Cave Gudgeon, Milyeringa veritas Whitley, 1945

Scientific name: Milyeringa veritas
Alternative name/s:
Blind Gudgeon
I.25504-001 Milyeringa veritas Click to enlarge image
A Cave Gudgeon caught near Mangrove Bay, Cape Range National Park, Western Australia, 13 Sep 1985. The fish is registered in the Australian Museum Ichthyology Collection (I.25504-001). It was scientifically named by Gilbert Whitely in 1945. Image: Doug Hoese
© Australian Museum

Fast Facts

  • Classification
    Genus
    Milyeringa
    Species
    veritas
    Family
    Eleotridae
    Order
    Perciformes
    Subphylum
    Vertebrata
    Phylum
    Chordata
    Kingdom
    Animalia
  • Size Range
    It grows to about 5 cm in length.

Identification

The Cave Gudgeon is a small white-coloured fish that lacks eyes.

Habitat

The Cave Gudgeon lives in lightless caves and sinkholes. Water temperatures in these areas are known to reach 30C.

Distribution

It is an Australian endemic that occurs in the vicinity of North West Cape, Western Australia.

The map below shows the Australian distribution of the species based on public sightings and specimens in Australian Museums. Click on the map for detailed information. Source: Atlas of Living Australia.

Other behaviours and adaptations

The species uses sensory papillae on the head and body to detect its surroundings and prey items.

References

  1. Allen, G.R. 1989. Freshwater Fishes of Australia. T.F.H. Publications. Pp. 240.
  2. Hoese, D.F., Bray, D.J., Paxton, J.R. & G.R. Allen. 2006. Fishes. In Beesley, P.L. & A. Wells. (eds) Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Volume 35. ABRS & CSIRO Publishing: Australia. parts 1-3, pages 1-2178.