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Ponticola Iljin, 1927 (7 species) Etymology: Greek, Pontikos = pertaining to Pontos “the Black Sea and the regions around it”., Published as part of Zarei, Fatah, Esmaeili, Hamid Reza, Abbasi, Keyvan, Kovačić, Marcelo, Schliewen, Ulrich K. & Stepien, Carol A., 2022, Gobies (Teleostei: Gobiidae) of the oldest and deepest Caspian Sea sub-basin: an evidence-based annotated checklist and a key for species identification, pp. 151-193 in Zootaxa 5190 (2) on page 176, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5190.2.1, http://zenodo.org/record/7120060

32. Ponticola gorlap (Iljin, 1949) (Fig. 29), Caspian Bighead Goby Neogobius kessleri gorlap Iljin in Berg, 1949: 1087; type locality: Caspian Sea and tributary rivers; types: no type material exists. The original description by Berg (1949) was based on information supplied by B. S. Iljin in a 1941 manuscript which is now lost. Etymology: The species name gorlap likely is derived from a local term. Distribution and habitat: Present in all three areas of the Caspian Sea and entering various freshwaters of the Caspian drainage. A bottom-living euryhaline fish found in brackish inshore habitats (usually from 0.5–10 m in depth, and rarely 10–20 m) and a wide range of freshwater habitats in the Caspian Sea (Vasil’eva & Vasil’ev 2003b; Zarei et al. 2021) (Fig. 27B). Material examined: ZM-CBSU S040 & ZM-CBSU S076, 2, off Anzali; ZM-CBSU S042 & ZM-CBSU S096, 60, Siahdarvishan River; ZM-CBSU S045, 9, Shafaroud mouth; ZM-CBSU S050, 4, Oshmakroud mouth; ZM-CBSU S060, 53, Sefidroud mouth; ZM-CBSU S060.3, 5, Sefidroud at Keysum; ZM-CBSU S077, 1, off Kiashahr; ZM-CBSU S078, 2, Anzali Wetland; ZM-CBSU S082, 1, off Astara; ZM-CBSU S093, 30, Sefidroud at Imamzadehashem; ZM-CBSU S094 & ZM-CBSU S095, 150, Chalvand River; ZM-CBSU S097, Sefidroud at Koucheasfahan, Gilan Province, Iran; ZM-CBSU S041, 64, Babolroud; ZM-CBSU S065 -S067, 6, Neka; ZM-CBSU S098, 60, Neka River (Nekaroud), Mazandaran Province, Iran. IUCN: LC (Freyhof & Kottelat 2008k)., Published as part of Zarei, Fatah, Esmaeili, Hamid Reza, Abbasi, Keyvan, Kovačić, Marcelo, Schliewen, Ulrich K. & Stepien, Carol A., 2022, Gobies (Teleostei: Gobiidae) of the oldest and deepest Caspian Sea sub-basin: an evidence-based annotated checklist and a key for species identification, pp. 151-193 in Zootaxa 5190 (2) on pages 178-179, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5190.2.1, http://zenodo.org/record/7120060, {"references":["Berg, L. S. (1949) Freshwater Fishes of the USSR and Adjacent Countries. Vol. III. Program for Scientific Translations, Jerusalem, 250 pp.","Vasil'eva, E. D. & Vasil'ev, V. P. (2003 b) Neogobius gorlap Iljin in Berg, 1949. In: Miller, P. J. (Ed.), The Freshwater Fishes of Europe. Vol. 8 / I Mugilidae, Atherinidae, Atherinopsidae, Blenniidae, Odontobutidae, Gobiidae 1. AULA-Verlag GmbH, Verlag fur Wissenschaft und Forschung, Wiebelsheim, pp. 253 - 264.","Zarei, F., Esmaeili, H. R., Schliewen, U. K., Abbasi, K. & Sayyadzadeh, G. (2021) Mitochondrial phylogeny, diversity, and ichthyogeography of gobies (Teleostei: Gobiidae) from the oldest and deepest Caspian sub-basin and tracing source and spread pattern of an introduced Rhinogobius species at the tricontinental crossroad. Hydrobiologia, 848, 1267 - 1293. https: // doi. org / 10.1007 / s 10750 - 021 - 04521 - 0","Freyhof, J. & Kottelat, M. (2008 k) Ponticola gorlap. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, 2008, e. T 188114 A 8642335. https: // doi. org / 10.2305 / IUCN. UK. 2008. RLTS. T 188114 A 8642335. en"]}

30. Ponticola cyrius (Kessler, 1874) (Fig. 26), Kura Goby Gobius cyrius Kessler, 1874: 273; type locality: Kura River near Borzhomi, Georgia; lectotype: ZISP 2235. Etymology: The species name cyrius means “relating to the River Kura” in Latin. Distribution: The upper and middle courses of the Kura River basin, the South Caspian Sea sub-basin drainage (Fig. 27A) (Vasil’eva & Vasil’ev 2003a). No confirmed records from Iran. Remarks: Specimens previously identified by Ahnelt & Holčik (1996) as P. cyrius and P. iljini from Iranian rivers are conspecific with P. patimari and P. gorlap, respectively (Zarei et al. 2021, 2022b). In Iran, it also may be present in the Aras River (= Araks River), which flows into the Kura River in Azerbaijan. Therefore, a detailed morphological and molecular analysis of Ponticola specimens from Aras should be undertaken. Material examined: PMR VP1691, 3, Hanak, Kura River drainage basin, northeastern Turkey. IUCN: LC (Freyhof 2014)., Published as part of Zarei, Fatah, Esmaeili, Hamid Reza, Abbasi, Keyvan, Kovačić, Marcelo, Schliewen, Ulrich K. & Stepien, Carol A., 2022, Gobies (Teleostei: Gobiidae) of the oldest and deepest Caspian Sea sub-basin: an evidence-based annotated checklist and a key for species identification, pp. 151-193 in Zootaxa 5190 (2) on pages 176-177, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5190.2.1, http://zenodo.org/record/7120060, {"references":["Kessler, K. F. (1874) A description of fishes belonging to the families common to both the Black and the Caspian seas. Travaux de la Societe des Naturalistes de St. Petersbourg, 5, 191 - 324. [in French]","Vasil'eva, E. D. & Vasil'ev, V. P. (2003 a) Neogobius cyrius (Kessler, 1874). In: Miller, P. J. (Ed.), The Freshwater Fishes of Europe. Vol. 8 / I Mugilidae, Atherinidae, Atherinopsidae, Blenniidae, Odontobutidae, Gobiidae 1. AULA-Verlag GmbH, Verlag fur Wissenschaft und Forschung, Wiebelsheim, pp. 203 - 211.","Ahnelt, H. & Holcik, J. (1996) Distribution of two species of the genus Neogobius (Pisces: Gobiidae) in the catchment area of the southern Caspian Sea. Acta Universitatis Carolinae Biologica, 40, 99 - 114.","Zarei, F., Esmaeili, H. R., Schliewen, U. K., Abbasi, K. & Sayyadzadeh, G. (2021) Mitochondrial phylogeny, diversity, and ichthyogeography of gobies (Teleostei: Gobiidae) from the oldest and deepest Caspian sub-basin and tracing source and spread pattern of an introduced Rhinogobius species at the tricontinental crossroad. Hydrobiologia, 848, 1267 - 1293. https: // doi. org / 10.1007 / s 10750 - 021 - 04521 - 0","Zarei, F., Esmaeili, H. R., Sadeghi, R., Schliewen, U. K., Kovacic, M., Abbasi, K. & Gholamhosseini, A. (2022 b) An integrative insight into the diversity, distribution and biogeography of the freshwater endemic clade of the Ponticola syrman group (Teleostei: Gobiidae) in the Caucasus biodiversity hotspot. Ecology & Evolution, 12. https: // doi. org / 10.1002 / ece 3.9300","Freyhof, J. (2014) Ponticola cyrius. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, 2014, e. T 19513722 A 19849649. https: // doi. org / 10.2305 / IUCN. UK. 2014 - 1. RLTS. T 19513722 A 19849649. en"]}

