Cave gudgeon

📖 Overview

Lives beneath coastal limestone in perpetually dark, slightly brackish subterranean water . 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.

🔬 Taxonomy

🐟 Physical Description

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 13; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 9. 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.: elongated.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Cave gudgeon is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

Diet information for Cave gudgeon is currently being compiled.

🥚 Reproduction

Reproduction data for Cave gudgeon is currently being compiled.

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Freshwater; brackish; pelagic; pH range: 6.8 - 7.5; non-migratory; depth range 0 - 32 m . Subtropical; 21°C - 28°C ; 22°S - 24°S North West Cape and Yardie Creek; Five Mile, Homestead, Kudmurra, Milyering (Mangrove), New Yardie, Pilgramuna and Tantabiddi Wells.

🌿 Ecology

📐 Morphometrics

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

🛡️ Conservation Assessment

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

🐠 Related Species

🔍 Similar Species

🗺️ Global Occurrence Map

Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) — 4 records indexed .

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