Subterranean Fishes of the World

Country

Types

Known only from one specimen, the holotype: WAM P. 31011-001, female, 107.0mm SL.

Distribution

Known only from the type locality: a small stream near Kafa, a tributary of the Mubi River, Upper Kikori River System, Papua New Guinea (c. 6^o34.5’S, 143^o29.5’E). This steam originates from a cave 100m upstream of where the fish was collected. The whole area has a well developed karst topography with many caves. Allen (1996) records that these fishes are often caught in surface streams during the wet season when water levels are high. Given its stygomorphic facies there is no reason to suppose that it is not a true hypogean fish.

Habitat

There are no published details of the true hypogean habitat.

Systematics

Most closely related to Oxyeleotris fimbriata, one of the most widespread gudgeons in Papua New Guinea.

Kuang et al. (2018) used molecular markers to study the internal structure of the Suborder Gobioidei which contains within it eleven Families. They demonstrated that Milyeringidae is sister Family to a group of four  Families: Oxudercidae+Gobiidae+Butidae+ Eleotridae and is only disttantly related to four others: Odontobutidae, Rhyacichthyidae, Apogonidae and Kurtidae (samples from Thalasseleotridae and Trichonotidae were not availabe for analysis).

Museum Holdings

As above only.