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28. Neogobius melanostomus (Pallas, 1814) (Fig. 24), Round Goby Gobius melanostomus Pallas, 1814: 151; type locality: Sevastopol, Balaklava, Ukraine; types: no types known. Etymology: Greek, melanos = black + Greek, stoma = mouth, means black-mouthed, but might be thought to refer to the conspicuous black spot typically present on the rear part of first dorsal fin. Distribution and habitat: Widely distributed in the Ponto-Caspian basin (Fig. 22C). Present in all three areas of the Caspian Sea and entering various rivers of the Caspian Sea drainage. A benthic euryhaline species, inhabiting from the entirely of freshwaters of rivers and lakes to brackish polyhaline salinities (Pinchuk et al. 2003d). Laboratory experiments by Karsiotis et al. (2012) discerned broad salinity tolerances in the population that has established in the central Laurentian Great Lakes of North America, from 0–20 ppt, even without acclimation. This indicates high osmoregulatory capability. Remarks: Navozov (1912) distinguished the Caspian N. melanostomus as a separate subspecies, N. m. affinis Eichwald, 1831. Molecular data by Zarei et al. (2021) suggested three allopatric lineages, with shallow genealogical separations: (i) the Caspian Sea basin lineage corresponding to N. m. affinis; (ii) a second lineage from the Black Sea basin (native range), European and North American locations (invasive samples) corresponding to the typological subspecies; and (iii) a third lineage distributed in Sinop, northern Turkey (Southern Black Sea basin). Material examined: ZM-CBSU S031, 108, off Astara; ZM-CBSU S035, 1, Anzali Wetland; ZM-CBSU S035, 6, off Anzali; ZM-CBSU S059, 42, Sefidroud mouth, Gilan Province, Iran. IUCN: LC (Freyhof & Kottelat 2008i)., 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 175-176, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5190.2.1, http://zenodo.org/record/7120060, {"references":["Pinchuk, V. I., Vasil'eva, E. D., Vasil'ev, V. P. & Miller, P. J. (2003 d) Neogobius melanostomus (Pallas, 1814). 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. 293 - 345.","Karsiotis, S. I., Brown, J. E., Pierce, L. R. & Stepien, C. A. (2012) Salinity tolerance of the invasive round goby: experimental implications for seawater ballast exchange and spread to North American estuaries. Journal of Great Lakes Research, 38, 121 - 128. https: // doi. org / 10.1016 / j. jglr. 2011.12.010","Navozov, N. P. (1912) Materials for an ichthyofauna of the Ural River basin. Vestnik Ryby, 1912, 252 - 283. [in Russian]","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 i) Neogobius melanostomus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, 2008, e. T 14524 A 4442374. https: // doi. org / 10.2305 / IUCN. UK. 2008. RLTS. T 14524 A 4442374. en"]}

Hyrcanogobius Iljin, 1928 (1 species) Etymology: Greek, Hyrcania = old Persian region near of Caspian Sea + Latin, gobius = gudgeon. Remarks: Originally distinguished as a separate genus due to the reduced head lateral-line canal system (Iljin 1928) but was later suggested as being congeneric with Knipowitschia by Economidis & Miller (1990). However, as noted under Knipowitschia by Miller (2004c), its possession of transverse interorbital rows and the much greater extent of its anterior transverse row tra appear to warrant its recognition as a separate genus based on its head lateral-line system (Miller 2004c). A detailed morphological and molecular analysis along with Knipowitschia thus is warranted., 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 170, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5190.2.1, http://zenodo.org/record/7120060, {"references":["Iljin, B. S. (1928) Two new genera and a new species of Gobiidae from the Caspian sea. Reports of the Astrakhan Scientific Fishery Station, 3, 1 - 13.","Economidis, P. S. & Miller, P. J. (1990) Systematics of freshwater gobies from Greece (Teleostei: Gobiidae). Journal of Zoology, 221, 125 - 170. https: // doi. org / 10.1111 / j. 1469 - 7998.1990. tb 03781. x","Miller, P. J. (2004 c) Knipowitschia Iljin, 1927. In: Miller, P. J. (Ed.), The Freshwater Fishes of Europe Vol. 8 / II Gobiidae 2. AULA-Verlag GmbH, Verlag fur Wissenschaft und Forschung, Wiebelsheim, pp. 331 - 337."]}

25. Mesogobius nonultimus (Iljin, 1936) (Fig. 20), Caspian Toad Goby Gobius nonultimus Iljin, 1936: 337, fig. p. 325; type locality: 24 miles southwest of Ulsky Bank, Caspian Sea, depth 24 m above a bottom depth of 54 m, Turkmenistan; types: the holotype of this species, an adult female of 107.5 + 19.5 mm appears to be lost. Etymology: Iljin (1936) did not provide an explanation of the specific name. Distribution and habitat: Widely distributed in the open sea in all three areas of the Caspian Sea.A relatively deepwater mesohaline species (Pinchuk & Miller 2004d). Remarks: Kessler (1877) described Gobius nigronotatus from a single specimen, taken on the border between the North and Middle Caspian Sea areas at Fort Aleksandrovskiy, near Mangyshlak (Kazakhstan) at 43 m, and the brief definition of this species provided by Berg (1949) corresponded in a number of characters with M. nonultimus (Iljin), but differed chiefly in the alleged absence of head scales in the former and in the presence of six rather than seven first dorsal rays. However, D.B. Ragimov found just six first dorsal rays in material identified as M. nonultimus and small head scales that may be easily overlooked, as likely was the case before contemporary binocular microscopes and staining techniques. Pinchuk & Miller (2004d) tentatively synonymized those two nominal species. However, in the case that both species truly are conspecific, then M. nigronotatus (Kessler, 1877) would become the senior synonym for the taxon. A detailed morphological and molecular analysis of samples from the three Caspian Sea areas is warranted. Material examined: ZM-CBSU S036, 1, off Anzali, Gilan Province, Iran. IUCN: DD (Larson 2019b)., 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 173-174, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5190.2.1, http://zenodo.org/record/7120060, {"references":["Iljin, B. S. (1936) A new goby from the Caspian Sea Gobius nonultimus sp. n (Pisces, Gobiidae). Doklady Akademii Nauk SSSR, Series A, 337 - 339. [in Russian]","Pinchuk, V. I. & Miller, P. J. (2004 d) Mesogobius nonultimus (Iljin, 1936). In: Miller, P. J. (Ed.), The Freshwater Fishes of Europe Vol. 8 / II Gobiidae 2. AULA-Verlag GmbH, Verlag fur Wissenschaft und Forschung, Wiebelsheim, pp. 132 - 137.","Kessler, K. T. (1877) The Aralo - Caspian Expedition. IV. Fishes of the Aralo - Caspio - Pontine Ichthyological Region. Naturgeschichte der Fische Islands, St. Petersburg, 360 pp.","Berg, L. S. (1949) Freshwater Fishes of the USSR and Adjacent Countries. Vol. III. Program for Scientific Translations, Jerusalem, 250 pp.","Larson, H. (2019 b) Mesogobius nonultimus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, 2019, e. T 123435177 A 123494822. https: // doi. org / 10.2305 / IUCN. UK. 2019 - 3. RLTS. T 123435177 A 123494822. en"]}

14. Benthophilus macrocephalus (Pallas, 1787) , Caspian Tadpole Goby Gobius macrocephalus Pallas, 1787: 352, pl. 10, figs. 4–6; type locality: Caspian Sea; types: no types known. Etymology: Greek, makros = long + Greek, kephale = head, refers to the relatively large head. Distribution and habitat: Coastal waters of all three areas of the Caspian Sea (Fig. 11B). One of the most abundant species in the North Caspian Sea. In the Middle Caspian Sea, it has been recorded along the western coast, and in the South Caspian Sea eastward to Gorgan Bay, Iran (Ragimov 1965; Boldyrev & Bogutskaya 2007). In the South Caspian Sea sub-basin, this species has been reported from the Anzali Wetland and Gorgan Bay in Iran and between Kultuk and Astara in Azerbaijan (Ragimov 1965). De Filippi (1865) reported this species in freshwaters of the Anzali Wetlands. The species has not been found along the eastern coast of the Middle Caspian Sea. The range is rather similar to that of B. leobergius (but the latter also has been collected at Ogurchinskiy Island). Occurs in coastal waters and estuaries usually at depths from 0.5–10 m, over muddy bottoms, and in the lower reaches of rivers. Widely distributed, but more abundant in areas having salinities less than 7–8 ‰. During warm seasons, it prefers coastal waters down to 10 m deep. In the North Caspian Sea region, it migrates to deeper areas (20–25 m) in the winter (Boldyrev & Bogutskaya 2007). IUCN: LC (Freyhof & Kottelat 2008e)., 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 168, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5190.2.1, http://zenodo.org/record/7120060, {"references":["Ragimov, D. B. (1965) On the distribution of gobiids at the western coast of the central and southern Caspian. Doklady Akademii Nauk Azerbaijanskoy SSSR, 21, 47 - 50. [in Russian]","Boldyrev, V. S. & Bogutskaya, N. G. (2007) Revision of the tadpole-gobies of the genus Benthophilus (Teleostei: Gobiidae). Ichthyological Exploration of Freshwaters, 18, 31 - 96.","De Filippi, F. (1865) Note de un Viaggio in Persia Nei 1862. G. Daelli & C. Editori, Milano, 396 pp. [in Italian]","Freyhof, J. & Kottelat, M. (2008 e) Benthophilus macrocephalus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, 2008, e. T 135656 A 4172098. https: // doi. org / 10.2305 / IUCN. UK. 2008. RLTS. T 135656 A 4172098. en"]}

13. Benthophilus leptorhynchus Kessler, 1877 , Long-nosed Tadpole Goby Benthophilus leptorhynchus Kessler, 1877: 56, fig. 12a; type locality: Azerbaijan: off Baku, depth 149.4 m; lectotype: ZISP [= ZIN] 10895 (damaged), paralectotypes: (2) whereabouts unknown. Etymology: Greek, leptos = slender + Greek, rhynchos = beak, refers to the relatively long snout. Distribution and habitat: Known only from the western coast of the Middle Caspian Sea and the very north of the South Caspian Sea, from off Sulak River mouth south to Baku (Fig. 11A). Not confirmed by specimens for Iran. Deepwater, reported at depths of 40–150 m at salinity 10–13.5 ‰ (Boldyrev & Bogutskaya 2007). IUCN: LC (Bogutskaya 2020g)., 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 168, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5190.2.1, http://zenodo.org/record/7120060, {"references":["Kessler, K. T. (1877) The Aralo - Caspian Expedition. IV. Fishes of the Aralo - Caspio - Pontine Ichthyological Region. Naturgeschichte der Fische Islands, St. Petersburg, 360 pp.","Boldyrev, V. S. & Bogutskaya, N. G. (2007) Revision of the tadpole-gobies of the genus Benthophilus (Teleostei: Gobiidae). Ichthyological Exploration of Freshwaters, 18, 31 - 96.","Bogutskaya, N. (2020 g) Benthophilus leptorhynchus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, 2020, e. T 156757038 A 156757112. https: // doi. org / 10.2305 / IUCN. UK. 2020 - 3. RLTS. T 156757038 A 156757112. en"]}

17. Benthophilus pinchuki Ragimov, 1982 * (Fig. 14), Pinchuk’s Tadpole Goby Benthophilus ctenolepidus pinchuki Ragimov, 1982: 49; type locality: off Bely Bugor, 37°4’N, southeastern Caspian Sea, Turkmenistan, depth 30 m; holotype: ZISP 53569 [ex IZA], paratypes: IZA 304 (8), ZISP 53660 [ex IZA 304] (6), additional material: ZIN 33143 (6), 44346 (1). Etymology: Named in honor of V. I. Pinchuk, Russian ichthyologist. Distribution and habitat: South Caspian Sea (Fig. 8A). Although Boldyrev & Bogutskaya (2007) also mapped its distribution in the North Caspian Sea, no data or explanation were provided, and according to Pinchuk & Miller (2003a), this species is absent from the North Caspian Sea region. Therefore, its distribution in the present checklist is depicted in the South Caspian Sea. We collected this species from the coastal waters of Anzali and from the Shafaroud River mouth, Gilan Province. A rare deep-water goby from depths down to 282–294 m, usually 50–100 m, in salinities of 12.4–13.2 ‰ (Boldyrev & Bogutskaya 2007). Material examined: ZM-CBSU S004, 1, & ZM-CBSU S005, 2, off Anzali; ZM-CBSU S028, 5, Shafaroud River mouth, Gilan Province, Iran. IUCN: DD (Bogutskaya 2020h)., 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 169, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5190.2.1, http://zenodo.org/record/7120060, {"references":["Boldyrev, V. S. & Bogutskaya, N. G. (2007) Revision of the tadpole-gobies of the genus Benthophilus (Teleostei: Gobiidae). Ichthyological Exploration of Freshwaters, 18, 31 - 96.","Pinchuk, V. I. & Miller, P. J. (2003 a) Benthophilus pinchuki Ragimov, 1982. In: Miller, P. J. (Ed.), The Freshwater Fishes of Europe Vol. 8 / II Gobiidae 2. AULA-Verlag GmbH, Verlag fur Wissenschaft und Forschung, Wiebelsheim, pp. 246 - 250.","Bogutskaya, N. (2020 h) Benthophilus pinchuki. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, 2020, e. T 156755866 A 156755972. https: // doi. org / 10.2305 / IUCN. UK. 2020 - 3. RLTS. T 156755866 A 156755972. en"]}