34. Ponticola iranicus Vasil’eva, Mousavi-Sabet & Vasil’ev, 2015 (Fig. 31), Iranian Goby Ponticola iranicus Vasil’eva, Mousavi-Sabet & Vasil’ev, 2015: 191, figs. 2–4; type locality: upper Sefidroud River basin, Tutkabon Stream, 36°50.756’N, 49°35.021’E; holotype: ZMMU P-23677, female, 81 mm TL, 68 mm SL, paratypes: ZMMU P-23678 (9), additional material: ZMMU P-23679 (5), ZMMU P-23680 (10), GUIC POI-AM (7), VMFC POI-P (12). Etymology. Named for Iran. Distribution and habitat: Endemic to the upper Sefidroud drainage basin of the South Caspian Sea sub-basin drainage (Fig. 27A) (Zarei et al. 2022b). Remarks: Zarei et al. (2022b) assessed taxonomic diversity, phylogeography and evolutionary history for the south Caspian populations of Ponticola that were previously classified as P. iranicus and P. patimari, using an integrative taxonomic approach comprising entire geographic range sampling, and analyses of mitochondrial DNA haplotypes, the head lateral line system, otolith shape, and meristic and morphometric variation. They confirmed the presence of two freshwater endemic species in the P. syrman group (i.e., P. iranicus and P. patimari), and pending further investigation, hypothesized a possible third cryptic species. Zarei et al. (2022b) revised the distributional range of P. iranicus and P. patimari, documenting a narrow distributional range and low genetic diversity of P. iranicus, in contrast to the wider distributional range and high genetic diversity of P. patimari (Fig. 27A). Material examined: ZM-CBSU S087 & ZM-CBSU S061, 33, Sefidroud at Imamzadehashem, Gilan Province, Iran. IUCN: NE., Published as part of Zarei, Fatah, Esmaeili, Hamid Reza, Abbasi, Keyvan, Kovačić, Marcelo, Schliewen, Ulrich K. & Stepien, Carol A., 2022, Gobies (Teleostei: Gobiidae) of the oldest and deepest Caspian Sea sub-basin: an evidence-based annotated checklist and a key for species identification, pp. 151-193 in Zootaxa 5190 (2) on page 180, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5190.2.1, http://zenodo.org/record/7120060, {"references":["Vasil'eva, E. D., Mousavi-Sabet, H. & Vasil'ev, V. P. (2015) Ponticola iranicus sp. nov. (Actinopterygii: Perciformes: Gobiidae) from the Caspian Sea basin. Acta Ichthyologica et Piscatoria, 45, 189 - 197. https: // doi. org / 10.3750 / AIP 2015.45.2.09","Zarei, F., Esmaeili, H. R., Sadeghi, R., Schliewen, U. K., Kovacic, M., Abbasi, K. & Gholamhosseini, A. (2022 b) An integrative insight into the diversity, distribution and biogeography of the freshwater endemic clade of the Ponticola syrman group (Teleostei: Gobiidae) in the Caucasus biodiversity hotspot. Ecology & Evolution, 12. https: // doi. org / 10.1002 / ece 3.9300"]}

36. Ponticola syrman (Nordmann, 1840) (Fig. 33), Syrman Goby Gobius syrman Nordmann, 1840: 419, pl. 12, fig. 1; type locality: Odessa, Dniester River estuary, Black Sea, Ukraine; types: syntypes are believed to be represented by BMNH 1872.5.30.35, MNHN A. 1126 (both from Odessa), and NMW 30099. Etymology: Derived from a local name, syrman, used for another Ponticola species, P. cephalargoides. Distribution and habitat: Coastal waters of the Black, Azov, and Caspian seas (Fig. 27D). In the Caspian Sea basin, it is widely distributed in all three areas of the Caspian Sea, but is believed to be absent from freshwaters, except in the Emba River, Kazakhstan (Pinchuk et al. 2003b). Material examined: ZM-CBSU S092, 6, off Anzali, Gilan Province; and ZM-CBSU S065.2-1, 1, off Neka, Mazandaran Province, Iran. IUCN: LC (Freyhof & Kottelat 2008l)., Published as part of Zarei, Fatah, Esmaeili, Hamid Reza, Abbasi, Keyvan, Kovačić, Marcelo, Schliewen, Ulrich K. & Stepien, Carol A., 2022, Gobies (Teleostei: Gobiidae) of the oldest and deepest Caspian Sea sub-basin: an evidence-based annotated checklist and a key for species identification, pp. 151-193 in Zootaxa 5190 (2) on page 181, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5190.2.1, http://zenodo.org/record/7120060, {"references":["Freyhof, J. & Kottelat, M. (2008 l) Ponticola syrman. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, 2008, e. T 188116 A 8643348. https: // doi. org / 10.2305 / IUCN. UK. 2008. RLTS. T 188116 A 8643348. en"]}

33. Ponticola hircaniaensis Zarei, Esmaeili, Kovačić, Schliewen & Abbasi, 2022 (Fig. 30), Hyrcanian Goby Ponticola hircaniaensis Zarei, Esmaeili, Kovačić, Schliewen & Abbasi, 2022: 408, figs. 5–6; type locality: Kaboudval Stream, Golestan province, Iran, 36°53’11.0” N 54°53’37.8” E; holotype: ZM-CBSU S101-6, male, 98.5 mm TL, 76.9 mm SL, paratypes: ZM-CBSU S099-1 to S099-12, S100-1 to S100-4, S101-1 to S101-5 & S101-7 to S101-15, additional material: ZM-CBSU S099 (29), ZM-CBSU S100 (26), ZM-CBSU S101 (9). Etymology: Named for Hyrcania, the Greek name for the south Caspian region where the species occurs. Distribution and habitat: Endemic to the Kaboudval Stream, a South Caspian Sea sub-basin drainage (Fig. 27A). Its small population is confined to a single area above the Zarrin Gol Dam (Zarei et al. 2022a). Remarks: Mitochondrial and nuclear DNA analyses have suggested hybridization between P. hircaniaensis and P. gorlap at Kaboudval (Zarei et al. 2022a). Material examined: types and additional non-type material, Kaboudval Stream, Golestan Province, Iran. IUCN: NE. Based on a narrow geographic range isolated above the Zarrin Gol Dam (P. gorlap, and other threats, P. hircaniaensis should be labelled as Critically Endangered (CR) (Zarei et al. 2022a)., Published as part of Zarei, Fatah, Esmaeili, Hamid Reza, Abbasi, Keyvan, Kovačić, Marcelo, Schliewen, Ulrich K. & Stepien, Carol A., 2022, Gobies (Teleostei: Gobiidae) of the oldest and deepest Caspian Sea sub-basin: an evidence-based annotated checklist and a key for species identification, pp. 151-193 in Zootaxa 5190 (2) on page 179, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5190.2.1, http://zenodo.org/record/7120060, {"references":["Zarei, F., Esmaeili, H. R., Kovacic, M., Schliewen, U. K. & Abbasi, K. (2022 a) Ponticola hircaniaensis sp. nov., a new and critically endangered gobiid species (Teleostei: Gobiidae) from the southern Caspian Sea basin. Zootaxa, 5154 (4), 401 - 430. https: // doi. org / 10.11646 / zootaxa. 5154.4.1"]}

31. Ponticola goebelii (Kessler, 1874) (Fig. 28), Caspian Ratan Goby Gobius goebelii Kessler, 1874: 249, fig. 3; type locality: Baku, Azerbaijan; syntypes: (3) NMW 33910 (1), ZIN 2229-30 (2). Etymology: Kessler (1874) mentions the name “Mr. Goebel”, without providing his first name or any further detail, except that he was a taxidermist, who delivered the syntypes to the Russian Academy of Sciences in St. Petersburg from Baku. Distribution and habitat: Coastal waters of the Middle and South Caspian Sea sub-basins (Fig. 27C). Absent from freshwaters. Remarks: Populations from the Caspian Sea originally described by Kessler (1874) as two separate species, Gobius bogdanowi and Gobius goebelii, the latter having been subsequently regarded as a subspecies of Neogobius ratan (Nordmann, 1840). Berg (1949) distinguished N. ratan goebeli, the Caspian Sea Ratan, by its higher meristic values, wider lip and the presence of scales on the upper third of the opercle, but believed that G. bogdanowi constituted a separate species. Within the Caspian Sea, specimens from Azerbaijan and Iran, Dagestan and the Turkmenistan coasts suggest some differentiation especially in the number of scales in lateral series, yet available material at present is too limited to evaluate possible subspecific/population status of the nominal Gobius bogdanowi Kessler (the first available name) or other putative taxa at that level. Neilson & Stepien (2009) synonymized the Caspian Sea Ratan with Ponticola ratan (Nordmann, 1840), the Black Sea Ratan, whereas it was elevated to full specific status by Naseka & Bogutskaya (2009), without further justification, since they did not include Caspian specimens in their analyses nor any discussion for their taxonomic decisions. This later was adopted by other authors, e.g., Esmaeili et al. (2010). Therefore, a detailed morphological and molecular analysis of individuals from the two basins remains of interest. Material examined: ZM-CBSU S014-1, 1, off Anzali, Gilan Province, Iran. IUCN: DD (Mamilov 2020c)., Published as part of Zarei, Fatah, Esmaeili, Hamid Reza, Abbasi, Keyvan, Kovačić, Marcelo, Schliewen, Ulrich K. & Stepien, Carol A., 2022, Gobies (Teleostei: Gobiidae) of the oldest and deepest Caspian Sea sub-basin: an evidence-based annotated checklist and a key for species identification, pp. 151-193 in Zootaxa 5190 (2) on page 178, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5190.2.1, http://zenodo.org/record/7120060, {"references":["Kessler, K. F. (1874) A description of fishes belonging to the families common to both the Black and the Caspian seas. Travaux de la Societe des Naturalistes de St. Petersbourg, 5, 191 - 324. [in French]","Berg, L. S. (1949) Freshwater Fishes of the USSR and Adjacent Countries. Vol. III. Program for Scientific Translations, Jerusalem, 250 pp.","Neilson, M. E. & Stepien, C. A. (2009) Escape from the Ponto-Caspian: evolution and biogeography of an endemic goby species flock (Benthophilinae: Gobiidae: Teleostei). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 52, 84 - 102. https: // doi. org / 10.1016 / j. ympev. 2008.12.023","Naseka, N. M. & Bogutskaya, N. G. (2009) Fishes of the Caspian Sea: zoogeography and updated check-list. Zoosystematica Rossica, 18, 295 - 317.","Esmaeili, H. R., Coad, B. W., Gholamifard, A., Nazari, N. & Teimory, A. (2010) Annotated сhecklist of the freshwater fishes of Iran. Zoosystematica Rossica, 19, 361 - 386.","Mamilov, N. (2020 c) Ponticola goebelii. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, 2020, e. T 156763140 A 156763185. https: // doi. org / 10.2305 / IUCN. UK. 2020 - 3. RLTS. T 156763140 A 156763185. en"]}

