus.

 

[ThRoewer]

More than likely it was a Centropyge aurantonotus.

Centropyge aurantonotus around Pitcairn? I don't think so! It's natural range is the southern Caribbean (Brazil) - wrong ocean!

 

[albano]

- wrong ocean!

Despite the various names for various locations...there is really only 1 'ocean'...just ask any CARIBBEAN lionfish.

 

[wayne in norway]

My bad, and you are correct that it was not Pitcairn, but St. Helena, which is approx 500 km to the SE of Ascension. It does have resplendens though, and plenty of them

 

[nuxx]

Mostly deep water fish from remote locations with low numbers of collectors = expensive fish