9. Benthophilus grimmi Kessler, 1877 , Grimm’s Tadpole Goby Benthophilus grimmi Kessler, 1877: 59, pl. V, fig. 13; type locality: South Caspian Sea, south of Baku, Azerbaijan; lectotype: BMNH 1897.7. 5.15, paralectotypes: (7)? NMW 76987 (1), SPU 394 [465/412] (1), ZIN 10893 (1). Etymology: The specific name honors O. von Grimm, the Russian ichthyologist. Distribution and habitat: Western part of the Middle Caspian Sea and the northwest South Caspian Sea from Chechen Island (Russia) to south of Apsheron Peninsula, Azerbaijan (Fig. 11A). Eurybathic, found over a considerable depth range, from 2–227 m under pleio-mesohaline conditions. It reportedly does not enter rivers (Boldyrev & Bogutskaya 2007). No confirmed records from Iran. IUCN: DD (Bogutskaya 2020d)., 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 166-167, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5190.2.1, http://zenodo.org/record/7120060, {"references":["Kessler, K. T. (1877) The Aralo - Caspian Expedition. IV. Fishes of the Aralo - Caspio - Pontine Ichthyological Region. Naturgeschichte der Fische Islands, St. Petersburg, 360 pp.","Boldyrev, V. S. & Bogutskaya, N. G. (2007) Revision of the tadpole-gobies of the genus Benthophilus (Teleostei: Gobiidae). Ichthyological Exploration of Freshwaters, 18, 31 - 96.","Bogutskaya, N. (2020 d) Benthophilus grimmi. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, 2020, e. T 156756575 A 156756602. https: // doi. org / 10.2305 / IUCN. UK. 2020 - 3. RLTS. T 156756575 A 156756602. en"]}

38. Rhinogobius sp. (Fig. 35) Distribution and habitat: Introduced in the Hari River, South Caspian Sea, Namak, Urmia and Tigris River basins. Lives exclusively in freshwater habitats. The population that settled in Iran also has penetrated into Azerbaijan and Georgia, and likely occurs in Armenian and the Black Sea basin (but currently is unverified; Zarei et al. 2021). Remarks: The species identification of introduced Rhinogobius samples into Iran, Central Asia and the Caucasus, has been debated. Abdoli et al. (2000), and Coad & Abdoli (2000) provisionally identified the Hari River basin (Iran) samples as R. similis Gill, 1859 and considered them conspecific with the species collected in the Kara-Kum Canal, Turkmenistan. They considered this an accidental introduction from the eastern Asian Amur River basin into Iran via the Tedzhen/Hari River, although R. similis is more widely distributed. Vasil’eva & Kuga (2008) regarded the Rhinogobius introduced to Central Asia as R. cheni (Nichols, 1931), a Chinese species of the Yangtze River drainage. After re-description of R. similis by Suzuki et al. (2016), Sadeghi et al. (2019) confirmed that the Iranian samples differed from R. cheni and R. similis, and identified it R. lindbergi Berg, 1933, the northernmost species of the genus described from Russia (Amur and Ussuri Rivers). Rhinogobius taxonomy however, has undergone considerable confusion; and molecular and morphological phylogenetic studies have targeted only a small set of species. Molecular data by Zarei et al. (2021) provided new information about the Iranian and the Caucasian Rhinogobius samples: (i) indicating that they share a mitochondrial DNA COI haplotype and likely are a single species; (ii) this supports their taxonomic recognition by Sadeghi et al. (2019), indicating that the Iranian and Caucasian samples do not belong to R. similis; and (iii) that they likely belong to the R. brunneus species complex, which was (prior to introductions) primarily endemic to Japan. Zarei et al. (2021) did not include autochthonous R. lindbergi in their analysis; however, allozyme comparisons with seven Japanese congeners by Sakai et al. (2000) indicate that R. lindbergi is only distantly related to these Japanese congeners. Therefore, the species identity of the Iranian, Central Asian and Caucasian samples of Rhinogobius is currently ambiguous. Accordingly, Zarei et al. (2021) and the present study here identify these samples only to the genus level. Material examined: ZM-CBSU S015 & ZM-CBSU F72, 56, Anzali Wetland, Gilan Province, Iran., 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 182-183, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5190.2.1, http://zenodo.org/record/7120060, {"references":["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","Abdoli, A., Coad, B. W. & Naderi, M. (2000) First record of Rhinogobius similis, Gill 1895 in Iran. Iranian Scientific Fisheries Journal, 9, 73 - 76.","Vasil'eva, E. D. & Kuga, T. I. (2008) Gobies of the genus Rhinogobius (Gobiidae) of Primorye and water bodies of Central Asia and Kazakhstan: II. Comparative craniological analysis of gobies introduced to Central Asia. Journal of Ichthyology, 48, 29 - 36. https: // doi. org / 10.1134 / S 0032945208010037","Suzuki, T., Shibukawa, K., Senou, H. & Chen, I. - S. (2016) Redescription of Rhinogobius similis Gill 1859 (Gobiidae: Gobionellinae), the type species of the genus Rhinogobius Gill 1859, with designation of the neotype. Ichthyological Research, 63, 227 - 238. https: // doi. org / 10.1007 / s 10228 - 015 - 0494 - 3","Sadeghi, R., Esmaeili, H. R., Zarei, F., Esmaeili, A. & Abbasi, K. (2019) The taxonomic status of an introduced freshwater goby of the genus Rhinogobius to Iran (Teleostei: Gobiidae). Zoology in the Middle East, 65, 51 - 58. https: // doi. org / 10.1080 / 09397140.2018.1540149","Sakai, H., Ikoma, K., Frolov, S. V., Yamazaki, Y., Takahashi, H. & Ida, H. (2000) Morphological features of a Russian freshwater goby, Rhinogobius lindbergi (Pisces: Gobiidae), and its genetic relationships to Japanese species. Biogeography, 2, 51 - 61."]}

3. Benthophiloides brauneri Beling & Iljin, 1927 , Brauner’s Tadpole Goby Benthophibides brauneri Beling & Iljin, 1927: 309, 319, figs. l, 2, 5–8; type locality: lower Dnieper River between Cherson (= Kherson) and Kakhovka and the southern Bug River between Novaya Odessa and Nikolaev (= Mikolev), Ukraine; types: Beling & Iljin (1927) described it from a total of 37 syntypes (ZISP 21989). ZISP 15134, from the Apsheron Peninsula, Caspian Sea, was noted by these authors but not included in the type material. Etymology: Named for A. Brauner, who first recorded it from the Dnieper River (Brauner 1898), but misidentified it as Gobiosoma caspium Kessler, 1877 due to their similar color patterns with dark banding (Beling & Iljin 1927). Distribution and habitat: Black and Caspian seas. Originally reported from the lower Dnieper and Bug rivers, and the Black Sea basin (Beling & Iljin 1927). Absent from the Sea of Azov. Beling & Iljin (1927) identified as B. brauneri a specimen in the ZISP from the Apsheron Peninsula, near Baku (Azerbaijan) in the Caspian Sea (Fig. 8A). This record was accepted by Berg (1949). There seem to be no further records of this species from the Caspian Sea and its occurrence in the basin merits further investigation. There is a possibility that the locality attributed to the Apsheron specimen is erroneous. It has been recorded in fresh to slightly brackish (oligohaline) waters, typically at 5–15 m depth (Pinchuk & Miller 2004b). IUCN: DD (Freyhof & Kottelat 2008b).

22. Knipowitschia caucasica (Berg, 1916) (Fig. 17), Caucasian Dwarf Goby Pomatoschistus caucasicus Berg, 1916: 409; type locality: swamp near Batum and Inkit Lake near Pitsunda, Georgia (Black Sea basin); syntypes: BMNH 1896.3.28.26-28 [ex Tiflis Mus.] (3). Etymology: Refers to its discovery on the Black Sea Caucasian coast of Georgia. Distribution and habitat: A widespread Ponto-Caspian species, also recorded in the eastern Mediterranean Sea (Miller et al. 2004). Widespread in the Caspian Sea basin (Fig. 16B), Sea of Azov and Black Sea basins, and also introduced in the Aral Sea, in addition it is found outside this region, in the Aegean and eastern Ionian catchments and transitional waters. Euryhaline, in fresh to markedly hypersaline waters, typically in weedy shallows or near reed beds on finer substrates (Miller et al. 2004). Remarks: A preliminary phylogeographic analysis by Zarei et al. (2021) has identified four apparently allopatric lineages having low genetic exchange, including: (i) the Aegean Sea basin (Greece) lineage with little population substructure, (ii) the Axios (Greece) lineage, (iii) a lineage from Rihios and Volvi (Greece) and the Black Sea basin, and (iv) the South Caspian Sea sub-basin lineage. Average pairwise genetic distances between these lineages varied from 1.0–2.2% (Zarei et al. 2021). Material examined: ZM-CBSU S010, 6, off Anzali; ZM-CBSU S039, 63, Anzali Wetland; ZM-CBSU S053, 74, Bojagh National Park; ZM-CBSU S056, 7, coastal waters of Gilan Province, Iran; ZM-CBSU S079, 4, Aras River Dam, West Azerbaijan Province, Iran. IUCN: LC (Freyhof & Kottelat 2008g)., 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 171, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5190.2.1, http://zenodo.org/record/7120060, {"references":["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 g) Knipowitschia caucasica. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, 2008, e. T 11030 A 3240732. https: // doi. org / 10.2305 / IUCN. UK. 2008. RLTS. T 11030 A 3240732. en"]}

18. Benthophilus ragimovi Boldyrev & Bogutskaya, 2004 , Ragimov’s Tadpole Goby Benthophilus ragimovi Boldyrev & Bogutskaya, 2004: 132, fig. 2; type locality: between Yasma and Kilyazi, Azerbaijan, depth 50 m; holotype: ZIN 53216, male, 67.8 mm SL, paratypes: ZIAZ 93 (8). 467 (6); ZIN 23126 (3), 53217 (1), 53218 (7), 53219 (4), plus additional non-type material. Etymology: Named after D. B. Ragimov, an authority of Caspian Sea gobiid fishes. Distribution and habitat: West coast of the Middle and South Caspian Sea from Chechen Island (Russia) south to the Astara region (Azerbaijan) (Fig. 11C). No records from Iran, but based on geographic proximity to its recording site in Azerbaijan (Astara), we predict its presence in the coastal waters of Gilan. Occurs at salinities 11.0–13.2 ‰. A deep water species (depths 30–200 m), spawning at 10–20 m (Boldyrev & Bogutskaya 2007). IUCN: LC (Bogutskaya 2021)., 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 170, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5190.2.1, http://zenodo.org/record/7120060, {"references":["Boldyrev, V. S. & Bogutskaya, N. G. (2007) Revision of the tadpole-gobies of the genus Benthophilus (Teleostei: Gobiidae). Ichthyological Exploration of Freshwaters, 18, 31 - 96.","Bogutskaya, N. (2021) Benthophilus ragimovi. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, 2021, e. T 159639612 A 159639639. https: // doi. org / 10.2305 / IUCN. UK. 2021 - 1. RLTS. T 159639612 A 159639639. en"]}

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

27. Neogobius caspius (Eichwald, 1831) (Fig. 23), Caspian Goby Gobius caspius Eichwald, 1831: 76; type locality: Baku, Azerbaijan, Caspian Sea; types: no types known. Etymology: The species name caspius refers to its occurrence in the Caspian Sea. Distribution and habitat: Present in all three areas of the Caspian Sea (Fig. 22B). Inhabits pleio-mesohaline brackish waters, and does not enter rivers (Pinchuk & Miller 2003b). Material examined: ZM-CBSU S030, 15, off Astara; ZM-CBSU S034, 96, off Anzali; ZM-CBSU S047, 16, Shalmanroud mouth; & ZM-CBSU S057, 3, Sefidroud mouth, Gilan Province, Iran; ZM-CBSU S062, 1, off Babolsar; ZM-CBSU S068 & ZM-CBSU S069, 9, off Neka; & ZM-CBSU S070, 10, off Miankaleh, Mazandaran Province, Iran. IUCN: LC (Bogutskaya 2020k)., 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 175, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5190.2.1, http://zenodo.org/record/7120060, {"references":["Pinchuk, V. I. & Miller, P. J. (2003 b) Neogobius caspius (Eichwald, 1831). 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. 173 - 180.","Bogutskaya, N. (2020 k) Neogobius caspius. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, 2020, e. T 156761995 A 156762095. https: // doi. org / 10.2305 / IUCN. UK. 2020 - 3. RLTS. T 156761995 A 156762095. en"]}