35. Ponticola patimari Eagderi, Nikmehr & Poorbagher, 2020 (Fig. 32), Patimar’s Goby Ponticola patimari Eagderi, Nikmehr & Poorbagher, 2020: 25, figs. 2–4; type locality: Kheirud River at Najar-deh Village, Southern Caspian Sea basin, Mazandaran Prov., Iran, 36°36’46’’N; 51°34’03’’E; holotype: IMNRF-UT-1088, male, 79.1 mm TL, 63.5 mm SL, paratypes: IMNRF-UT-1087 (8), additional materials: IMNRF-UT-1086 (8), IMNRF-UT-1089 (11). Etymology: Named for Dr. R. Patimar, Iranian fishery biologist. Distribution and habitat: Freshwaters in the South Caspian Sea sub-basin. Endemic to the western rivers of the South Caspian Sea sub-basin in Iran from Kheirud (Mazandaran) to Karganroud (Gilan), except for the upper Sefidroud drainage basin (Fig. 27A) (Zarei et al. 2022b). Remarks: A species with three geographically constrained haplogroups, i.e., Hg1, Hg2, and Hg3, separated from one another by1.19–1.91% average Kimura two-parameter (K2P) genetic distance(Zarei et al. 2022b).Hg1 contained the specimens from eastern localities, including the type locality of P. patimari, whereas Hg2 and Hg3 appeared to be sister groups with central and western-central distributions, respectively. Hg1 and Hg2+Hg3 appeared to follow a morphological continuum, which did not allow for practical taxonomic diagnosis. Therefore, pending further investigation, Zarei et al. (2022b) considered the latter two groups as possible allopatric populations of P. patimari. The cephalic lateral line system of P. patimari was inaccurately described by Eagderi et al. (2020), and re-described by Zarei et al. (2022b) with re-assessed morphological character states. Material examined: ZM-CBSU S043, 3, Kaftarroud; ZM-CBSU S044,1 1, Karganroud; ZM-CBSU S046 & ZM-CBSU S090, 70, Shafaroud; ZM-CBSU S051, 6, Oshmakroud mouth; ZM-CBSU S061, 8, Sefidroud at Keysum; ZM-CBSU S080, 90, Siahdarvishan; ZM-CBSU S088, 5, Kheiroud; ZM-CBSU S091, 60, Polroud, Gilan Province, Iran; ZM-CBSU S089, 60, Nowshahr and Chalus rivers, Mazandaran Province, Iran. IUCN: NE., Published as part of Zarei, Fatah, Esmaeili, Hamid Reza, Abbasi, Keyvan, Kovačić, Marcelo, Schliewen, Ulrich K. & Stepien, Carol A., 2022, Gobies (Teleostei: Gobiidae) of the oldest and deepest Caspian Sea sub-basin: an evidence-based annotated checklist and a key for species identification, pp. 151-193 in Zootaxa 5190 (2) on pages 180-181, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5190.2.1, http://zenodo.org/record/7120060, {"references":["Eagderi, S., Nikmehr, N. & Poorbagher, H. (2020) Ponticola patimari sp. nov. (Gobiiformes: Gobiidae) from the southern Caspian Sea basin, Iran. FishTaxa, 17, 22 - 31.","Zarei, F., Esmaeili, H. R., Sadeghi, R., Schliewen, U. K., Kovacic, M., Abbasi, K. & Gholamhosseini, A. (2022 b) An integrative insight into the diversity, distribution and biogeography of the freshwater endemic clade of the Ponticola syrman group (Teleostei: Gobiidae) in the Caucasus biodiversity hotspot. Ecology & Evolution, 12. https: // doi. org / 10.1002 / ece 3.9300"]}

Aksu Kayabalığı, Ponticola turani (Kovačić & Engin, 2008) Türkiye’ye endemik bir tatlısu balığıdır. Bu çalışmada, Haziran 2015- Ağustos 2016 tarihleri arasında Terme Çayı (Samsun)’ndan toplanan Aksu Kayabalığı’nın sakkular otolit ölçümleri ile somatik büyümesi arasındaki ilişkiler incelenmiştir. Ayrıca şekil indeksleri kullanılarak türün sakkular otolit şekli tanımlanmıştır. Elektroşok cihazı ile toplam 232 birey yakalanmıştır. Sakkular otolitlerin boyu, yüksekliği, çevresi, alanı ve ağırlığı kaydedilmiştir. Sakkular otolit değişkenleri ile balık somatik büyümesi arasındaki ilişkiler üssel fonksiyonla tanımlanmıştır. Söz konusu ilişkiler, sol-sağ bölge ve dişi-erkek bireyler arasında farklılık göstermemiştir. Tüm ilişkiler oldukça önemli çıkmıştır (P0,84). Balık boyu ve ağırlığı ile en güçlü ilişkiyi gösteren ölçüm sırasıyla %92 ile otolit çevresi ve %90 ile otolit ağırlığı olmuştur. Şekil indeksleri, Aksu Kayabalığı otolitlerinin geometrik olarak düzensiz ve dikdörtgen şeklinde olduğunu doğrulamıştır. Bu araştırma Aksu Kayabalığı’nın otolit morfometrisi üzerine ilk çalışmadır. : Aksu goby, Ponticola turani (Kovačić & Engin, 2008) is a freshwater fish endemic to Turkey. In this study, the relationships between saccular otolith measurements and somatic growth of Aksu goby collected from Terme Stream (Samsun) between June 2015 and August 2016 were examined. In addition, the saccular otolith shape of this species was defined by using shape indices. A total of 232 specimens were caught with the electroshock device. The saccular otolith length, height, perimeter, area and weight were recorded. The relationships between saccular otolith variables and fish somatic growth were described with a non-linear function (power model). These relationships did not differ between left-right sides and between female and male individuals. All relationships were highly significant (P0.84). The measurement most strongly with related to fish length and weight was otolith perimeter, with 92% of the variability and otolith weight, with 90%, respectively. Shape indices confirmed that the otoliths of Aksu goby are geometrically irregular and rectangular. This research is the first study on the saccular otolith morphometry of Aksu goby.

