| Milyeringa veritas | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Gobiiformes |
| Family: | Milyeringidae |
| Genus: | Milyeringa |
| Species: | M. veritas |
| Binomial name | |
| Milyeringa veritas | |
| Synonyms[3] | |
Myleringa brooksiChakrabarty, 2010 | |
Milyeringa veritas (commonly known as theblind gudgeon) is a species of fish in the familyMilyeringidae. It isendemic to groundwater andanchialine systems in caves in theCape Range,Australia. Like othercave-adapted fish, the blind gudgeon is entirely blind and lacks pigmentation, using sensory papillae on its head and body to move around and find food.[4] It has a reduced number of scales on its body and the head is almost scaleless.[5] It reaches a standard length of 5 cm (2.0 in).[6] It is listed as vulnerable under the AustralianEnvironment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.[7] It is an omnivorous species which feeds on algae and possibly alsodetritus, as well as invertebrates.[4] Invertebrates consumed byM. veritas includeStygiocaris sp., aquatic insect larvae such as those ofcaddis flies and non aquatic invertebrates which accidentally fall into the water such as isopods, ants and cockroaches. When the gut contents have been sampled 10% of the identifiable gut contents wereStygiocaris and 70% were terrestrial species, despite this species being restricted to caves. They are often observed hanging still in the water column or resting on ledges in the cave walls, behaviours which they also display when kept in aquaria, but can move quickly to avoid capture if threatened, for example when catching them with a net is attempted.[5] Thegeneric name is taken from Milyering which is 20 miles (32 km) southwest ofVlamingh Head in theNorth West Cape ofWestern Australia, thetype locality, and thespecific name isLatinveritas meaning truth an allusion to a quote attributed to theAncient GreekphilosopherDemocritus (c.460 — c.370 BC) "Truth lies at the bottom of a well, the depth of which, alas! gives but little hope of release.”[8]