7. Benthophilus ctenolepidus Kessler, 1877 , Spiny-scaled Tadpole Goby Benthophilus ctenolepidus Kessler, 1877: 48, fig. 11; type locality: southern Caspian Sea, south of Baku, Azerbaijan; lectotype: ZIN 10897, paralectotypes: (4) BMNH 1897.7.5.13 [ex ZIN] (1), ZIN (lost). Etymology: Greek, ctenos = comb + Greek, lepis = scale, refers to the arrangement of spines edging the bony tubercles in the skin. Distribution and habitat: South Caspian Sea (Fig. 8C): southeastern part, Gorgan Bay and off Zelenyy Bugor and Belyy Bugor (Turkmenistan), and along the western coast from the Apsheron Peninsula south to the Astara region of Azerbaijan (Boldyrev & Bogutskaya 2007). Abbasi (2017) listed it in the coastal waters of Gilan, and maps in Pinchuk & Miller (2004c), and Boldyrev & Bogutskaya (2007) show it along the Iranian coast. Occurring in salinities up to 12.4–13.0 ‰. Eurybathic, spawns and forages in warm seasons at depths from 0.5–10 m, migrating in winter to depths of 20–60 m (Boldyrev & Bogutskaya 2007). IUCN: LC (Bogutskaya 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 165, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5190.2.1, http://zenodo.org/record/7120060, {"references":["Kessler, K. T. (1877) The Aralo - Caspian Expedition. IV. Fishes of the Aralo - Caspio - Pontine Ichthyological Region. Naturgeschichte der Fische Islands, St. Petersburg, 360 pp.","Boldyrev, V. S. & Bogutskaya, N. G. (2007) Revision of the tadpole-gobies of the genus Benthophilus (Teleostei: Gobiidae). Ichthyological Exploration of Freshwaters, 18, 31 - 96.","Abbasi, K. (2017) Fishes of Guilan. Iliya Culture Publication, Rasht, 208 pp. [in Persian]","Pinchuk, V. I. & Miller, P. J. (2004 c) Benthophilus ctenolepidus Kessler, 1877. In: Miller, P. J. (Ed.), The Freshwater Fishes of Europe Vol. 8 / II Gobiidae 2. AULA-Verlag GmbH, Verlag fur Wissenschaft und Forschung, Wiebelsheim, pp. 187 - 191.","Bogutskaya, N. (2020 c) Benthophilus ctenolepidus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, 2020, e. T 156755702 A 156755728. https: // doi. org / 10.2305 / IUCN. UK. 2020 - 3. RLTS. T 156755702 A 156755728. en"]}

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"]}

1. Anatirostrum profundorum (Berg, 1927) (Fig. 7), Duckbilled Tadpole Goby Benthophilus profundorum Berg, 1927: 335, figs. 5–8; type locality: South Caspian Sea at 37°58’N, 52°22’E; syntypes: ZIN 23134 (14). Etymology: Latin, profundus = deep, refers to its capture in deep water. Distribution and habitat: South Caspian Sea (Fig. 8A), off the coasts of Iran, Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan. Records are from 45–294 m depth (Ahnelt et al. 2000). Material examined: ZM-CBSU S021-1, 1, off Chaboksar, Gilan Province, Iran. IUCN: LC (Mamilov 2020a). Babka Iljin, 1927 (1 species), 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 163, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5190.2.1, http://zenodo.org/record/7120060, {"references":["Berg, L. S. (1927) Notes on the Caspian Benthophilus (Gobiidae). In: Festschrift fur Prof. N. M. Knipowitsch 1885 - 1925. s. n., Moskwa, pp. 331 - 344.","Ahnelt, H., Abdoli, A., Naderi, M. & Coad, B. W. (2000) Anatirostrum profundorum: a rare deep-water gobiid species from the Caspian Sea. Cybium, 24, 139 - 159.","Mamilov, N. (2020 a) Anatirostrum profundorum. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, 2020, e. T 156754995 A 156755086. https: // doi. org / 10.2305 / IUCN. UK. 2020 - 3. RLTS. T 156754995 A 156755086. 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"]}

10. Benthophilus kessleri Berg, 1927 , Kessler’s Tadpole Goby Benthophilus grimmi var. kessleri Berg, 1927: 343; type locality: Caspian Sea, 41°51’N; 2°15’E of Baku, depth 75 m; lectotype: ZISP [= ZIN] 53670 [ex 24349], paralectotypes: (10) ZIN 24349 (now 6). Etymology: Named for K.F. Kessler, the nineteenth century investigator of Ponto-Caspian fishes. Distribution and habitat: Coastal waters of the eastern Middle Caspian Sea from Urdyuk Cape south to Kuuli Cape and Krasnovodsk, northeastern South Caspian Sea (Fig. 11B). Reported from 25–74 m depth and 11.5– 13.2 ‰ salinity (Boldyrev & Bogutskaya 2007). IUCN: LC (Bogutskaya 2020e)., 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 167, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5190.2.1, http://zenodo.org/record/7120060, {"references":["Berg, L. S. (1927) Notes on the Caspian Benthophilus (Gobiidae). In: Festschrift fur Prof. N. M. Knipowitsch 1885 - 1925. s. n., Moskwa, pp. 331 - 344.","Boldyrev, V. S. & Bogutskaya, N. G. (2007) Revision of the tadpole-gobies of the genus Benthophilus (Teleostei: Gobiidae). Ichthyological Exploration of Freshwaters, 18, 31 - 96.","Bogutskaya, N. (2020 e) Benthophilus kessleri. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, 2020, e. T 156756692 A 156756750. https: // doi. org / 10.2305 / IUCN. UK. 2020 - 3. RLTS. T 156756692 A 156756750. en"]}

4. Benthophiloides turcomanus (Iljin, 1941) , Turkmen Goby Asra turcomanus Iljin, 1941: 384, 388, figs. 1–4: type locality: South Caspian Sea, off Chikishlar [Chikishlyar], 37°45.5’ N 53°47’ E. 9.3 m; southwest of Ulsky Bank, 38°05’ N 52°34’ E, depth 26.5 m, Turkmenistan; types: a holotype was not designated, and both syntypes (1 juvenile, 1 male) appear to have been lost. Etymology: The species name turcomanus refers to its capture off the coast of Turkmenistan. Distribution and habitat: The two syntypes were collected in offshore waters of the South Caspian Sea in 1935, from stations 8 miles north of Chikishlyar (depth 9.3 m) and 29 miles southwest of the Ulsky bank, depth 26.5 m (Fig. 8A) (Iljin 1941). We discerned no additional records of this species. IUCN: DD (Mamilov 2020b)., 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 164, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5190.2.1, http://zenodo.org/record/7120060, {"references":["Iljin, B. S. (1941) Asra turcomanus, a new genus and species of gobies (Gobiidae) from the Caspian Sea. Biology Bulletin of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR, 3, 385 - 390.","Mamilov, N. (2020 b) Benthophiloides turcomanus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, 2020, e. T 156755140 A 156755201. https: // doi. org / 10.2305 / IUCN. UK. 2020 - 3. RLTS. T 156755140 A 156755201. 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"]}

29. Neogobius pallasi (Berg, 1916) (Fig. 25), Caspian Sand Goby Gobius fluviatilis pallasi Berg, 1916: 417; type locality: Caspian Sea, mouths of Ural and Volga; syntypes: ZISP 2195, 2204, 23137, 30729, 30736, 30738, 30919, 30920, 30924-26, 33182, 34276 & 34277. Etymology: Named after P. S. Pallas, Prussian zoologist and botanist. Distribution and habitat: Caspian Sea coastal waters and river mouths (Fig. 22D). Present in all three areas of the Caspian Sea and entering various river mouths of the Caspian Sea drainage. In the South Caspian Sea present only in the northwestern part, according to Pinchuk et al. (2003c). However, distributions based on the present material extends its South Caspian Sea range to the east at Miankaleh. Remarks: Gobius fluviatilis Pallas, 1814 was originally described in part from near the mouths of rivers falling into the Black Sea and similarly the Caspian Sea. Neogobius fluviatilis pallasi (Berg, 1916) was the subspecies described in the Caspian Sea basin. Kottelat & Freyhof (2007) recognized N. pallasi as the Caspian Sea species and restricted N. fluviatilis to the Black Sea basin. This taxonomic decision was later confirmed by molecular data (Neilson & Stepien 2011). Material examined: ZM-CBSU S049, 10, & ZM-CBSU S048, 35, Shalmanroud mouth; ZM-CBSU S032, 78, off Astara; ZM-CBSU S013, 1, & S033, 215, off Anzali; ZM-CBSU S058, 3, Sefidroud mouth, Gilan Province, Iran; ZM-CBSU S071, 2, off Miankaleh, Mazandaran Province, Iran. IUCN: LC (Freyhof & Kottelat 2008j)., 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, {"references":["Pinchuk, V. I., Vasil'eva, E. D., Vasil'ev, V. P. & Miller, P. J. (2003 c) Neogobius fluviatilis (Pallas, 1814). 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. 222 - 252.","Kottelat, M. & Freyhof, J. (2007) Handbook of European Freshwater Fishes. Kottelat, Cornol, Switzerland & Freyhof, Berlin, Germany.","Neilson, M. E. & Stepien, C. A. (2011) Historic speciation and recent colonization of Eurasian monkey gobies (Neogobius fluviatilis and N. pallasi) revealed by DNA sequences, microsatellites, and morphology. Diversity and Distributions, 17, 688 - 702. https: // doi. org / 10.1111 / j. 1472 - 4642.2011.00762. x","Freyhof, J. & Kottelat, M. (2008 j) Neogobius pallasi. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, 2008, e. T 135596 A 4156361. https: // doi. org / 10.2305 / IUCN. UK. 2008. RLTS. T 135596 A 4156361. en"]}

23. Knipowitschia iljini Berg, 1931 (Fig. 18), Iljin’s Dwarf Goby Knipowitschia iljini Berg, 1931: 1271, fig. 1–2, pl. I; type locality: Middle Caspian Sea; syntypes: ZIN 22052 (65), 24370 (16),?24424 (6+). Etymology: Named for B. S. Iljin, Russian ichthyologist. Distribution and habitat: The coastal waters of all three areas of the Caspian Sea (Fig. 16C). Ragimov (1965) reported this species from between Kultuk and Astara region of Azerbaijan and generally in the Middle and South Caspian Sea; It was mapped around the coast of the entire Caspian Sea by Miller & Pinchuk (2004b). Listed by Abbasi (2017) in the coastal waters of Gilan Province in Iran. Benthic and also collected in the water column above the bottom. Shallower coastal areas (20–70 m), but also found farther offshore, from 40–500 m (Miller & Pinchuk 2004b). Does not enter freshwaters (Miller & Pinchuk 2004b). Material examined: ZM-CBSU S104, 7, off Anzali, Gilan Province, Iran. IUCN: DD (Larson 2019a)., 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 172, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5190.2.1, http://zenodo.org/record/7120060, {"references":["Ragimov, D. B. (1965) On the distribution of gobiids at the western coast of the central and southern Caspian. Doklady Akademii Nauk Azerbaijanskoy SSSR, 21, 47 - 50. [in Russian]","Pinchuk, V. I. & Miller, P. J. (2004 b) Benthophiloides brauneri Beling & Iljin, 1927. In: Miller, P. J. (Ed.), The Freshwater Fishes of Europe Vol. 8 / II Gobiidae 2. AULA-Verlag GmbH, Verlag fur Wissenschaft und Forschung, Wiebelsheim, pp. 153 - 159.","Abbasi, K. (2017) Fishes of Guilan. Iliya Culture Publication, Rasht, 208 pp. [in Persian]","Larson, H. (2019 a) Knipowitschia iljini. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, 2019, e. T 123435142 A 123494817. https: // doi. org / 10.2305 / IUCN. UK. 2019 - 3. RLTS. T 123435142 A 123494817. en"]}