Ponticola hircaniaensis sp. nov. English name: Hyrcanian goby (Figs. 5–6, Table 4) Synonyms Ponticola gorlap (Iljin, 1949): Zarei et al. 2021: 1272, table 2 (partim: Kaboudval Stream) Holotype. ZM-CBSU S101-6, male, 76.9 + 21.6 mm; Iran: Golestan prov.: Kaboudval stream, 36°53‘11.0“N 54°53‘37.8“E; F. Zarei, 27 August 2021. Paratypes. ZM-CBSU S099-1 to S099-12, 7 males, 5 females, 52.8 + 14.0–80.8 + 20.4 mm; Y. Bakhshi, Z. Ganjali & A. Jouladeh-Roudbar, 28 August 2017.—ZM-CBSU S100-1 to S100-4, 4 males, 49.8 + 13.1–95.9 + 24.1 mm; F. Zarei & Y. Bakhshi, 31 August 2019.—ZM-CBSU S101-1 to S101-5 & S101-7 to S101-15, 9 males, 5 females, 54.9 + 15.0–91.3 + 26.0 mm; F. Zarei, 27 August 2021. All paratypes were collected from Iran, Golestan prov., Kaboudval Stream, 36°53’11.0”N 54°53’37.8”E. Additional material. ZM-CBSU S099, 29 specimens, 21.8–62.7 mm SL; Y. Bakhshi, Z. Ganjali & A. Jouladeh-Roudbar, 28 August 2017.—ZM-CBSU S100, 26 specimens, 27.5–47.8 mm SL; F. Zarei & Y. Bakhshi, 31 August 2019.—ZM-CBSU S101, 9 specimens, 45.0– 50.2 mm SL; F. Zarei, 27 August 2021. All additional material was collected from Iran, Golestan prov., Kaboudval Stream. ......continued on the next page ......continued on the next page Material used in the molecular genetic analysis. Mitochondrial COI: molecular IDs: P2776–P2778 (ZMCBSU P2776 to P2778), P162 (ZM-CBSU P162), 3432 (ZM-CBSU S101-2, paratype), 3433–3440 (ZM-CBSU S101-19 to S101-26), 3441 (ZM-CBSU S101-7, paratype), 3443 (ZM-CBSU S101-9, paratype), 3444 (ZM-CBSU S101-12, paratype), 16 specimens (GenBank accession numbers: MW393596 – MW393598, and ON166711 – ON166723).—Nuclear S7: molecular IDs: 3432 (ZM-CBSU S101-2, paratype), 3438 (ZM-CBSU S101-24), 3435 (ZM-CBSU S101-21), 3443 (ZM-CBSU S101-9, paratype), 4 specimens (GenBank accession numbers: ON186768 – ON186771). All from Iran, Golestan prov., Kaboudval Stream, 36°53’11.0”N 54°53’37.8”E, F. Zarei & Y. Bakhshi, 31 August 2019 & 27 August 2021. Material used in the otolith analysis. ZM-CBSU K18, K21, K24 & K28, S101-21, S101-26, 12/19–12/22, 12/26–12/31, 12/33–12/34, and 12/37–12/39, 21 specimens, 49.24–78.44 mm SL; Iran: Golestan prov., Kaboudval Stream, 36°53’11.0”N 54°53’37.8”E; F. Zarei & Y. Bakhshi, 31 August 2019. Diagnosis. Ponticola hircaniaensis sp. nov. is distinguished from all other congeneric species in the Caspian Sea basin by the following combination of characters: D2 I/14–I/16 (usually I/15), A I/10–I/12 (usually I/11), LL 52–59; lower jaw slightly, if at all, prognathous; head and body yellowish brown, showing a reticulate brown pattern on a yellow background, D1 with a marginal bright orangish-yellow band and a dark anterior spot, P base upper part with a distinct dark brown stripe; D1 third spine length 13.4–18.3 % SL, D2 spine length 11.1–13.8 % of SL, caudalpeduncle length and depth 16.4–20.1 % and 11.1–12.8 % of SL, respectively, head depth at nape and eye 70.9–81.0 % and 52.5–66.0 % of HL, respectively. Dorsal rim of sagittal otolith with a broad concavity in the middle, dorsal depression absent or indistinct, SuL/SuH and SuH/OH ratio 1.47–1.82 and 0.34–0.40, respectively. Description. All morphometric values in the text are presented as holotype first and paratypes, if different, in parentheses. General morphology (Fig. 5): Body proportions are given in Table 4. Body moderately elongate, its depth at pelvic-fin origin 3.94 (3.78–4.78) in SL, at anal-fin origin 4.94 (4.82–5.52) in SL, laterally compressed posteriorly, with caudal peduncle moderately deep, caudal-peduncle depth 0.67 (0.57–0.76) of caudal-peduncle length. Head large, the length 3.32 (3.16–3.51) in SL, width 4.12 (3.62–4.48) in SL, its depth 4.11 (4.01–4.85) in SL and 1.0 (0.82–1.05) of width. Postorbital profile steep. Snout short, oblique, convex, longer than eye, its length 1.41 (1.13– 1.62) of eye diameter, 3.64 (3.11–3.91) in head length. Anterior nostril short, erect flared tube, the rim posteriorly elevated; posterior nostril pore-like, with more or less raised rim. Eyes dorsolateral, more lateral than dorsal, small, eye diameter is 5.15 (4.02–5.32) in head length, orbit slightly elevated. Interorbital wide, 1.44 (1.28–2.58) in eye diameter. Mouth directed obliquely upwards, lower jaw little if at all prognathous, upper lip widened in middle and swollen, angle of jaws below pupil. Cheek deep and prominent. Dentary in both jaws with conical teeth in outermost and innermost rows, irregular rows of smaller teeth in-between. Branchiostegal membranes fused to isthmus along the entire lateral margin of the isthmus, from immediately anterior to pectoral margin, gill openings restricted to pectoral-fin base. Fins. D1 VI; D2 I/14–16 (holotype I/14; paratypes: I/14:8, I/15:18, I/16:4) (last bifid); A I/10–I/12 (holotype I/11; paratypes: I/10:2, I/11:21, I/12:7) (last bifid); P 17–20 (holotype, left side: 18; paratypes, left side: 17:2, 18:22, 19:5, 20:1), V I/5 + 5/I. Morphometric characters are given in Table 4. D 1 dorsal profile horizontal, lower than the highest part of D2 dorsal profile. First to fourth D1 spines becoming progressively longer, fifth D1 spine shorter than the second. First D1 spine almost as long as D2 spine. D2 highest in the middle. D1 and D2 connected by interdorsal membrane, interdorsal space between D1 VI and D2 I narrow. D2 originates slightly in front of vertical to anus. A originates below 4th to 5th branched rays of D2. A with last ray origin below origin of penultimate ray or below origin of last ray of D2. The D2 (except for large specimens) and A rays not reaching backwards the base of uppermost and lowermost caudal-fin rays, respectively. C rounded, shorter than head length. P reaches beyond vertical of D2 origin. P rays all branched, the uppermost rays not free from the membrane. V disc complete, rounded, originates slightly anterior of vertical through D1 origin, not reaching anus or rarely extending almost to anterior anus origin, the variability present in both sexes. V all rays branched. V anterior membrane present, lateral lobes of anterior membrane well developed and with pointed tips. Squamation. Nape, predorsal area, upper 1/3 of opercle, posterior part of breast, and abdomen all covered with cycloid scales, and the rest of the body covered with ctenoid scales. Scales on caudal peduncle slightly enlarged. Cheek naked. Base of pectoral fin naked. LL 52–59 (holotype, left side: 55; paratypes, left side: 52:1, 53:7, 54:5, 55:3, 56:4, 57:8, 58:1, 59:1), TR 16–20 (holotype, left side: 19; paratypes, left side: 16:4, 17:5, 18:15, 19:5, 20:1), PD 19–23 (holotype 21; paratypes: 19:2, 20:8, 21:12, 22:7, 23:1). Lateral line system (Fig. 6). Cephalic canals. AOC, POC, and PC present. AOC with a single, unified interorbital section, carrying 12 pores: a pair of posterior nasal pores σ, single interorbital pores λ and κ, and paired ω, α, β, ρ; pores σ and ρ terminal, pore λ directly on the canal, pores κ and ω behind the canal, and pores α and β lateral of the canal. POC paired, each with two pores: θ and τ. PC paired, each side with three pores: γ, δ and ε. Head sensory papillae. Rows with range of number of sensory papillae in parentheses. Preorbital: median series in five rows: r 1 (6–9) and r 2 (7–8) as oblique rows opposite posterior nostril, extending over the canal section between λ and σ; midline of snout anterior of λ free of neuromasts; s 1 (7–11) and s 2 (8–11), as transverse rows anterior to σ; s 3 (13–18) as cluster anterior and lateral of s 2 , reaching near to upper lip; lateral series in four rows, each doubled; c 2 oblique between the anterior and posterior nostrils, with lower section (7–9) often longer than upper (4–6); c 1 (10–14) transversal lateral of anterior nostril and dorsal of c 2 (10–13); c 2 and c 1 (7–9) in longitudinal and oblique rows, respectively; c 2 ventral of c 1 , c 1 ventral of c 2 and dorsal of d 1 (22–26), oblique and posteriorly close to suborbital row 1. Suborbital: seven transversal (1–7) and two longitudinal (b, d) rows on cheek, rows 1–4 (1: 21–29, 2: 20–27, 3: 22–31, 4: 31–36) before longitudinal row b, long, ventrally extending to level of d, dorsally reaching close to eye except row 2 and sometimes row 3; rows 1 and 2 above and anterior to rear edge of jaws, row 3 right above or slightly behind the jaws angle; row 5 and 6 divided by b in short superior (5s: 9– 11, 6s: 7–9) and longer inferior (5i: 16–20, 6i: 12–18) sections; 5i ending above longitudinal row d, 6i passing behind row d, ending slightly below its level; 5i and 6i not confluent with each other; row 7 short (2–6), immediately anterior of pore α; row b (21–27) anteriorly reaching to below posterior end of pupil; row d long, not reaching 6i posteriorly, often distinctly divided and separable in two slightly overlapping parts, the anterior supralabial row d 1 oblique, following the border of the upper lip and reaching below the anterior origin of d 2 (21–24), the posterior row d 2 longitudinal on cheek; row d 1 anteriorly passing row 1. Asymmetrical variant specimens (30% of the material examined and only on the left side of the head) were found with one additional row before row b, i.e., five transverse suborbital rows before row b and eight transverse suborbital rows in total, or with four transverse suborbital rows before row b, but followed by one additional row below row b, i.e., three transverse rows below row b. Preoperculo-mandibular: not shown in Figure 4. Three rows, e, i and f; external row e distinctly divided at articulation of lower jaws in anterior mandibular (e 1 : 51–63) and posterior preopercular (e 2 : 47–59) sections; anterior and posterior sections of internal row i (i 1 , i 2 ) are continuous (93–123), their separation at articulation of lower jaws is indistinct; both usually with additional papillae and i 1 continuous with the symphyseal row f (10–14). Oculoscapular: eight transversal (z, q, u, trp, y, as 1 –as 3 ) and four longitudinal (x 1 , x 2 , la 2 –la 3 ) rows including the axillary series; x 1 long (17–20), parallel to and exceeding AOC, reaching to trp (5–6); x 2 (6–9) in elongation of x 1 , above posterior fourth of opercle, parallel to and exceeding POC; z (7–9) in elongation of PC, ventrally reaching close to but not exceeding pore γ; y (7–8) immediately behind τ and below x 2 ; three short transverse rows in oculoscapular groove between ρ and θ; q (4–5) anterior most, close to ρ, extending ventrally of the oculoscapular groove and sometimes with one or two papillae dorsal of ρ; posterior most trp close to θ, extending dorsally and passing upwards the level of x 1 ; between q and trp a third transverse row named here row u (3–4) considering its position despite row being transverse; transversal axillary rows as 1 -as 3 long (as 1 : 12–18, as 2 : 13–17, as 3 : 12–15); longitudinal axillary series represented by two rows (la 2 : 2–4, la 3 : 2–3). Opercular: three rows, one transversal (ot: 38–52), sometimes divided in two parts, and two longitudinal (os: 17–23, oi: 14–19) rows. Anterior-dorsal (occipital): five rows, two transversal (n and o) and three longitudinal (g, m and h); n (9–11) behind pore ω of AOC; rows o (6–10) widely separated; row g (7–12) posterior of o, not reaching row o anteriorly; m (5–8) almost parallel to g, behind and below it; h anterior to origin of first dorsal fin (D1), divided in two sections (h 1 : 5–8, h 2 : 3–6). Colouration. No distinct sexual dichromatism, or colouration differences in hybrids is evident on the specimens. In life: head and body yellowish brown; several large dark brown saddles on back below the dorsal fins and on the caudal peduncle; flanks covered with many dark brown spots and row of irregular and elongated dark blotches along the midline, all forming a reticulate pattern on a yellow background; cheek with brown reticulations or mottlings, and with a short brown longitudinal stripe starting below eye and going backwards about half way to preopercle; upper lip with reticulate patterns or mottles; P base with reticulate patterns, upper part with a distinct dark brown stripe. Breast, abdomen, and fins greyish. D1 with two to three brown horizontal bands, and a bright orangish-yellow horizontal band along upper edge of I–V interradial membrane, progressively narrowing posteriorly; upper anterior part of D1 with a dark oblique spot on I–II interradial membrane below the marginal band. D2 with three distinct longitudinal rows of yellowish-brown spots on proximal part, distal half with numerous small spots on the sides of the rays. Anal fin without any distinct band or mark. P rays yellowish. P and C with several concentric narrow rows of yellowish-brown spots, concentrated near base of fin. D2, A, and C with whitish fringe along the edge. Preserved specimens: background colour of the preserved specimens less yellowish; brown saddles on back below D1 and D2 and on the caudal peduncle; flanks with row of large dark blotches along the midline. Head and body with less pronounced reticulate patterns. Cheek with a longitudinal dark brown stripe. Fins dark grey. D1 with a white band across upper edge, two to three horizontal dark bands, and a dark oblique spot between I–II. P base with a dark strip on the upper part. Horizontal rows and brown spots on all fins less distinct than in live specimens. Otolith. (Figs. 1 & 7a–d, Table 5). The five specimens with the new species haplotype were not examined for their otoliths since they were (i) fixed in 10% formaldehyde solution (formaldehyde causes decalcification and degradation of otoliths) for subsequent morphological analyses, (ii) included as paratypes (4 of 5; see material examined). Therefore, otoliths from a total of 21 specimens from the Kaboudval Stream (including several specimens with the gorlap haplotype) were examined using light microscopy and digital photographs. All otoliths were similar in general morphology, thus, four of these otoliths (Fig. 7 a-d) were selected randomly for SEM imaging, morphometric measurements, and description. The otoliths have a parallelogram shape, with marked preventral and posterodorsal projections. The otolith length to height (OL/OH) ratio is 1.22–1.39; the dorsal rim with a broad concavity in the middle, smooth; predorsal angle orthogonal; posterodorsal projection highly positioned, broad, long, pointed or blunt, and slightly bent outwards. The anterior rim usually lacks incision, or is sometimes incised at or slightly above the level of ostium, inclined at 72.30–84.29° (β). Posterior rim almost parallel to the anterior rim or a little less oblique, inclined at 101.31–104.86° (γ), with a concavity (incision or notch) below the posterodorsal projection at or slightly below the level of cauda. Angle of preventral to posterodorsal traverse 24.36–34.14° (δ). Ventral rim horizontal and smooth; preventral projection usually long, sometimes short, pointed or blunt; posteroventral angle usually orthogonal. Sulcus centrally positioned, sole-shaped, anteriorly inclined at 10.22–19.06° (α), very deep with developed ostial lobe. Sulcus moderately long, and very wide; the ratio of sulcus length to height (SuL/SuH) 1.47–1.82. The sulcus height to otolith height (SuH/OH) ratio is 0.34–0.40. Subcaudal iugum present, short (usually 1/3 cauda length), slender, below the anterior part of the cauda. Ventral furrow running with a moderate distance to ventral rim, curved upwards anteriorly to or slightly below the level of the ostial apex and turning upwards to the level of the caudal tip or slightly below it. Dorsal depression indistinct or absent. Otolith variables and shape indices are provided in Table 5. ......continued on the next page Sexual dimorphism. Sexes can be distinguished externally by the shape of the urogenital papilla, which is conical in males with pointed posterior edge, and wider, trapezoid and with villous posterior edge in females. Males grow to a larger size (up to 120.0 mm total length vs. 101.2 mm for female maximum recorded total length). All morphometric and meristic characteristics are overlapping, males however, (i) tend to have a deeper cheek (18.02–24.37 vs. 16.92–19.61% of Hl), (ii) are dominated by individual (14 of 21) with 15 branched rays in the second dorsal fin [vs. 14 branched rays in females (6 of 10)], and (iii) show a larger range of pectoral fin rays (17–20 vs. 18–19). Etymology. Named for Hyrcania, the Greek name for the south Caspian region where the species occurs. Distribution and conservation. Ponticola hircaniaensis sp. nov. is known only from its type locality, located 1 km south of the city of Aliabad-e-Katul (Figs. 8–9). Its small population is confined to a single area (extent of occurrence P. gorlap. Moreover, according to our field observations, there is a decline in quality of habitat at Kaboudval due to excessive grazing, erosion, and human effects [IUCN criterion Bb(iii)]. In addition, Pseudorasbora parva (Temminck & Schlegel, 1846) and Gambusia holbrooki Girard, 1859, two of the most successful invasive fish species in the world with negative impacts on native fish species, have established populations at Kaboudval. For example, high densities of P. parva have severe and significant impacts on native trophic food webs, resulting in overlap with n

