Threatened Fishes of the World: Milyeringa veritas Whitely, 1945 (Eleotridae)

The blind cave gudgeon is the only troglobitic eleotrid in the world, and one of only two troglobitic vertebrates occurring in Australia. This fish is found in the western and northeastern coastal plain of the Cape Range peninsula and Barrow Island, Western Australia. The morphology, abundance, habitat, ecology, and reproduction of this threatened species are described. Current threats include nutrient enrichment of habitat, water table lowering, urban development, and disturbance from tourism. Potential threats include limestone quarrying and quicklime manufacturing, pollution from petrochemicals, heavy metals, and nutrients, and road construction and vegetation clearance. Some of the range is protected as a national park. Human access to cave habitats should be limited and collecting should be restricted. Further research on the biology and distribution of this species is needed.