21. Hyrcanogobius bergi Iljin, 1928 (Fig. 15), Berg’s Goby Hyrcanogobius bergi Iljin, 1928: 44, figs. 7–11; type locality: North Caspian Sea, near the mouths of the Volga, Ural, and Emba rivers, Russia and Kazakhstan; syntypes: ZIN 25417 (5), Volga. Etymology: Named after L. S. Berg, Russian ichthyologist. Distribution and habitat: The coastal waters of all three areas of the Caspian Sea (Fig. 16A). Gobius longecaudatus var. “c” Kessler, 1877 described from Baku Bay (Azerbaijan) is a synonym (Miller & Pinchuk 2004a). Its records are from the western coasts of the North and western Middle Caspian Sea (in Russia) and the eastern South Caspian Sea (Miller & Pinchuk 2004a), also from the western South Caspian Sea (this study). Shakirova & Sukhanova (1994) also record this species from the Atrek lakes of Turkmenistan. Semi-pelagic and also benthic in inshore waters, inhabiting euryhaline to freshwaters (Miller & Pinchuk 2004a). In Iran, this species was recorded by us in the coastal waters off Astara. Material examined: ZM-CBSU S017-3, 34, & ZM-CBSU S085, 5, off Astara, Gilan Province, Iran. IUCN: LC (Freyhof 2020)., 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 170, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5190.2.1, http://zenodo.org/record/7120060, {"references":["Iljin, B. S. (1928) Two new genera and a new species of Gobiidae from the Caspian sea. Reports of the Astrakhan Scientific Fishery Station, 3, 1 - 13.","Kessler, K. T. (1877) The Aralo - Caspian Expedition. IV. Fishes of the Aralo - Caspio - Pontine Ichthyological Region. Naturgeschichte der Fische Islands, St. Petersburg, 360 pp.","Pinchuk, V. I. & Miller, P. J. (2004 a) Anatirostrum profundorum (Berg, 1927). In: Miller, P. J. (Ed.), The Freshwater Fishes of Europe Vol. 8 / II Gobiidae 2. AULA-Verlag GmbH, Verlag fur Wissenschaft und Forschung, Wiebelsheim, pp. 274 - 278.","Shakirova, F. M. & Sukhanova, A. I. (1994) Iktiofauna Turkmenistana (sostav i rasprostranenie). Izvestiya Akademii Nauk Turkmenistana, Seriya Biologicheskikh Nauk, 3, 35 - 45. [in Russian]","Freyhof, J. (2020) Knipowitschia bergi. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, 2020, e. T 135608 A 137270791. https: // doi. org / 10.2305 / IUCN. UK. 2020 - 3. RLTS. T 135608 A 137270791. en"]}

Neogobius Iljin, 1927 (4 species) Etymology: Greek, neos = new + Latin, gobius = gudgeon., 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 174, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5190.2.1, http://zenodo.org/record/7120060

26. Neogobius bathybius (Kessler, 1877) (Fig. 21), Deepwater Goby Gobius bathybius, Kessler, 1877: 17, pl. 1 (fig. 3); type locality: Svinoi Island, south of Baku, Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan, depth 756 feet; types: type material of Gobius bathybius appears to be missing from the collection of St Petersburg State University. Etymology: Greek, bathus = deep, refers to capture of the holotype in deep waters. Distribution and habitat: Present in all three areas of the Caspian Sea (Fig. 22A). No records appear to exist from the east coast of the Middle Caspian Sea. A relatively deep water species found under pleio-mesohaline conditions and known from depths to 75 m and may occur deeper (Pinchuk et al. 2004b). Does not enter rivers (Pinchuk et al. 2004b). Remarks: Formerly in the genus Chasar Vasil’eva, 1996. Neilson & Stepien (2009) included Gobius bathybius in the genus Ponticola because they then lacked access to specimens of bathybius. Molecular data by Zarei et al. (2021) and by Tajbakhsh et al. (2022) have provided support for its reclassification in the genus Neogobius. DNA sequence data analysis by Tajbakhsk et al. (2022) indicated that there is a single population of N. bathybius across the Southern Caspian Sea. Material examined: ZM-CBSU S063, 3, off Babolsar, & ZM-CBSU S064, 1, off Neka, Mazandaran Province, Iran; ZM-CBSU A256 - A297, 36, off Kiashahr, Gilan Province, Iran. IUCN: LC (Bogutskaya 2020l)., 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 174, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5190.2.1, http://zenodo.org/record/7120060, {"references":["Kessler, K. T. (1877) The Aralo - Caspian Expedition. IV. Fishes of the Aralo - Caspio - Pontine Ichthyological Region. Naturgeschichte der Fische Islands, St. Petersburg, 360 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","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","Tajbakhsh, F., Rajabi-Maham, H., Abdoli, A., Stepien, C. A. & Kiabi, B. H. (2022) DNA sequence support for re-classification of the endemic south Caspian Sea deepwater goby as Neogobius bathybius (from Ponticola; Perciformes: Gobiidae) and recent population expansion of a continuous population. Ichthyology and Herpetology, 110, 13 - 21. https: // doi. org / 10.1643 / i 2020015","Bogutskaya, N. (2020 l) Ponticola bathybius. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, 2020, e. T 156761759 A 156761841. https: // doi. org / 10.2305 / IUCN. UK. 2020 - 3. RLTS. T 156761759 A 156761841. en"]}

A key to the native Gobiidae of the South Caspian Sea sub-basin 1a. head canals absent; no real scales on the body, the body naked or covered with bony tubercles and/or granules........... 2 1b. head canals present; body with ctenoid and/or cycloid scales.................................................. 20 2a. first dorsal fin with usually VI rays, the sixth ray at an increased distance from the fifth; body naked or partly covered with non-overlapping ctenoid scales.......................................................................... 3 2b. first dorsal fin with I–IV rays; body covered with bony tubercles and/or granules, naked only in sexually mature males..... 4 3a. coloration uniformly pale, living individuals almost transparent; no bands on the body; body naked; second dorsal branched rays 14; anal fin branched rays 11–12............................................... Benthophiloides turcomanus 3b. coloration brownish, living specimens normally pigmented; dark vertical or oblique bands on the body; immature individuals with small non-overlapping scales on the sides; second dorsal branched rays 11–13; anal fin branched rays 9–11........................................................................................... Benthophiloides brauneri 4a. head narrow (head width less than 55% of its length), snout elongate and duck-bill shaped; eight transverse suborbital rows of neuromasts, six in front of suborbital longitudinal row b; chin barbel absent; no dermal fold behind jaws................................................................................................ Anatirostrum profundorum 4b. head broad (head width more than 70% of its length); snout not elongate and duck-bill shaped; seven transverse suborbital rows of neuromasts, four in front of suborbital longitudinal row b; most species with chin barbel and dermal fold behind jaws... 5 5a. no tubercles; only densely-set bony plates of different size on head and body, embedded in skin and lacking apex, not arranged in regular rows....................................................................................... 6 5b. tubercles possessing distinct apex and not embedded in skin, arranged in 2 main and 1–2 additional longitudinal rows on each side of body........................................................................................ 10 6a. head with medial groove on temporal and occipital regions; thorny granules on rays of first dorsal fin.................. 7 6b. head not grooved; no thorny granules on rays of first dorsal fin................................................. 9 7a. second blotch circular; no enlarged bony plates in front of second dorsal fin....................... Benthophilus grimmi 7b. second blotch band-shaped, descending obliquely on flank; several enlarged flat bony plates at origin of second dorsal fin, each surrounded by smaller plates............................................................................ 8 8a. horizontal eye diameter, 12–16 % HL, less than interorbital distance, 16–21 % HL; periorbital row of enlarged granules along upper eye margin; no granules on eye................................................... Benthophilus svetovidovi 8b. horizontal eye diameter, 17–22 % HL, considerably larger than interorbital distance, 7–13 % HL; no periorbital row of enlarged granules; granules on eye present........................................................ Benthophilus kessleri 9a. no bony plates on belly and flanks; no dark blotches on body.............................. Benthophilus leptorhynchus 9b. bony plates on belly and flanks; three dark blotches on back................................ Benthophilus granulosus 10a. no tubercles on upper head surface or upper head tubercles present only on snout and between eyes................... 11 10b. tubercles on upper head surface present, including temporal and occipital regions................................. 15 11a. dorsal row of tubercles incomplete, starting at first dorsal-fin’s origin........................................... 12 11b. dorsal row of tubercles complete, starting just behind head................................................... 13 12a. dermal fold at angle of mouth well-developed........................................... Benthophilus ctenolepidus 12b. dermal fold at angle of mouth absent................................................. Benthophilus leptocephalus 13a. dorsal row of tubercles 22–29.......................................................... Benthophilus persicus 13b. dorsal row of tubercles 30–33.......................................................................... 14 14a. medial groove on head deep and well-developed on temporal and occipital regions; granules few and scattered, absent from medial groove; anterior-most tubercles of dorsal row of similar size as others in the row; ventrolateral row absent or with only few tiny tubercles.................................................................... Benthophilus pinchuki 14b. medial groove on head very shallow, if well-developed then only between eyes; granules densely-set on entire upper head surface including medial groove; several anterior-most tubercles of dorsal row smaller than following ones; ventrolateral row with 16–19 tiny tubercles.............................................................. Benthophilus ragimovi 15a. no medial temporal tubercle; dorsal row tubercles 11–24; ventral-row tubercles 9–20; total vertebrae 24–27, commonly 25–26; anal-fin segmented rays 5–7, commonly 6................................................................. 16 15b. medial temporal tubercle present; dorsal-row tubercles 23–31; ventral-row tubercles 19–26; total vertebrae 27–31; anal-fin segmented rays 6–10, commonly 7–9.................................................................... 17 16a. first dorsal-fin spines 0–II, commonly I; dorsal-row tubercles 11–16; ventral-row tubercles 9–13........ Benthophilus baeri 16b. first dorsal-fin spine II–IV, commonly III; dorsal-row tubercles 18–24; ventral-row tubercles 15–20... Benthophilus spinosus 17a. dark blotches on back absent or indistinct............................................ Benthophilus macrocephalus 17b. three distinct blotches along midline of back............................................................... 18 18a. medial groove on head; granules on head large (some of them almost of same size as nearby tubercles); head and dorsal-row tubercles flattened, rounded; spinules small, arranged in numerous radial rows covering entire surface of tubercles......................................................................................... Benthophilus casachicus 18b. no medial groove on head; granules on head tiny; head and dorsal-row tubercles markedly conical, polygonal; spinules small to large, arranged in one or two radial rows located only on posterior surface of tubercles........................... 19 19a. upper jaw projecting beyond lower jaw; small granules on upper eye surface; often two tubercles between eyes; precaudal vertebrae 10–11, commonly 11........................................................ Benthophilus leobergius 19b. upper jaw not projecting beyond lower jaw; no granules on upper eye surface; always one tubercle between eyes; precaudal vertebrae 9–10, commonly 9...................................................... Benthophilus mahmudbejovi 20a. second dorsal fin branched rays 6–11; suborbital longitudinal row a present; anterior oculoscapular canal with paired pore λ present or absent, no pore σ;............................................................................ 21 20b. second dorsal fin branched rays 14–20; suborbital longitudinal row a absent; anterior oculoscapular canal not shortened anteriorly: pore λ single and a paired pore σ in front of it on the snout........................................... 24 21a. transverse postorbital row tra long, extending downwards to or near the suborbital longitudinal row b; interorbital papillae present.............................................................................. Hyrcanogobius bergi 21b. transverse postorbital row tra short, behind pore α, ending downwards far from the suborbital longitudinal row b; interorbital papillae absent, even if anterior oculoscapular canal ends at paired pore κ (in some Knipowitschia caucasica and Knipowitschia iljini).............................................................................................. 22 22a. anterior oculoscapular canal not uniting in posterior interorbit, pore κ double; canals anterior to pores κ typically absent; preopercular canal commonly absent....................................................... Knipowitschia iljini 22b. anterior oculoscapular canal uniting in posterior interorbit, with one pore κ; canals anterior to pore κ present, extending anteriorly to pores λ (anterior oculoscapular canal reduced with no paired pore λ only very rarely in Knipowitschia caucasica and only from the Aegean Anatolian area of the Mediterranean Sea); preopercular canal present...................... 23 23a. posterior oculoscapular canal present................................................... Knipowitschia caucasica 23b. posterior oculoscapular canal absent................................................ Knipowitschia longecaudata 24a. anterior nostril an elongate tube, extending beyond upper lip; scales of the lateral row 36–48......... Proterorhinus nasalis 24b. anterior nostril tubular but not beyond upper lip; scales of the lateral row 49–85................................... 25 25a. suborbital transverse rows of neuromasts 8–10, typically five rows in front of suborbital longitudinal row b and three below row b; scales small..................................................................... Mesogobius nonultimus 25b. suborbital transverse rows of neuromasts 7 (8 rows in Neogobius bathybius); four rows (five in Neogobius bathybius) in front of suborbital longitudinal row b and two transverse rows below row b; scales large................................ 26 26a. head anterior to level of preopercle, at least in dorsal midline and opercle not covered with scales; spots on the body form more or less regular oblique (diagonal) bands (stripes), descending forward........................... Babka gymnotrachelus 26b. head and opercle (at least the upper part) completely covered with scales; spots on the body do not form oblique bands (stripes)............................................................................................ 27 27a. five suborbital transverse (vertical) rows of neuromasts in front of suborbital longitudinal row b; first dorsal fin rays usually VII................................................................................. Neogobius bathybius 27b. four suborbital transverse (vertical) rows of neuromasts in front of suborbital longitudinal row b; first dorsal fin rays usually VI................................................................................................ 28 28a. posterior nostril markedly distant from the anterior edge of the orbit, by more than half eye diameter..... Neogobius caspius 28b. posterior nostril near the anterior edge of the orbit, the distance less than half eye diameter.......................... 29 29a. first dorsal fin with rear proximal dark spot.............................................. Neogobius melanostomus 29b. first dorsal fin without rear proximal dark spot............................................................. 30 30a. coloration pale, sandy (Fig. 25); nape and predorsal area scaled completely with ctenoid scales........... Neogobius pallasi 30b. coloration not pale and sandy, usually densely dotted or with reticulate pattern with mid-lateral blotches and dorsal saddles (Figs. 26, 28–33); nape and predorsal area scaled completely with cycloid scales, or anteriorly with cycloid and posteriorly with ctenoid scales....................................................................................... 31 31a. first dorsal fin without anterior oblique dark stripe and light marginal band; inshore brackish water or euryhaline........ 32 31b. first dorsal fin with an anterior oblique dark stripe and light marginal band; freshwater............................. 34 32a. three suborbital transverse rows below suborbital longitudinal row b................................ Ponticola syrman 32b. two suborbital transverse rows below suborbital longitudinal row b............................................. 33 33a. anal fin with 11–14 (usually 12) branched rays, head depth at eyes about 0.6 head width, interorbit 0.6–1.1 eye diameter, snout 1.5–2.3 eye diameter, pelvic disc 0.7–0.9 abdomen length........................................ Ponticola gorlap 33b. anal fin with 13–15 (usually 13) branched rays, head depth at eyes slightly less to somewhat greater than width, interorbit 0.4–0.6 eye diameter, snout 0.9–1.2 eye diameter, pelvic disc 0.9 to slightly more than abdomen length.... Ponticola goebeli 34a. second dorsal fin with 17–18 (usually 18) branched rays, predorsal scales 25–26 (usually 26), caudal fin length 21.4–23.1% SL, first dorsal fin base 11.0–11.7% SL, snout to first dorsal fin 36.4–37.7% SL, pelvic fin length 14.0–15.6% SL, eye diameter 18.0–18.4% HL, upper lip length 20.3–21.9% HL; Kura River basin (Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Turkey)..... Ponticola cyrius 34b. second dorsal fin with 14–17 (usually 15–16) branched rays, predorsal scales 17–25 (usually 19–22), caudal fin length 23.3– 31.4% SL, first dorsal fin base 14.1–18.5 % SL, snout to first dorsal fin 30.5–36.5% SL, pelvic fin length 19.4–26.2% SL, eye diameter 18.8–25.7% HL, upper lip length 27.1–43.4% HL; South Caspian freshwater habitats in Iran................. 35 35a. head, lips, cheeks, predorsal and body coloration reticulate, postorbital profile oblique, cheek prominent; Kaboudval Stream (Golestan Province)................................................................. Ponticola hircaniaensis 35b. head, lips, cheeks, predorsal and body color uniform, body coloration not reticulate, postorbital profile subhorizontal (i.e., less oblique), cheek not prominent; western freshwater habitats of the South Caspian sub-basin (Gilan and western Mazandaran Province)........................................................................................... 36 36a. inhabiting the upper Sefidroud drainage basin................................................. Ponticola iranicus 36b. inhabiting western freshwater habitats of the South Caspian sub-basin in Iran, from Karganroud to Kheiroud except for the upper Sefidroud drainage basin............................................................ Ponticola patimari, 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 183-185, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5190.2.1, http://zenodo.org/record/7120060