In this study, the fish species inhabiting the Bolaman Stream drains to the Black Sea from the Fatsa coast (Ordu Province, Turkey) was reported for the first time. The study was caught out non-periodically by sampling from seven stations in the Bolaman Stream between July 2017 and November 2018. Fish samples were captured with an electroshock device. With this study, it was determined that the fish fauna of the Bolaman Stream is represented by 10 species in five families (Acheilognothidae, Cyprinidae, Gobiidae, Leuciscidae, and Salmonidae). These species were as follows, respectively Rhodeus amarus, Barbus tauricus, Capoeta banarescui, Neogobius fluviatilis, Ponticola turani, Alburnus derjugini, Squalius cephalus, Vimba vimba, Alburnoides fasciatus, and Salmo coruhensis.

The Serbian Lake System (SLS) is a key area on early to middle Miocene freshwater environments in southeastern Europe. Here, we describe a rich fossil association of freshwater fish otoliths of late Badenian to early Sarmatian (Serravallian, MN 7+8 zone) age. The studied material was collected from several small outcrops along the Grabovac stream near Vracevic. The Vracevic locations are part of the Valjevo-Mionica Basin (VMB). We identified nine different species, including two in open nomenclature and three new to science: Aphanius jeani, Aphanolebias bettinae n.sp., Klincigobius andjelkovicae, Klincigobus haraldahnelti n. sp., Klincigobius serbiensis, Klincigobius sp., Ponticola sp., Toxopyge campylus, Toxopyge vracevicensis n.sp. We found that the composition of this fish fauna correlates well with the slightly older fauna from the early to middle Miocene of Klinci. Both localities were most likely part of a continuous environment during the existence of the Valjevo-Mionica Basin. The composition of the community of freshwater gobies from the early to early middle Miocene of southeaster n Europe indicates the presence of a "lost" Miocene freshvvater goby fish fauna that existed prior to and was unrelated to the Ponto-Caspian fish fauna that prevails today. The new data may prove helpful in reconstructing the paleogeographical evolution of the Valjevo-Mionica Basin in detail.

The trace elements (TEs) in aquatic environments due to anthropogenic activities are readily available to aquatic organisms. There are 153 fish species inhabiting the Caspian Sea. However, little is known about TE (TE) concentrations in these species. In this study, we investigated the effects of TEs levels in the brain of some bony fish species inhabiting the Caspian basin. Totally, 405 fish from nine species with different feeding behaviors including Leuciscus aspius (n = 20) and Perca fluviatilis (n = 37) as piscivores, Rutilus kutum (n = 27) and Rutilus caspius (n = 71) as carnivores, Vimba persa (n = 56), Ponticola caspia (n = 25) and Tinca tinca (n = 31) as mollusivores, and Alburnus chalcoides (n = 77) and Alosa braschnikowi (n = 61) as zooplanktivores were collected from the southwest of the Caspian Sea basin from September 2017 to June 2018. The ICP-OES was used to measure TEs in the brain tissue of fish. The variability of TEs concentrations in the brain tissues of these fishes by principal component analysis (PCA) was decreased to 63.59% and 17.68% for PC1 and PC2, respectively, exhibiting that 81.27% of the total variability is associated with K, Mg, P, S, Zn, and Al. The two-dimensional diagrams showed the weight of each component in PCA. The PC1 was mostly influenced by P, Mg, K, and Zn, while the greatest value in PC2 belonged to Al. Furthermore, the entire number of elements determined in this study was found to be a suitable indicator for the distinction between fish species based on their feeding items.

A Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, non-spore-forming, non-motile and ovoid or rod-shaped bacterial strain, MYP5T, was isolated from seawater in Jeju island of South Korea. MYP5T grew optimally at 30–35 °C and in the presence of 2.0 % (w/v) NaCl. A neighbour-joining phylogenetic tree based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that MYP5T fell within the clade enclosed by the type strains of species of the genus Alteromonas , clustering with the type strains of Alteromonas confluentis and Alteromonas halophila . MYP5T exhibited the highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity value (98.0 %) to the type strain of A. confluentis and similarities of 95.1–97.9 % to the type strains of the other species of the genus Alteromonas . ANI and dDDH values of genomic sequences between MYP5T and the type strains of 22 species of the genus Alteromonas were 66.8–70.5 % and 18.6–27.5 %, respectively. The DNA G+C content of MYP5T, determined from the genome sequence, was 46.1 %. MYP5T contained Q-8 as the predominant ubiquinone and C18 : 1 ω7c, summed feature 3 (C16 : 1 ω7c and/or C16 : 1 ω6c), C16 : 0 and 10-methyl C17 : 0 as the major fatty acids. The major polar lipids of MYP5T were phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylglycerol. Distinguishing phenotypic properties, along with the phylogenetic and genetic distinctiveness, revealed that MYP5T is separated from species of the genus Alteromonas . On the basis of the data presented, MYP5T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Alteromonas , for which the name Alteromonas ponticola sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is MYP5T (=KCTC 82144T=NBRC 114354T).

