Milyeringa veritas Whitley 1945

Head large, broad and depressed. Eyes not visible. Mouth large, horseshoe-shaped. Cardiform teeth. Rows of well developed sensory papillae on head and trunk. Scales are reduced and entirely absent from the head. Whitish coloration in the skin.

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 13; Analspines: 0; Analsoft rays: 9

Restricted to groundwaters of Cape Range and Barrow Island. It occurs in freshwater caves and in seawater in anchialine systems. It is associated with the blind cave eel, Ophisternon candidum, the world's longest cave fish (Ref. 51582). Opportunistic feeders, preying on detritus, algae and whatever organisms, including insects, that accidentally fell into the water (Ref. 51582).

Lives beneath coastal limestone in perpetually dark, slightly brackish subterranean water (Ref. 44894). Cave-dweller, lacking eyes and skin pigmentation, with well developed system of sensory papillae on the head. Found swimming slowly or suspended near the surface of wells and sinkholes, particularly at night. This is possibly due to the occurrence of food items, e.g., algae, small insects or invertebrates, on the water surface. May also feed on detritus concentrated at the bottom of such openings. May tolerate temperatures to 30°C; salinity 0.2-34 ppt. Co-occurs with the blind eel.

fisheries: of no interest; aquarium: potential