Proterorhinus Smitt, 1900 (1 species) Etymology: Greek, proteros = former + Greek, rhinos = nose., 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 182, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5190.2.1, http://zenodo.org/record/7120060

Rhinogobius Gill, 1859 (1 species) Etymology: Greek, rhinos = nose + Latin, gobius = gudgeon., 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 182, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5190.2.1, http://zenodo.org/record/7120060

Benthophiloides Beling & Iljin, 1927 (2 species) Etymology: Greek, benthos = depth of the sea + Greek, phyle, that loves., 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 164, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5190.2.1, http://zenodo.org/record/7120060, {"references":["Beling, D. & Iljin, B. (1927) Benthophiloides brauneri ng, n. sp., ein fur das Schwarzmeerbassin neuer Vertreter der Familie der Gobiidae. Travaux de la Station biologique du Dniepre, Kiev, 2, 309 - 325. [in German]"]}

Benthophilus Eichwald, 1831 (16 species) Etymology: Greek, benthos = depth of the sea + Greek, phyle, meaning “that loves”., 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 164, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5190.2.1, http://zenodo.org/record/7120060

Knipowitschia Iljin, 1927 (3 species) Etymology: Named after of N. M. Knipowitsch, Russian ichthyologist., 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 171, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5190.2.1, http://zenodo.org/record/7120060

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"]}

24. Knipowitschia longecaudata (Kessler, 1877) (Fig. 19), Longtail Dwarf Goby Gobius longecaudatus var. “a” et var. “b” Kessler, 1877: 35; type locality: South and Middle Caspian Sea; syntypes: BMNH 1897.7.5.10 [ex ZIN, var. “c”] (1), ZIN (lost). Etymology: Latin, longus = long + Latin, cauda = a tail, refers to an elongate caudal region. Distribution and habitat: Western and northwestern Black Sea regions, eastern Azov Sea and Caspian Sea (Fig. 16D). No records from the South Caspian Sea according to Miller (2004b). However, for Iran, Abbasi (2017) and we in the present study collected it from coastal waters of Anzali and Astara. Sampled in freshwater to oligohaline and meio-mesohaline salinities (Miller 2004b). Material examined: ZM-CBSU S011, 1, & ZM-CBSU S012, 1, off Anzali; ZM-CBSU S018 & ZM-CBSU S019, 138, off Astara, Gilan Province, Iran. IUCN: LC (Freyhof & Kottelat 2008h)., 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 172-173, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5190.2.1, http://zenodo.org/record/7120060, {"references":["Kessler, K. T. (1877) The Aralo - Caspian Expedition. IV. Fishes of the Aralo - Caspio - Pontine Ichthyological Region. Naturgeschichte der Fische Islands, St. Petersburg, 360 pp.","Abbasi, K. (2017) Fishes of Guilan. Iliya Culture Publication, Rasht, 208 pp. [in Persian]","Freyhof, J. & Kottelat, M. (2008 h) Knipowitschia longecaudata. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, 2008, e. T 135509 A 4135081. https: // doi. org / 10.2305 / IUCN. UK. 2008. RLTS. T 135509 A 4135081. en"]}

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"]}

19. Benthophilus spinosus Kessler, 1877 , Spiny Tadpole Goby Benthophilus spinosus Kessler, 1877: 50; type locality: Middle Caspian Sea region, depth 42.7 m; lectotype: ZISP 10896, syntypes: (5) BMNH 1897.7.5.17 [ex MLSU] (1), others lost. Etymology: Latin, spinosus = prickly or thorny, refers to the well-developed spiny tubercles. Distribution and habitat: Eastern and western coasts of the Middle Caspian Sea, southeastern North Caspian Sea (from Kulaly Island south to Mangyshlak Peninsula), and the northwestern and northeastern South Caspian Sea (Fig. 11C). No records from Iran. Sampled at 10–25 m during the spawning season and down to 40–45 m in winter (Boldyrev & Bogutskaya 2007). IUCN: LC (Bogutskaya 2020i)., 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 170, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5190.2.1, http://zenodo.org/record/7120060, {"references":["Kessler, K. T. (1877) The Aralo - Caspian Expedition. IV. Fishes of the Aralo - Caspio - Pontine Ichthyological Region. Naturgeschichte der Fische Islands, St. Petersburg, 360 pp.","Boldyrev, V. S. & Bogutskaya, N. G. (2007) Revision of the tadpole-gobies of the genus Benthophilus (Teleostei: Gobiidae). Ichthyological Exploration of Freshwaters, 18, 31 - 96.","Bogutskaya, N. (2020 i) Benthophilus spinosus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, 2020, e. T 156758702 A 156758728. https: // doi. org / 10.2305 / IUCN. UK. 2020 - 3. RLTS. T 156758702 A 156758728. en"]}

11. Benthophilus leobergius Berg, 1949 (Fig. 12), Caspian Stellate Tadpole Goby Benthophilus stellatus leobergius Berg, 1949: 1116, figs. 858–859; type locality: seemingly Astrabadskiy [Astrabad = Gorgan] Bay, Caspian Sea, Iran; lectotype: ZISP 23128, syntypes: ZISP 10891 (1). Etymology: Named for L. S. Berg (Leo Berg), the leading Russian ichthyologist of the 20th century. Distribution and habitat: Coastal areas of all three areas of the Caspian Sea, also enters river deltas (Fig. 11B). Not reported from the eastern Middle Caspian Sea, but recorded form the Ogurchinskiy Island, Turkmenistan. Spawns and feeds at depths 0.5–10 m, migrating to deeper waters in the winter. Common at depths to 20–25 m (Ragimov 1965), rarely to 64 m. Prefers slightly brackish waters, up to 13 ‰, and also occurring in freshwaters of the Volga River Delta (Boldyrev & Bogutskaya 2007). Material examined: ZM-CBSU S007, 5, & ZM-CBSU S037, 5, off Anzali; ZM-CBSU S027, 1, & ZM-CBSU S075, 1, Shafaroud mouth, Gilan Province, Iran. IUCN: LC (Freyhof & Kottelat 2008d)., 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 167, 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.","Ragimov, D. B. (1965) On the distribution of gobiids at the western coast of the central and southern Caspian. Doklady Akademii Nauk Azerbaijanskoy SSSR, 21, 47 - 50. [in Russian]","Boldyrev, V. S. & Bogutskaya, N. G. (2007) Revision of the tadpole-gobies of the genus Benthophilus (Teleostei: Gobiidae). Ichthyological Exploration of Freshwaters, 18, 31 - 96.","Freyhof, J. & Kottelat, M. (2008 d) Benthophilus leobergius. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, 2008, e. T 135680 A 4178654. https: // doi. org / 10.2305 / IUCN. UK. 2008. RLTS. T 135680 A 4178654. 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"]}

16. Benthophilus persicus Kovačić, Esmaeili, Zarei, Abbasi & Schliewen, 2021 (Fig. 13), Persian Tadpole Goby Benthophilus persicus Kovačić, Esmaeili, Zarei, Abbasi & Schliewen, 2021: 47, figs. 2–7; type locality: off Anzali, South Caspian Sea, Gilan Province, Iran, 37°29’N, 49°29’E; holotype: ZSM 47595, male, 55.1 mm TL, paratypes: PMR VP4679, VP4680, VP4681, VP4682, VP4683, ZM-CBSU 5003-128, 5001-1, 5003-60, 5022- 23, 5024-1, 5003-77; ZSM 47596, 47597, 47598, 47599, additional material: ZM-CBSU S003-17 (21), ZMCBSU S003-112–113 (2), ZM-CBSU S003-115 (1), ZM-CBSU S003-134 – 135 (2). Etymology: Named for Persia, the historic region of southwestern Asia that is associated with the area that is now Iran. Distribution and habitat: This species is abundant on sandy bottoms in coastal areas of western South Caspian Sea (Fig. 8C). Eurybathic, depth ranges usually from 6– 70 m. However, no specimens have yet been collected in the eastern part of the South Caspian Sea (Kovačić et al. 2021). Material examined: PMR, ZM-CBSU, and ZSM (type material), plus additional non-type material (Kovačić et al. 2021); ZM-CBSU S003, 116, off Anzali; ZM-CBSU S016, 25, off Astara; ZM-CBSU S022, 30, off Chaboksar; ZM-CBSU S024, 1, & ZM-CBSU S025, 81, off Chamkhaleh; ZM-CBSU S026, 4, Shafaroud mouth; ZMCBSU S029, 3, off Talesh, 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 pages 168-169, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5190.2.1, http://zenodo.org/record/7120060, {"references":["Kovacic, M., Esmaeili, H. R., Zarei, F., Abbasi, K. & Schliewen, U. K. (2021) A new species of Tadpole goby, Benthophilus persicus sp. nov. (Teleostei: Gobiidae) from the southern Caspian Sea. Zootaxa, 4980 (1), 45 - 63. https: // doi. org / 10.11646 / zootaxa. 4980.1.3"]}