Syrman goby Ponticola syrman (Nordmann, 1840) is one is one of the valuable component of the Azov Seaichthyofauna and it has importance in commercial and recreational fisheries. Articles deals with syrman goby’s biologyfeatures in Bilosarayska Bay of the Azov Sea. The results suggest that males are bigger than females in size – 9.1%and weight – 23.9% respectively. The gender ratio ranges from 1:1 throughout the study period. Age distribution isrepresented by two age groups – 1+ and 2+. Indicators of linear growth of the species have fairly equal rates in bothmales and females. Sexual dimorphism was expressed poorly, but in context of age variability, males in the second yearof life are significantly different from females 1+ and 2+ and males 1+ at the level of 15.9–24.5. Most reliably distinctivefeatures were measured on the head. The taxonomic composition of the 50-year-old food items that have been included in the feed spectrum of the syrman goby has increased from 8 to 14 taxons. The share of fish, shellfish and Polychaetasdecreased, while the proportion of crustaceans increased. In terms of abundance, biomass, and frequency of occurrence,the species' nutrition is dominant Rhithropanopeus harrisi, Amphibalanus improvises, bivalve mollusk Abra segmentumand fish. The average value of the energy equivalent is dominated by fish, and the total – crustaceans. An analysisof the feeding spectra similarity of the syrman goby with the most abundant species of the Gobiidae family showedthe greatest similarity with the monkey goby (Neogobius fluviatilis) and the round goby (Neogobius melanostomus).

Hanstruepera crassostreae L53T was compared with Pseudobizionia ponticola MM-14T to examine the taxonomic relationship between the two type strains. The 16S rRNA gene sequence of H. crassostreae L53T had complete similarity (100.0%) to that of P. ponticola MM-14T. The results of phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that the two strains formed a tight cluster within the genus Pseudobizionia . Draft genomic comparison between the two strains revealed an average nucleotide identity of 96.9 % and a digital DNA–DNA hybridization estimate of 75.3±2.8 %, strongly indicating that the two strains represented a single species. In addition, neither strain displayed any striking difference in metabolic, physiological or chemotaxonomic features. Therefore, we propose that Hanstruepera crassostreae is a later heterotypic synonym of Pseudobizionia ponticola .

A novel species of the genus Roseomonas , designated SYSU M41301T, was isolated from water sample of the Pearl River estuary in Guangdong, China. Polyphasic, taxonomic and phylogenomic analyses were used to determine the taxonomy position of the strain. Phylogenetic analysis using 16S rRNA gene sequence indicated that strain SYSU M41301T showed the highest sequence similarity to Roseomonas stagni KCTC 22213T (97.9 %) and Roseomonas riguiloci KCTC 23339T (96.4 %). The novel species could be differentiated from other species of the genus Roseomonas by its distinct phenotypic and genotypic characteristics. The isolate was Gram-staining-negative, aerobic, short rod-shape, oxidase-positive and non-motile. The predominant respiratory quinone was ubiquinone 8 (Q-8). The major polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylcholine, and one unidentified polar lipid. The major fatty acids (>10 % of total) were 11-methyl C18 : 1 ω7c, summed feature 3 (C16 : 1 ω7c and/ or C16 : 1 ω6c) and summed feature 8 (C18: :1 ω7c and/or C18 : 1 ω6c). The G+C content of the novel isolate based on genomic DNA was 72.0 mol%. On the basis of phenotypic, genotypic and phylogenetic data, strain SYSU M41301T should be considered to represent a novel species in the genus Roseomonas, for which the name Roseomonas ponticola sp. nov. is proposed with the type strain SYSU M41301T (=KCTC 72726T=CGMCC 1.18613T).

A Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, motile and rod-shaped bacterial strain, designated OISW-25T, was isolated from seawater in Republic of Korea. Strain OISW-25T grew optimally at 25 °C and in the presence of 2.0 % (w/v) NaCl. The phylogenetic trees based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain OISW-25T fell within the clade comprising the type strains of Colwellia species. Strain OISW-25T exhibited 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity values of 97.5, 97.2 and 97.1 % to the type strains of C. piezophila , C. maris and C. psychrerythraea , respectively, and of 93.6–96.6 % to the type strains of the other Colwellia species. The average nucleotide identity values between strain OISW-25T and C. piezophila ATCC BAA-637T and two non-type strains of C. psychrerythraea were 78.16–79.35 % and DNA–DNA relatedness value of strain OISW-25T with the type strain of C . maris was 17 %. The DNA G+C content of strain OISW-25T was 39.2 mol% (HPLC) or 38.7 mol% (genome data). Strain OISW-25T contained Q-8 as the predominant ubiquinone and summed feature 3 (C16 : 1 ω7c and/or C16 : 1 ω6c) and C16 : 0 as the major fatty acids. The major polar lipids of strain OISW-25T were phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylglycerol. Distinguished phenotypic properties, along with the phylogenetic and genetic distinctiveness, revealed that strain OISW-25T is distinct from Colwellia species. On the basis of the data presented, strain OISW-25T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Colwellia , for which the name Colwellia ponticola sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is OISW-25T (=KCTC 62426T=NBRC 113187T).

A Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, non-motile and coccoid, ovoid or rod-shaped bacterial strain, designated MYP11T, was isolated from seawater around Jeju island, Republic of Korea and identified by polyphasic taxonomic study. A neighbour-joining phylogenetic tree of 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain MYP11T joined the cluster comprising the type strains of Shimiaabyssi, Shimiaaestuarii and Shimiaaquaeponti, showing 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities of 96.3–96.8 %. Strain MYP11T exhibited 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity values of 94.2–94.9 % to the type strains of other Shimia species. In the upgma dendrogram based on the average nucleotide identity values of genomic sequences, strain MYP11T formed an evolutionary lineage independent of those of Shimia species and other taxa. Strain MYP11T contained Q-10 as the predominant ubiquinone and C18 : 1 ω7c and cyclo C19 : 0 ω8c as the major fatty acids. The major polar lipids of strain MYP11T were phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylglycerol, two unidentified lipids and one unidentified aminolipid. The DNA G+C content of strain MYP11T was 63.1 or 61.5 mol%. The differences in the fatty acid and polar lipid profiles and DNA G+C contents made it reasonable to distinguish strain MYP11T from the type strains of S. abyssi , S. aestuarii and S. aquaeponti and those of other Shimia species. On the basis of the polyphasic data presented here, strain MYP11T is considered to constitute a new genus and species within the class Alphaproteobacteria , for which the name Aliishimia ponticola gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is MYP11T (=KCTC 62899T=NBRC 113544T).

A Gram-stain-negative, orange-pigmented and strictly aerobic bacterium, designated strain MJ115T, was isolated from seawater in Pohang, South Korea. Cells were non-motile rods and showed positive reactions for catalase and oxidase tests. Growth of strain MJ115T was observed at 4–35 °C (optimum, 30 °C), pH 6.0–7.0 (optimum, pH 6.5) and in the presence of 0–8.0 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum, 2.0%). Strain MJ115T contained iso-C15 : 0, anteiso-C15 : 0, anteiso-C17 : 1 ω9c, C17 : 0 2-OH, iso-C16 : 0 3-OH, iso-C17 : 0 3-OH and summed feature 3 (C16 : 1 ω7c and/or C16 : 1 ω6c) as major cellular fatty acids and menaquinone-6 as the major respiratory quinone. Phosphatidylethanolamine, two unidentified aminolipids and four unidentified lipids were detected as major polar lipids. The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 40.7 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain MJ115T formed a phyletic lineage with Nonlabens marinus S1-08T, Nonlabens agnitus JC2678T and Nonlabens antarcticus AKS 622T within the genus Nonlabens . Strain MJ115T was also most closely related to N. marinus S1-08T, N. agnitus JC2678T and N. antarcticus AKS 622T with 96.5, 96.4 and 96.0 % 16S rRNA sequence similarities, respectively. Here it is proposed that strain MJ115T represents a new species of the genus Nonlabens , for which the name Nonlabens ponticola sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is MJ115T (=KCTC 72237T=NBRC 113963T). In addition, the comparison of the whole genome sequences and phenotypic features suggested that Nonlabens tegetincola and Nonlabens sediminis belong to the same species. Therefore, it is proposed that N. sediminis is reclassified as a later heterotypic synonym of N. tegetincola .