15. Benthophilus mahmudbejovi Ragimov, 1976 , Mahmudbejov’s Tadpole Goby Benthophilus mahmudbejovi Ragimov, 1976: 1196; type locality: off Cape Peschanyy, Middle Caspian Sea, Kazakhstan, depth 40 m; holotype: ZISP 53655 [ex IZAB 027], paratypes: ZISP 53656 [ex IZAB 012] (20). Etymology: Named for A. A. Mahmudbejov, a leading ichthyologist of Azerbaijan. Distribution and habitat: Along coasts of all three areas of the Caspian Sea (Fig. 11C): Volga River region of the North Caspian Sea; eastern coast of the Middle and South Caspian Sea from Peschanyy Cape south to Cheleken Peninsula and Ogurchinskiy Island, Turkmenistan. The report on its distribution in the coastal waters of Gilan (Iran) by Abbasi (2017) refers to the recently described B. persicus. No records from Iran. At depths 3–15 m in the North Caspian Sea, and down to 50 m in the Middle and South Caspian Sea regions, abundant in the Volga River delta. Both fresh and brackish waters, up to 13 ‰. Prefers shallow waters, spawns in waters 1–11 m deep (Boldyrev & Bogutskaya 2007). IUCN: LC (Freyhof & Kottelat 2008f)., 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 168, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5190.2.1, http://zenodo.org/record/7120060, {"references":["Abbasi, K. (2017) Fishes of Guilan. Iliya Culture Publication, Rasht, 208 pp. [in Persian]","Boldyrev, V. S. & Bogutskaya, N. G. (2007) Revision of the tadpole-gobies of the genus Benthophilus (Teleostei: Gobiidae). Ichthyological Exploration of Freshwaters, 18, 31 - 96.","Freyhof, J. & Kottelat, M. (2008 f) Benthophilus mahmudbejovi. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, 2008, e. T 135654 A 4171635. https: // doi. org / 10.2305 / IUCN. UK. 2008. RLTS. T 135654 A 4171635. en"]}

5. Benthophilus baeri Kessler, 1877 (Fig. 9), Baer’s Tadpole Goby Benthophilus baeri Kessler, 1877: 53, fig. 10; type locality: Caspian Sea: near Mangyshlak, Kazakhstan; lectotype: ZISP 2239, paralectotypes: (11) BMNH 1897.7.5.16 [ex St. Petersberg Univ.] (1), SPU 395 [463/410] (1), ZIN 53665 [ex 2239] (4). Etymology: Named for K.E. von Baer, the Baltic German scientist and explorer. Distribution and habitat: Coastal waters of the Caspian Sea (Fig. 8B). Eurybathic, in warm seasons at depths 0.5–30 m, migrates to deeper waters, down to 100 m depth, in winter (Boldyrev & Bogutskaya 2007). Material examined: ZM-CBSU S002, 33, off Anzali & ZM-CBSU S054, 11, off the coast of Gilan Province, Iran. IUCN: LC (Bogutskaya 2020a)., 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 165, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5190.2.1, http://zenodo.org/record/7120060, {"references":["Kessler, K. T. (1877) The Aralo - Caspian Expedition. IV. Fishes of the Aralo - Caspio - Pontine Ichthyological Region. Naturgeschichte der Fische Islands, St. Petersburg, 360 pp.","Boldyrev, V. S. & Bogutskaya, N. G. (2007) Revision of the tadpole-gobies of the genus Benthophilus (Teleostei: Gobiidae). Ichthyological Exploration of Freshwaters, 18, 31 - 96.","Bogutskaya, N. (2020 a) Benthophilus baeri. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, 2020, e. T 156755278 A 156755320. https: // doi. org / 10.2305 / IUCN. UK. 2020 - 3. RLTS. T 156755278 A 156755320. en"]}

Mesogobius Bleeker, 1874 (1 species) Etymology: Greek, mesos = half + Latin, gobius = gudgeon., 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 173, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5190.2.1, http://zenodo.org/record/7120060

37. Proterorhinus nasalis (De Filippi, 1863) (Fig. 34), Eastern Tubenose Goby Gobius nasalis Filippi, 1863: 390; type locality: Caspian Sea near Baku, Azerbaijan; syntypes: BMNH 1869.3.4.34, MSNG 12655 and 36228; MZUT 672; NMW 33894 -96; ZMB 5015. Etymology: Latin, nâsus = nose + Latin, - âlis = of or pertaining to. Distribution and habitat: Inshore habitats, wetlands (e.g., Anzali Wetland) and river mouths of the South Caspian Sea sub-basin from Baku, Azerbaijan south to the middle of the basin (Fig. 27E) (Zarei et al. 2022c). Remarks: Using mitochondrial COI data, Zarei et al. (2022c) employed a phylogenetic and phylogeographical framework to assess the species level status of Caucasian populations of Proterorhinus, previously classified as P. nasalis. Their results suggest that P. nasalis is a biogeographical relict, distributed in inshore habitats of the South Caspian Sea from Baku (its type locality), Azerbaijan south to the middle of the South Caspian Sea basin, whereas tubenose goby populations from the Sea of Azov, Volga River, and North and Middle Caspian Sea sub-basins, north of Baku have the mtDNA of P. semipellucidus (Kessler, 1877). The latter freshwater tubenose goby in the northern Caspian Sea Proterorhinus semipellucidus originally was identified with multiple gene nuclear and mitochondrial DNA sequences by Neilson & Stepien (2011). Material examined: ZM-CBSU S038, 31, Anzali Wetland; ZM-CBSU S052, 2, Khoshkroud mouth; ZM-CBSU S072, 2, Shalmanroud mouth; ZM-CBSU S073, 1, Oshmakroud mouth; ZM-CBSU S074, 1, Boujagh National Park, Gilan Province, Iran. IUCN: NE. Considering the species narrow geographic range, small population size, and low mtDNA variability, P. nasalis may merit re-examination for an IUCN Red List Threatened Category (i.e., VU, EN or CR) (Zarei et al. 2022c)., 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 182, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5190.2.1, http://zenodo.org/record/7120060, {"references":["De Filippi, F. (1863) Nuove o poco note specie di animali vertebrati raccolti in un viaggio in Persia, nell'estate dell'anno 1862. Archivio per la Zoologia, l'Anatomia e la Fisiologia, 2, 377 - 394. [in Italian]","Zarei, F., Esmaeili, H. R., Schliewen, U. K. & Abbasi, K. (2022 c) Taxonomic diversity and distribution of the genus Proterorhinus (Teleostei: Gobiidae) in the Caucasus biodiversity hotspot with conservation implications. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems, 32, 129 - 138. https: // doi. org / 10.1002 / aqc. 3728","Kessler, K. T. (1877) The Aralo - Caspian Expedition. IV. Fishes of the Aralo - Caspio - Pontine Ichthyological Region. Naturgeschichte der Fische Islands, St. Petersburg, 360 pp.","Neilson, M. E. & Stepien, C. A. (2011) Historic speciation and recent colonization of Eurasian monkey gobies (Neogobius fluviatilis and N. pallasi) revealed by DNA sequences, microsatellites, and morphology. Diversity and Distributions, 17, 688 - 702. https: // doi. org / 10.1111 / j. 1472 - 4642.2011.00762. x"]}

6. Benthophilus casachicus Ragimov, 1978 , Kazakhstan Tadpole Goby Benthophilus stellatus casachicus Ragimov, 1978: 795; type locality: south of Kenderlinskaya Spit, eastern shore of the Middle Caspian Sea, depth 36 m; holotype: ZISP 53661, female, 62 mm TL, paratypes: IZA 204 (2), whereabouts unknown. Etymology: The species name casachicus is derived from the country name of Kazakhstan off whose coast the species was first discovered. Distribution and habitat: Mostly along the eastern Caspian Sea coast from Cape Peschany (Kazakhstan) to Ogurchinskiy Island (Turkmenistan) (Fig. 8C), in brackish waters at 15–75 m depth and 13 ‰ salinity, also known from the Volga River delta (Boldyrev & Bogutskaya 2007). No records for Iran. IUCN: LC (Bogutskaya 2020b)., 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 165, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5190.2.1, http://zenodo.org/record/7120060, {"references":["Boldyrev, V. S. & Bogutskaya, N. G. (2007) Revision of the tadpole-gobies of the genus Benthophilus (Teleostei: Gobiidae). Ichthyological Exploration of Freshwaters, 18, 31 - 96.","Bogutskaya, N. (2020 b) Benthophilus casachicus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, 2020, e. T 156755653 A 156755659. https: // doi. org / 10.2305 / IUCN. UK. 2020 - 3. RLTS. T 156755653 A 156755659. en"]}

20. Benthophilus svetovidovi Pinchuk & Ragimov, 1979 , Svetovidov’s Tadpole Goby Benthophilus svetovidovi Pinchuk & Ragimov, 1979: 515; type locality: South Caspian Sea (?), depth 86 m; holotype: ZIN 43672, female, 39 mm TL, paratypes: ZIN 43673 (1, lost). Etymology: Named after A. N. Svetovidov, Russian ichthyologist. Distribution and habitat: Known from along the eastern coast of Middle Caspian Sea and from off Ogurchinskiy Island (ZISP) in the northeastern South Caspian Sea (Fig. 11A). No records from Iran. Recorded from 30–200 m depths at 12–13.5 ‰ salinity (Boldyrev & Bogutskaya 2007). IUCN: DD (Bogutskaya 2020j)., 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 170, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5190.2.1, http://zenodo.org/record/7120060, {"references":["Boldyrev, V. S. & Bogutskaya, N. G. (2007) Revision of the tadpole-gobies of the genus Benthophilus (Teleostei: Gobiidae). Ichthyological Exploration of Freshwaters, 18, 31 - 96.","Bogutskaya, N. (2020 j) Benthophilus svetovidovi. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, 2020, e. T 156758973 A 156759008. https: // doi. org / 10.2305 / IUCN. UK. 2020 - 3. RLTS. T 156758973 A 156759008. en"]}

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

Benthophilus persicus sp. nov. (Figs 2–10, Table 1) Holotype. ZSM 47595, male, 45.2+ 9.9 mm, Iran, Gilan Province, Anzali, southern Caspian Sea, 37°29’ N 49°29’ E, K. Abbasi & S. Abdolmaleki, 01 Apr. 2004 (Fig. 4a). Paratypes. ZSM 47596, female, 45.8+ 9.7 mm, Iran, Gilan Province, Anzali, southern Caspian Sea, 37°31’ N 49°30’ E, K. Abbasi & S. Abdolmaleki, 18 Nov. 2002. ZSM 47597, juvenile male, 30.4+ 7.6 mm, Iran, Gilan Province, Anzali, southern Caspian Sea, 37°36’ N 49°29’ E, K. Abbasi & M. Tavakoli, 06 Jan. 2004. ZSM 47599, female, 30.8+7.0 mm, Iran, Gilan Province, Anzali, southern Caspian Sea, 37°36’ N 49°29’ E, K. Abbasi & M. Tavakoli, 05 Jan. 2004 (Fig. 4c). ZSM 47598, juvenile female, 27.5+ 6.4 mm, Iran, Gilan Province, Anzali, southern Caspian Sea, 37°36’ N 49°29’ E, K. Abbasi & S. Abdolmaleki, 01 Nov. 2002. ZM-CBSU 5003-128, female, 30.9+ 8.2 mm, Iran, Gilan Province, Anzali, southern Caspian Sea, 37°36’ N 49°29’ E, K. Abbasi & S. Abdolmaleki, 09 Jan. 2004. ZM-CBSU 5001-1, female, 35.1+8.1, Iran, Gilan Province, Anzali, southern Caspian Sea, 37°29’ N 49°29’ E, K. Abbasi & S. Abdolmaleki, Nov. 2002. ZM-CBSU 5003-60, juvenile female, 25.4+ 6.1 mm, Iran, Gilan Province, Anzali, southern Caspian Sea, 37°31’ N 49°30’ E, K. Abbasi & S. Abdolmaleki, Nov. 2002. ZM-CBSU 5022-23, female, 26.0+5.9, Iran, Gilan Province, Chaboksar, southern Caspian Sea, 37°01’ N 50°34’ E, K. Abbasi & S. Abdolmaleki, 18 Nov. 2015. ZM-CBSU 5024-1, female, 23.7+ 5.3 mm, Iran, Gilan Province, Chamkhaleh, southern Caspian Sea, 37°30’ N 49°55’ E, K. Abbasi & S. Abdolmaleki, 09 Nov. 2002. ZM-CBSU 5003-77, female, 25.1+ 6.3 mm, Iran, Gilan Province, Anzali, southern Caspian Sea, 37°29’ N 49°29’ E, K. Abbasi & S. Abdolmaleki, 01 Nov. 2002. PMR VP4679 male, 43.3+10.0 mm, Iran, Gilan Province, Chaboksar, southern Caspian Sea, 37°01’ N 50°34’ E, K. Abbasi & A. Sarapnah, 01 Mar. 2005. PMR VP4680, male, 47.0+ 8.6 mm, Iran, Gilan Province, Anzali, southern Caspian Sea, 37°31’ N 49°30’ E, K. Abbasi & S. Abdolmaleki, 09 Mar. 2003. PMR VP4681 male, 35.1+ 8.5 mm, Iran, Gilan Province, Anzali, southern Caspian Sea, 37°29’ N 49°29’ E, K. Abbasi & S. Abdolmaleki, 01 Mar. 2003. PMR VP4682, female, 30.4+ 7.4 mm, Iran, Gilan Province, Anzali, southern Caspian Sea, 37°29’ N 49°29’ E, K. Abbasi & S. Abdolmaleki, 17 Sep. 2002. PMR VP4683, female, 34.2 mm, caudal fin damaged, Iran, Gilan Province, Anzali, southern Caspian Sea, 37°35’ N 49°29’ E, K. Abbasi & A. Sarapnah, 01 Jan. 2004. Additional material. ZM-CBSU S003-17, 21 specimens, 31.7–47.3 mm SL, 37°37’46.71” N 49°33’55.10” E, K. Abbasi & S. Abdolmaleki, 09 Mar. 2003. ZM-CBSU S003-112–113, ZM-CBSU S003-115, 3 specimens, 38.2–40.1 mm SL, 37°37’46.71” N 49°33’55.10” E, K. Abbasi & S. Abdolmaleki, 05 Jan. 2004. ZM-CBSU S003- 134–135, 2 specimens, 33.5–40.8 mm SL, 37°37’46.71” N 49°33’55.10” E, K. Abbasi & S. Abdolmaleki, 10 Jan. 2004. All additional material was collected from Iran, Gilan Province, Anzali, southern Caspian Sea. Diagnosis. Benthophilus persicus is distinguished from all other congeneric species by: (1) dermal fold behind jaws well-developed, large, rectangular, (2) chin barbel of moderate size, 1/3–2/3 of eye diameter, (3) maximum body width 15.1–22.9% of SL, (4) mouth width 36.3–55.8% of head length, (5) second dorsal fin I+7–8; (6) origin of anal fin in front of vertical through origin of second dorsal fin, (7) dermal tubercles present, clearly larger than granules, with two posterior rows of spinules forming an acute, always less than right angle, (8) dorsal row of tubercles complete, 22– 29, (9) ventral row of tubercles 22–25, (10) ventrolateral row of tubercles absent, (11) tubercles not present on temporal and occipital head regions, (12) granules not present on flanks, (13) transversal suborbital row 6i below posterior end of row b, (14) anterior interorbital transversal row pa with one or two papillae and anterior interorbital transversal row pp with two or three papillae, and (15) body with 20–22 transversal ltm rows starting anteriorly behind pectoral axilla and alternating anteriorly with three longitudinal llm rows (characters presented in the order of appearance in the description). Each of the selected diagnostic characters differentiate the new species from between 4 to 15 Benthophilus species. Considering only these selected fifteen diagnostic characters, the new species differs from congeneric species in a range from at least five characters (from B. durrelli Boldyrev & Bogutskaya, 2004, B. mahmudbejovi Ragimov, 1976 and B. pinchuki Ragimov, 1982) up to eleven differential characters (from B. kessleri Berg, 1927). Description (Fig. 4). All morphometric and meristic values in the text are presented first for the holotype for the paratypes in parentheses. Morphometric data are provided in Table 1. Particularly large variability of some features may be based on sex, developmental stage or size dimorphism and is highlighted in the Table 1 and further explained in the Discussion. General morphology. Head rounded in vertical view, i.e., triangular with well-rounded lateral sides (Fig. 5). Head large, long and wide, length 2.8 (2.6–3.0) in SL, width 1.0 (1.0–1.2) in head length. Head depressed (dorsoventrally compressed), head depth in head width 1.9 (1.7–2.2), head depth 1.8 (1.6–2.4) in head length, wider than body, head width 0.7 (0.5–0.6) in maximum body width. Snout gently rounded, broad and moderately long, larger than eye diameter, 0.5 (0.6–0.8) in eye diameter, 3.6 (3.6–4.2) in head length. Eye small, horizontal diameter 7.1 (4.6–7.1) in head length. Interorbital distance 6.8 (5.2–10.9) in head length. Eye diameter and interorbital width both size-dependent, i.e., eye diameter negatively correlated and interorbital distance positively correlated with the body size. Dermal fold behind end of jaws well-developed, large, rectangular, elongate (Figs. 6a and 6b). Dermal fold depth in length 2.4 (2.5–3.7), with more or less rounded angles, along edge undulate or straight. Dermal fold of variable size to eye diameter, length of its base 0.9 (0.8–1.6) in eye diameter, 6.0 (4.9–8.2) in head length. Chin barbel of moderate size, 0.6 (0.4–0.7) in eye diameter, 12.0 (10.4–13.7) in head length, triangular, widened at base, triangle narrower in larger specimens, broader in smaller fish (Figs. 6b and 6c). Mouth relatively wide, mouth width 2.0 (1.8–2.8) in head length. Mouth corner below anterior eye margin. Anterior nostril tube without process from rim, reaching upper lip; posterior nostril with raised rim. No medial groove present on temporal and occipital head regions. Body deepest at first dorsal-fin origin or slightly in front of it, depth decreasing towards caudal-fin base. Greatest body width at middle between pectoral-fin bases, 4.4 (4.4–6.6) in SL, strongly decreasing towards caudalfin base. Caudal peduncle laterally compressed, caudal peduncle width 1.3 (1.2–1.5 in depth), shallow, its depth 17.4 (15.0–19.3) in SL, and narrow, its width 22.2 (20.2–25.9) in SL. Maximum size 55.6 mm in total length. Fins. The poor condition of fins in some cases prevents exact counts. D1 IV (III: 1, IV: 14), D2 I+7 (I+7: 7, I+8: 7; in paratype ZM-CBSU 5001-1 positive count was not possible), A I+8 (I+7: 6, I+8: 8; in paratype ZM-CBSU 5001-1 positive count was not possible), C branched rays 10 (10: 7, 11: 3, 12: 2; in three paratypes count was not possible), segmented 13 (13: 12; in three paratypes count was not possible), P 16 on both sides (16: 20, 17: 9, both sides counted; in paratype PMR VP4681 positive count was not possible on left side), V I+5/5+I (V I+5/5+I: 15). First dorsal fin low, its height 11.7 (10.5–11.9 in adult males, 13.5–21.3 in other individuals) in SL, lower than second dorsal fin, 7.8 (6.5–8.8) in SL. Origin of anal fin in front of vertical through origin of second dorsal fin. Anal-fin height 9.7 (8.4–10.4) in SL. Pectoral fin long, reaching backwards halfway between the first and second dorsal fins when folded back. Pelvic disc complete and oval with well-developed anterior membrane, anterior membrane with straight edge. Pelvic disc long, 3.2 (3.1–3.8) in SL, reaching to anal-fin origin. Caudal fin rounded. Dermal ossifications. Granules present only on head (on snout, between eyes, on temporal and occipital head regions, and around eye in a circle), on predorsal area and between dorsal and dorsolateral rows of tubercles below the first dorsal fin and below interdorsal space (Figs. 3 and 5). No granules on eyes. No granules on gill covers, dorsal body and posterior flank, around pelvic disc, and only a few granules on posterior dorsal part of caudal peduncle (Fig. 7). Granules tiny, simple-structured bumps, sometimes grouped two or three together, small specimens with comparatively large granules (Figs. 2 and 3). Tubercles distinctively larger than granules (Figs. 2 and 3). Tubercles on head appear more or less randomly scattered. Head with a few small tubercles on snout, 2–4 tubercles present between eyes and 10–12 well-developed tubercles on upper cheek, preopercle and opercle (Figs. 5 and 7a). Tubercles not present on temporal and occipital head regions, i.e. all dermal ossifications are definable as granules according to size and shape; and the first tubercles anteriorly to temporal region are located at interorbital space, i.e. anteriorly to rear edge of eyes (Fig. 5). Tubercles on trunk are arranged in longitudinal rows: dorsal, dorsolateral and ventral rows (Figs. 7 b-d). Dorsal row complete, with 22–29 tubercles, including 2–4 tubercles in front of the first dorsal fin. Several anterior tubercles of dorsal row in front and along the first dorsal fin smaller than remaining tubercles and with one radial row of spinules instead of two. Dorsolateral row with 20–26 well developed tubercles, starting above pectoral-fin base, ending at posterior part or end of D2, decreasing in size posteriorly. No ventrolateral row (Fig. 7c). Ventral row anteriorly curved upwards with 2–3 tubercles above others, 22–25 tubercles including the 2–3 anterior upper tubercles. Tubercle bodies poorly defined, dominated by spinules. Tubercles of body rows and of head possess two posterior rows of spinules forming an acute angle, always less than right angle. Exceptions are the anterior tubercles of dorsal row, with one radial row of spinules instead of two (Fig. 3), and tubercles on preopercle and opercle, where spinules look disorganised (Fig. 2). Lateral line system (Fig. 8). No head canals present. Number of papillae in rows are strongly specimen size depending, with larger rows of sensory papillae irregularly doubled or tripled in larger specimens (e.g., suborbital transversal rows or row ot) (Figs. 2 and 6a). Some rows or parts of rows as ridges with papillae along top, e.g., row e (Fig. 9). Rows with range of number of sensory papillae in parentheses as follows: (1) preorbital: snout with four median preorbital series, vertical row r (3–5) slightly above horizontal level of posterior nares, horizontal row s 1 (3–5) below horizontal level of posterior nares, horizontal row s 2 (3–4) n the level of anterior nares and below s 1 and vertical s 3 (2–4) more medially above upper lip. Lateral series c in four parts: superior c 2 as two horizontal rows between anterior and posterior nostril (2+4 – 4+8); middle c 1 (3–6) starting at anterior nostril; inferior rows, upper horizontal c 2 (5–10) and lower horizontal c 1 (3–6) starting anteriorly at upper lip. (2) suborbital: seven transverse suborbital rows (1–7) of sensory papillae: rows 1–4 begin distant from orbit, row 4 from anterior end of row b downwards to posterior end of row d; superior segments rows 5s and 6s and row 7 close to eye, inferior sections of rows 5 and 6 well developed, row 5i below middle of row b, row 6i below posterior end of row b, both ending downwards below row d in the level and behind dermal fold (1: 10+23, 2: 8–15, 3: 8–21, 4: 8– 15, 5s: 4–8, 5i: 10– 16, 6s: 4–7, 6i: 12–19, 7: 1–2). Longitudinal row b (10–16) extending forwards above row 5i to upper end of row 4 not reaching below eye. Longitudinal row d (9+8 – 15+11) discontinuous with large gap between supralabial and cheek parts from suborbital row 2 to row 3. (3) preoperculo-mandibular: external row e (27+22 – 44+34) divided into anterior and posterior sections; internal row i continuous (40–62), mental row f (6–14) as cluster in front of chin barbel (Fig. 9). (4) oculoscapular: vertical row tra (1–3) behind lower posterior eye edge with one additional papilla behind it, longitudinal row x¹ placed posteriorly above opercle (1+3 – 5+3), divided by vertical row trp (3–5) in two parts, vertical row q (2–5) behind and below row x¹, with one or two additional papillae behind it. Longitudinal row x² (2–3) placed above opercular posterior edge, with transversal row y (2–3) below it. Axillary vertical rows as 1 (3–7), as 2 (4–7), as 3 (6–12) present, row la 1 (2–4) above as 2 , row la 2 (3–5) above between as 2 and as 3 . (5) opercular: transverse row ot (23–48); superior longitudinal row os (10–24); and interior longitudinal row oi (3–5). (6) anterior dorsal: anterior row n longitudinal (1–3) behind upper eye, transverse row o (1–4) distant from fellow in dorsal midline; longitudinal row g (3–4) distant behind row o, longitudinal row m and longitudinal row h not visible. (7) interorbital: two pairs of interorbital transversal rows, anterior pa (1–2) and posterior pp (2–3). Body with 18–22 transversal ltm rows starting anteriorly behind axilla and as rows, alternating anteriorly with three longitudinal llm rows making anterior beginning pattern of -II-I-I (Fig. 10). Three transversal lv rows at lower anterior body. Two longitudinal lc rows, one along midline of caudal fin, the second above it. Osteology. Vertebral column: 9 (8–10) precaudal and 19 (19–20) caudal vertebrae (including urostyle); total vertebral count: 28 (28–30). D1 pterygiophore insertion pattern: 3–22 1*01*1*1* (only from holotype); number of anal pterygiophores anterior to the first haemal spine 0 (0–1). Crest-like remaxillary process present on posterior third of premaxialla, sloping with a steep angle on anterior rim and gently towards posterior tip of premaxialla. Five branchiostegal rays. One epural. Number of C rays inserting in hypural 5: 2 (1–2), 3+4 (fused): 5 (5–6), hypural 1+2 (fused): 4 (4–5) and parhypural: 1 (0–1), total number of C rays inserting in hypurals, and parhypural: 12 (12; fused hypural 1+2 and 3+4 separated by a large gap, which does not support any branched caudal ray. Coloration. No live coloration recorded. Color of preserved specimens (Fig. 4): body opaque fawn, irregularly scattered melanophores present on upper head and body, and also on dorsal, caudal and pectoral fins. In some specimens remaining pigmentation almost invisible. Some specimens with three whitish saddles on back: at D2 anterior beginning, D2 posterior end and on caudal peduncle, and with four pigmented blotches on caudal fin longitudinally arranged. Etymology. The species is named for Persia. Distribution and habitat. Southern Caspian Sea basin (Fig. 1). Benthophilus persicus inhabits brackish waters and is abundant on sandy bottoms in coastal areas of the southern Caspian Sea. Capture depth ranges from 6 to 70 m. However, no specimens have yet been collected in the eastern part of southern Caspian Sea. Remarks. Boldyrev & Bogutskaya (2007) tentatively assigned 20 recognized species of the genus Benthophilus to four phenotypic groups. The most prominent differences of the new species as compared with members of the four different species groups are as follows. The new species clearly differs from group I members comprising B. granulosus Kessler, 1877, B. grimmi Kessler, 1877, B. kessleri Berg, 1927, B. leptorhynchus Kessler, 1877 and B. svetovidovi Pinchuk & Ragimov, 1979 by having tubercles on the body (vs. bony plates rather than tubercles on body). Benthophilus persicus differs from B. baeri Kessler, 1877 and B. spinosus Kessler, 1877 of group IV by having comparatively small dorsal tubercles with body poorly defined, dominated by clearly visible spinules (Figs. 2 and 3) (vs. very large dorsal tubercles with clear polygonal conical erected body with small or hardly visible spinules, Figure 4 in Boldyrev & Bogutskaya (2007)), 22–25 tubercles in ventral row (vs. 9–20), numerous tiny simple structured granules, sometimes grouped two or three together (vs. large and sparse granules with spinules), a few granules present on the posterior dorsal part of the caudal peduncle (vs. granules restricted to the upper head surface, gill covers and anterior part of the back). Benthophilus persicus cannot be unambiguously assigned to phenotypic groups II or III of Boldyrev & Bogutskaya (2007) since it features a mix of characters that were used to distinguish these two groups. The new species has tubercles with two posterior rows of spinules forming an acute angle (vs. almost right angle of two rows of spinules on dorsal tubercules in group III), tubercles present between eyes (vs. tubercles absent between eyes in group III), a complete dorsal row (vs. dorsal row incomplete in group III), and a low count of 22–29 dorsal row tubercles (vs. two out of four species of group III, B. pinchuki Ragimov, 1982 and B. ragimovi Boldyrev & Bogutskaya, 2004, having higher counts of dorsal row tubercles). However, it has no tubercles on temporal and occipital head regions (vs. usually four tubercles in row on each side of head in temporal and occipital regions of head, one unpaired temporal tubercle in group II) and no blotches on body in a preserved state (vs. blotches on body in group II, except B. abdurahmanovi Ragimov, 1978). The ph