Bu çalışma, Türkiye'nin kuzeyindeki Terme Çayı’dan 214 bireye dayanarak Ponticola turani (Aksu kayabalığı)’nin boy-ağırlık ilişkisini ve kondisyon faktörünü açıklamaktadır. Balıklar, Haziran 2015 ile Ağustos 2016 arasında dört farklı ayda elektroşok yöntemiyle toplanmıştır. Dişi ve erkeklerin boy-ağırlık ilişkileri aynı örnekleme ayında ve farklı örnekleme ayları arasında önemli farklılık göstermemiştir. Boy-ağırlık ilişkisinin b değeri dişiler için 2,86 ve erkekler için 2,85 olarak hesaplanmıştır. Her iki eşeyde de negatif allometrik büyüme saptanmıştır ve b değerleri arasında anlamlı bir fark bulunmamıştır. Fulton'un kondisyon faktörü (K) dişilerde 0,72 ile 1,48 ve erkeklerde 0,84 ile 1,31 arasında dağılım gösterirken; nispi kondisyon faktörü (Kn) dişiler için 0,65 ile 1,26 ve erkekler için 0,76 ile 1,18 arasında değişmiştir. Eşeylerin ortalama K değerleri arasında anlamlı bir fark tespit edilirken, Kn değerleri arasında önemli bir fark saptanmamıştır. Bu araştırma Aksu kayabalığının bazı biyolojik parametrelerini ilk kez rapor etmektedir., The present study describes the length-weight relationship (LWR) and condition factor of Ponticola turani (Aksu goby) based on 214 individuals from Terme Stream, the northern Turkey. Fish were collected by electrofishing in four different months between June 2015 and August 2016. LWRs of females and males were not significantly different within the same sampling month and among sampling months. The b value of LWR was calculated as 2.86 for females and 2.85 for males. Negative allometric growth was detected in both sexes, without significant difference between their b values. Fulton's condition factor (K) ranged from 0.72 to 1.48 in females and from 0.84 to 1.31 in males; the relative condition factor (Kn) ranged from 0.65 to 1.26 for females and from 0.76 to 1.18 for males. There was a significant difference in mean K of sexes, whereas no considerable difference was detected between their mean Kn. This research reports some biological parameters of Aksu goby for the first time.

A Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, non-motile, and carrageenan-degrading bacterial strain, designated OISW-17T, was isolated from seawater around Oido, an island of South Korea, and its taxonomic position was determined using a polyphasic study. Optimal growth of the novel strain occurred at 20–25 °C and in the presence of 2.0% (w/v) NaCl. Phylogenetic trees using 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain OISW-17T forms a cluster with the type strains of Dokdonia species. The novel strain exhibited 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities of 95.7–96.3% to the type strains of Dokdonia species and of

A Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, non-motile and ovoid or rod-shaped bacterial strain, designated MM-14T, was isolated from seawater sampled from the Yellow Sea in the Republic of Korea and its taxonomic position was investigated using a polyphasic approach. Strain MM-14T grew optimally at 30 °C and in the presence of approximately 2.0 % (w/v) NaCl. Phylogenetic trees based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain MM-14T clustered with the type strain of Hanstruepera neustonica . The novel strain exhibited a 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity value of 96.06 % to the type strain of H. neustonica , but higher 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity values (96.13–96.69 %) to the type strains of Bizionia echini , Bizionia hallyeonensis and Bizionia psychrotolerans . Strain MM-14T contained MK-6 as the predominant menaquinone and iso-C15 : 0, iso-C15 : 1 G and iso-C17 : 0 3-OH as the major fatty acids. The major polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, one unidentified lipid and one unidentified aminolipid. The DNA G+C content of strain MM-14T was 34.6 mol%. The phylogenetic and chemotaxonomic data and other phenotypic properties revealed that strain MM-14T constitutes a new genus and species within the family Flavobacteriaceae of the phylum Bacteroidetes , for which the name Pseudobizionia ponticola gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of Pseudobizionia ponticola is MM-14T (=KACC 19434T=KCTC 62139T=NBRC 113019T).

Twelve sites along the Totkabon River, north of Iran were sampled to study the relationship between fish assemblage and habitat variables, including elevation, water depth, river width, river slope, current velocity, number of large stone, average stone diameter, substrate index, potamal cover index and periphyton cover index. Canonical correspondence analysis was used to determine the relationship between fish assemblage and habitat variables. The results indicated that presence-absence and abundance of Alburnoides samiii were related to elevation, depth, number of large stone, stone diameter and velocity; presence-absence and abundance of Oxynoemacheilus bergianus, Cobitis keyvani, Barbus cyri , and Ponticola iranicus were related to number of large stone, stone diameter, velocity, elevation, and depth; and presence-absence and abundance Acanthobrama microlepis, Carassius auratus , and Pseurasbora parva are related with large stone, slope, elevation, and depth. The relationships between habitat variables and fish assemblage provide insight into their ecology and can aid effective fisheries management in the Sefidrud River basin .

This study presents a detailed comparative analysis of external morphology of four of the most invasive goby species in Europe (round goby Neogobius melanostomus, bighead goby Ponticola kessleri, monkey goby Neogobius fluviatilis and racer goby Ponticola gymnotrachelus) and interprets some ecological requirements of these species based on their morphological attributes. The results are evaluated within an ontogenetic context, and the morphological differences between the species are discussed in terms of the question: can special external shape adaptations help to assess the invasive potential of each species? The morphometric analyses demonstrate important differences between the four invasive gobies. Neogobius melanostomus appears to have the least specialized external morphology that may favour its invasive success: little specialization to habitat or diet means reduced restraints on overall ecological requirements. The other three species were found to possess some morphological specializations (P. kessleri to large prey, N. fluviatilis to sandy habitats and P. gymnotrachelus to macrophytes), but none of these gobies have managed to colonize such large areas or to reach such overall abundances as N. melanostomus.

A lipolytic, Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, non-motile and coccoid, ovoid or rod-shaped bacterial strain, designated GM-16T, was isolated from seawater around Pohang in the Republic of Korea. Strain GM-16T grew optimally at 30 °C and in the presence of 1.0–2.0 % (w/v) NaCl. The neighbour-joining phylogenetic tree of 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain GM-16T fell within the clade comprising the type strains of Croceicoccus species. Strain GM-16T exhibited the highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity (97.7 %) to the type strain of Croceicoccus pelagius and sequence similarities of 96.3–96.7 % to the type strains of the other Croceicoccus species. Strain GM-16T contained Q-10 as the predominant ubiquinone and C18 : 1 ω7c and summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω7c and/or C16 : 1ω6c) as major fatty acids. The major polar lipids of strain GM-16T were phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, sphingoglycolipid and one unidentified glycolipid. The DNA G+C content of strain GM-16T was 62.6 mol%. The mean DNA–DNA relatedness value between strain GM-16T and C. pelagius DSM 101479T was 16 %. The average nucleotide identity values between strain GM-16T and the type strains of C.roceicoccus pelagius, C.roceicoccus marinus, C.roceicoccus naphthovorans and C.roceicoccus mobilis were 83.96–84.44 %. The phylogenetic and genetic data and differential phenotypic properties indicated that strain GM-16T is separated from recognized Croceicoccus species. On the basis of the data presented here, strain GM-16T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Croceicoccus , for which the name Croceicoccus ponticola sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is GM-16T (=KACC 19611T=KCTC 62423T=NBRC 113192T).

In connection with the problems of identification of certain species of the genus Ponticola, and especially their juveniles, morphological and genetic studies of gobies collected in the northwestern part of the Black Sea basin were carried out using literature data and museum collections. Karyological data indicate a distinct species status of western (P. odessicus) and eastern (P. eurycephalus) mushroom gobies; the range of the latter includes not only the Sea of Azov but also waters of the Black Sea coast of the Crimean Peninsula; these conclusions are supported by preliminary molecular genetic studies. Based on the obtained results of intraspecific morphological variability of species, we propose morphological characteristics for identification of adult P. syrman and P. odessicus, as well as a specific set of characteristics to identify juvenile (body length less than 50 mm) P. syrman, P. kessleri, and P. odessicus. We reveal differences in the karyotype structure of P. syrman from populations of the Sasyk Lake and the Don River, which do not differ in terms of external morphological characteristics and variability of cytochrome b haplotypes. The need for further research of phylogeography and morphological and karyological variability of P. syrman sensu lato is assumed.

To estimate reproductive biology of Ponticola iranicus Vasil’eva et al., 2015, in Sefidroud River in the southern Caspian Sea basin age, sex ratio, fecundity, oocytes diameter, gonadosomatic, modified gonadosomatic and dobriyal indices were measured. Regression analyses were used to find relations between fecundity and fish size (length and weight), gonad weight, and age. Mature females and males were longer than 46 and 49 mm in total length, +1 in age. The Von Bertalanffy growth models were L∞ = 23.00 cm (TL), K = 0.21, t0 =–0.25 for all specimens. Sex ratio was 1: 1.32 in favor of males. The average egg diameter was 0.96 mm. The spawning period extended from late February to late April. The averages of absolute and relative fecundity were calculated as 536.9 and 81.3, respectively. The absolute fecundity was significantly related to the body length and weight, as well as gonad weight.

Based on karyological data, the validity of the species Ponticola iljini is re-established; its distribution is limited to the coast of the Mangyshlak Peninsula. The morphological characteristics and the basic color pattern of P. iljini are very similar to P. kessleri from the Black Sea basin and P. gorlap which inhabits the northern, western, and southern Caspian Sea. These three allopatric species have ctenoid scales to varying degrees on the crown and nape (100% presence in P. kessleri and complete absence in P. iljini), and there are small differences in the shape of the head, the thickness of the caudal peduncle, and in the form of otoliths; at the same time, they are clearly differentiated by the number of chromosomes and the presence of marker submetacentric chromosomes in P. iljini. In the phylogenetic tree based on the variation of the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene in the main species of Ponto-Caspian gobies, P. iljini, P. gorlap, and P. kessleri form independent phyletic lineages within a clade of the genus Ponticola. Redescription of the species P. iljini is provided; the possible causes of the identified intraspecific variation in the shape of the otoliths and temporal bounderies of the beginning of divergence of the considered three cryptic species, as well as isolating barriers that led to allopatric speciation, are discussed.

A bacterial strain, designated GM-8T, which was isolated from seawater around Pohang in Republic of Korea, was subjected to a polyphasic taxonomic study. It was lipolytic, Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, non-motile and coccoid, ovoid, or rod-shaped. Strain GM-8T grew optimally at 30 °C and in the presence of 2.0–3.0% (w/v) NaCl. The phylogenetic trees of 16S rRNA gene sequences based on three algorithms showed that strain GM-8T joined the clade comprising the type strains of Zhongshania species. The novel strain exhibited the highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity value (98.6%) to Zhongshania borealis CL-AS9T and sequence similarities of 97.7–98.3% to the type strains of three other Zhongshania species. Strain GM-8T contained Q-8 as the predominant ubiquinone and C17:1 ω8c, summed feature 3 (C16:1 ω7c and/or C16:1 ω6c), and C18:1 ω7c as the major fatty acids. Phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylethanolamine were major polar lipids found in strain GM-8T and the type strain of Zhongshania antarctica. The DNA G + C content of strain GM-8T was 50.9 mol%. Mean DNA–DNA relatedness values between strain GM-8T and the type strains of four other Zhongshania species were 13.3–20.3%. Its differential phenotypic traits, together with the phylogenetic and genetic evidences, revealed that strain GM-8T is distinct from recognized species of the genus Zhongshania. On the basis of the data presented, strain GM-8T represents a novel species of the genus Zhongshania, for which the name Zhongshania ponticola sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is GM-8T (= KCTC 62425T = KACC 19616T = NBRC 113193T).

A lipolytic, Gram-negative, aerobic, non-motile and pleomorphic bacterial strain, designated W-SW3T, was isolated from seawater around Wando, an island of South Korea, and its taxonomic position was determined using a polyphasic approach. Its optimal growth occurred at 30 °C, pH 7.0–8.0 and 2.0–4.0% (w/v) NaCl. Neighbour-joining phylogenetic tree of 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain W-SW3T belonged to the genus Roseovarius of the family Rhodobacteraceae, by showing the highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity value (97.3%) to the type strain of Roseovarius nanhaiticus. Strain W-SW3T exhibited 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities of 93.2–95.6% to the type strains of the other Roseovarius species. Ubiquinone-10 was found as the predominant ubiquinone and C18:1ω7c and C16:0 were found as the major fatty acids. Phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol, one unidentified lipid and one unidentified aminolipid were major polar lipids detected. The DNA G + C content of strain W-SW3T was 63.9 mol%. Mean DNA–DNA relatedness values of strain W-SW3T with the type strains of R. nanhaiticus and R. antarcticus were 18 and 9%, respectively. The phenotypic properties, together with the phylogenetic and genetic data, made it possible strain W-SW3T to be separated from other recognized species of the genus Roseovarius. On the basis of the data presented, strain W-SW3T represents a novel species of the genus Roseovarius, for which the name Roseovarius ponticola sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is W-SW3T (= KCTC 62424T = KACC 19615T = NBRC 113186T).

Background. Five species of Ponticola have hitherto been recognized among freshwater gobies in the Ponto–Caspian basin. In 2014 a number of specimens representing this genus were collected in northern Iran. The detailed morphological and karyological study of those gobies collected revealed significant differences between them and their known congeners. The aim of this study was to describe these fish as a new species from the Caspian Sea basin. Materials and methods. The fish specimens were collected in August 2014 at two localities of the Sefid-Rud River drainage, and in the Gisum River, Guilan Province, northern Iran. In total, 18 specimens were used for karyological study following a previously described method. Both karyotyped and intact specimens were then morphologically investigated using characters developed for study on gobiids, and particular for freshwater Caucasian gobies. The comparative materials were specimens from museum collections, as well as published descriptions, illustrations, and measurements of other species. Results. Ponticola iranicus sp. nov. differs from its congeners in a set of the following features: D1 VI, D2 I/(14½) 15½ – 17½, A I/10½ – 13½; nape scaled completely, scales cycloid; cycloid scales covering upper part of opercle; lateral line system with posterior sub-orbital row d2 continuous; predorsal area uniform, dark grey; first dorsal fin with oblique black stripe between first two or three rays; short dark grey strip on upper part of pectoral fin base; karyotype consisting of 46 acrocentric chromosomes. Conclusion. All known Ponto–Caspian gobies demonstrate mosaic pattern of morphological and karyological features that presumes their polyphyletic origins. Further phylogenetic studies by molecular genetic methods are necessary for identification of their marine ancestors and clarifying of common trends in the evolution of the Ponto–Caspian goby group.

Introduced host species are often characterised by reduced parasite numbers compared to their native populations. Any such advantage gained from parasite release following introduction into a new area may often diminish over a short period as the new host gradually acquires local parasites. In this study, the metazoan parasite communities of four goby species (Proterorhinus semilunaris, Ponticola kessleri, Neogobius melanostomus, and Neogobius fluviatilis) recently introduced into the lower River Rhine were investigated. Mean parasite abundance and infracommunity richness were positively associated with time since host introduction, both parasite variables being the highest in P. semilunaris. In Ponticola and Neogobius species, parasite species richness and the dominance of larval parasites in the Lower Rhine were similar to that for non-native populations in the middle Danube. Sporadic local parasite acquisition and infection, predominantly by species commonly found in the native range, led to a relatively high qualitative similarity in parasite communities between hosts. The relationship between parasite abundance and fish size reflected size-dependant food selectivity and/or parasite accumulation throughout the host’s life. Data from this study emphasise the importance of duration of co-occurrence, host habitat and foraging preference, as well as the co-introduction of suitable intermediate hosts, for parasite community composition in related species.

Phylogenetic relations of Ponto-Caspian gobies in the context of different taxonomic hypotheses have been studied based on the analysis of variations in cytochrome b gene. Evidence for the paraphyly of the genus Neogobius sensu lato, represented by two independent phyletic lineages that should be treated as separate genera Neogobius s. stricto (includes a species group of N. melanostomus-N. fluviatilis-N. caspius) and Ponticola, has been provided. It has been demonstrated that the Racer goby N. gymnotrachelus refers to the latter genus. It is proved that the Grass goby Gobius ophiocephalus belongs to the genus Gobius s. stricto.

Endemic Ponto-Caspian gobies include a flock of � 24 ‘‘neogobiin” species (containing the nominal genera and subgenera Apollonia, Babka, Neogobius, Mesogobius, Ponticola, and Proterorhinus; Teleostei: Gobiidae), of which a large proportion (5 species; �21%) recently escaped to invade other freshwater Eurasian systems and the North American Great Lakes. We provide its first comprehensive phylogenetic and biogeographic analysis based on 4709 bp sequences from two mitochondrial and two nuclear genes with maximum parsimony, likelihood, and Bayesian approaches. We additionally compare its relationships with the tadpole gobies (Benthophilus and Caspiosoma), which comprise a related endemic Ponto-Caspian gobiid group; along with a variety of postulated relatives and outgroups. Results of all phylogenetic approaches are highly congruent and provide very strong support for recognizing the subfamily Benthophilinae; which encompasses both the ‘‘neogobiins” and tadpole gobies, and genetically diverges from other Gobiidae subfamilies—including (non-monophyletic) Gobiinae and Gobinellinae. Benthophilinae contains three tribes: Neogobiini (Neogobius, which is synonymized here with Apollonia; containing the type species N. fluviatilis, along with N. melanostomus and N. caspius), Ponticolini (containing the genera Mesogobius, Proterorhinus, Babka, and Ponticola—elevating the latter two from subgenera and removing them from the formerly paraphyletic Neogobius), and Benthophilini (tadpole gobies). Within Ponticolini, Proterorhinus and Mesogobius comprise the sister clade of the Ponticola and Babka clade. Further work is needed to clarify the interrelationships of the tadpole gobies. Invasiveness is widespread in freshwater and euryhaline taxa of Neogobius, Proterorhinus, Babka, and Ponticola; but not in marine species, Mesogobius, or tadpole gobies.

We developed and tested eight polymorphic microsatellite loci for Ponto-Caspian 'neogobiin' gobies, many of which are invasive in Eurasia and North America, whose study will aid understanding of the population genetics underlying their success. We tested samples from one to two locations from 12 taxa in the recently revised genera Babka, Benthophilus, Mesogobius, Neogobius = Apollonia, Ponticola and Proterorhinus; including the bighead, Caspian, knout, monkey, racer, round, tadpole and tubenose gobies; and taxa from introduced vs. native populations, those diverging between fresh and marine waters, and those differentiated between the Black and Caspian Seas. Populations conformed to Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium expectations, averaging five to 15 alleles per locus and 0.11 to 0.67 mean heterozygosity. Allelic variation significantly differentiated among all taxa and populations.

Summary The present study describes the length–weight relationships (LWRs) and condition factors (K) of Alburnoides samiii and Ponticola iranicus in the Sefidroud River from the southern Caspian Sea basin, September 2013 to August 2014. This study presents the first known reference in the FishBase database regarding the LWRs and condition factors for these two indigenous species.