Didogobius janetarum, spec. nov. (Figs. 1a, b, c; 2, 3, 4) Holotype. ZSM 45303, male, 27.3 + 6.2 mm, Republic of Cabo Verde, Santiago Island, King Bay at Tarrafal (15.275�� - 23.758��), from a horizontal rock crevice in approx. 12 m depth, May 2016, collected with a handnet by P. Wirtz. Paratypes. ZSM 45302, juvenile, 18.2 + 4.9 mm, Republic of Cabo Verde, Santiago Island, cliff approx. 2.5 km west of Cidade Velha from a small cave in 14 m depth rock crevice (14.916�� - 23.626��), May 2016, collected with a handnet P. Wirtz; ZSM 40136, female, 24.7 + 5.7 mm, Republic of Cabo Verde, Santiago Island, SSW of Tarrafal (14.916081�� - 23.626626��), dive site ��� Danger ��� (15.255�� - 23.754��) in approx. 20 m depth, March 19th 2010, collected with a handnet by P. Wirtz; PMR VP4134 (ex ZSM-PIS-GO1804); female, 22.8 + 5.5 mm, same collection data as holotype ZSM 45303. Additional material. ZSM-PIS-GO 1803, juvenile, 12.2 + 2.3 mm, same collection data as paratype ZSM 45302. Comparative material examined. Didogobius kochi Van Tassell, 1988: male, 29.1 + 7 mm (Sao Vicente Island, Republic of Cabo Verde); ZSM 43050, female, 36.6 + 8 mm and male, 25.6 + 6 mm, ZSM 35462 (Sal Island, Republic of Cabo Verde). Diagnosis. Didogobius janetarum spec. nov. differs from all currently described congeners by the combination of the following characters: (1) 27 vertebrae, (2) D 2 I + 10, (3) posterior quarter of predorsal region in front of D1 origin scaled, with several rows of cycloid scales, (4) body squamation cycloid anteriorly and ctenoid posteriorly, (5) scales in the lateral series 30���32, (6) anterior oculoscapular canal present, (7) preopercular head canal absent, (8) suborbital row 7 each a single papilla, (9) suborbital rows 2 and 4 close to orbit, (10) branchiostegal membranes uniformely black below preopercle, forming V-mark. Description. General morphology. Body proportions and meristics of the holotype and four paratypes are given in Table I. For a general view see Figs 1a, 1b and 1c. Body moderately elongate and laterally compressed, head depressed; interorbital space narrow (approx. 20.0���23.5% of eye diameter), dorsolaterally positioned eyes. Mouth oblique (~35�� from horizontal), lower jaw slightly projecting, posterior angle of jaws below center of pupil. Snout shorter than eye and rounded in dorsal view. Anterior nostril tubular (longer than diameter), without process from rim, barely reaching but not overlapping the upper lip; posterior nostril with slightly erected rim, but not tubular. Upper lips anteriorly slightly thinner than laterally. Branchiostegal membrane attached along entire lateral margin; posterior margin of operculum approximately reaching frontal edge of pectoral fin base. Cranial roof covered by dorsal axial musculature. Pectoral girdle without dermal flaps on anterior edge. Fins. D 1 VI; D 2 I/10 (last bifid); A I/9; P 16���17 (counted only on left side); V (left/right) I/5 + 5/I; C (branched/segmented rays) 14���15/17. Fin lengths and proportions are given in Table I. First D1 slightly longer (males) or almost as long (females) as second spine, third to sixth spines becoming progressively shorter; interdorsal space distinct and without fin membrane connection between D1 and D2; longest D2 rays reaching base of uppermost caudal fin rays. A originates slightly posterior of vertical through D2 origin; C rounded, shorter than head length; uppermost rays of P not free of membrane, P reaching D2; V complete and rounded with ray 4 as long as ray 5, and a well-developed anterior pelvic membrane (frenum), its height in midline approx. 1/3 of V spine length and at its lateral margins approx. 2/3 of V spine length. Scales. Body covered anteriorly with cycloid and posteriorly with ctenoid scales; ctenoid scales commence midlaterally from the vertical below base of the fourth spine of D1, dorsally and ventrally further caudally from approximately the vertical below the base of 2nd ray of D2 and third ray of A. Head area naked, predorsal area with up to six rows (holotype) or fewer (paratypes) cycloid scales in front of D1 origin, covering at maximum the posterior quarter of the predorsal region and extending more anteriorly along the middorsal line than laterally, i.e. with more middorsal predorsal scale rows than dorsolateral ones (see Fig. 1c), prepectoral area naked, breast with few cycloid scales posteriorly; belly completely scaled with cycloid scales. One row of slightly ctenoid scales on caudal fin base. LL 30���32, TR 12, CP 12���14. Teeth. Teeth in lower jaw in two rows. Outer row with five large-sized teeth frontally on each side, caniniform, pointing slightly backwards. Inner frontal teeth small and conical, numerous, more or less in one row in frontal position. Inner posterior lateral teeth few and large, caniniform. Teeth in upper jaw in two rows. Outer row with 12 (left side) or 11 (right side) teeth, the frontal three ones on each side large and caniniform, the posteriorlateral ones medium to small, decreasing in size posteriorly; inner row with one (right side) or three (left side) large frontal teeth, caniniform. ......continued on the next page ......continued on the next page Osteology. Vertebral column and pterygiophore insertion pattern (pty) (Fig. 1d). 9 precaudal and 18 caudal vertebrae (including urostyle); total count: 27. Pty 3-22110; two pterygiophores anterior to the first haemal spine. One epural. Number of C rays inserting in the hypural 5: 2, 3 + 4 (fused): 6, hypural 1 + 2 (fused): 5 and parhypural: 1, total number of C rays inserting in hypurals, and parhypural: 14; fused hypural 1 + 2 and 3 + 4 separated by a large gap, which is not inserted by a branched caudal ray. Lateral line system (Fig. 2). Head with anterior oculoscapular canal with pores ��, ��, ��, ��, ��, ��, ��, paratype ZSM 45302 with open furrow between left �� and ��. Posterior oculoscapular canal and preopercular canal absent. Rows and number of sensory papillae as follows, counted on left side of holotype ZSM 45303 (first value) and of paratype PMR VP4134 (second value): (I) preorbital: snout with four rows in median preorbital series. Row r (4, 4) median to pore ��. Upper row s 1 (3, 3) transversal near posterior nostril, lower s 2 (1, 1) near anterior nostril, and s 3 longitudinal above upper lip (2, 3). Lateral series c in four parts: superior c 2 between posterior and anterior nostrils (1 + 5, 2 + 4) as two rows; middle transversal c 1 (4, 3) below anterior nostril; inferior upper c 2 (3, 2) and lower c 1 (2, 2) as two rows between lips and row 1. (II) suborbital: six transverse and two longitudinal rows of sensory papillae on cheek. Rows 1-5 before longitudinal row b; row 6 divided by b in superior (6s) and inferior sections (6i); row 7 near pore �� (1: 8, 6, 2: 7, 5, 4: 7, 6, 5: 10, 6, 6s: 6, 3, 6i: 9, 10, 7: 1, 1). Row 1 slightly in front of eye orbit. Rows 2 and 4 close to orbit. Row 6i ending ventrally below level of row d. Longitudinal row b (8, 6) starting anteriorly behind row 5 (holotype ZSM 45303) or at row 6 (paratype PMR VP4134), ending posteriorly far behind rear border of eye. Longitudinal row d (18, 15) continuous. (III) preoperculo- mandibular: external row e and internal row i divided into anterior (e: 21, 18, i: 7, 8), and posterior sections (e: 20, 16, i: 7, 7); row f longitudinal (4, 6). (IV) oculoscapular: anterior longitudinal row x 1 (9, 7) from behind pore �� to behind pore ��; posterior longitudinal row x 2 (2, 2) above transversal row y (1, 1); transversal row z (7, 7) below pore ��; transversal row q (4, 5) behind pore ��; row u as two large longitudinally arranged papillae behind row q on the place of absent posterior oculoscapular canal; transversal axillary rows as 1 (2, /), as 2 (3, 4), as 3 (6, /) present and longitudinal rows la 1 (1, 1) and la 2 (2, 1) above as 2 and as 3; as 1 and as 3 not visible in paratype PMR VP4134. (V) opercular: transverse row ot (21, 16); superior longitudinal row os (8, 7); and inferior longitudinal row oi (6, 3); two large papillae present on the place of absent preopercular canal. (VI) anterior dorsal: transversal row n behind pore �� (9, 8); transversal rows o (/, 2) divided from each other; longitudinal row g (/, 4) ends posteriorly to front row o, longitudinal row m (/, 2) behind and below of row g; longitudinal row h continuous (/, 6); rows o, g, m, h not visible in holotype ZSM 45303. Coloration. In life (based on photograph of holotype (Fig. 3; right side) shortly after capture. Seven dark orange-brown vertical bands extending on flanks from dorsal midline: the most posterior stripe on caudal peduncle and two anterior stripes below D1 and predorsal area strait vertical, the middle four stripes broader and connected ventrally forming a zig-zag pattern, i.e. the seven stripes form a pattern similar to the sequence of letters IAAAAII from caudal peduncle to head: the anteriormost originates from the predorsal area anterior to the origin of D1 and splits ventrally with the posterior branch extending behind pectoral fin base, and the anterior extending obliquely to meet the posterior border of the opercle; the second from the below anterior D1 base from approx. third spine to approx. fourth spine; the third extending from posterior base of the D1, from approx. fifth to sixth spine, the fourth and fifth from anterior and central base of D2, from approx. second to third and sixth to seventh ray, respectively, the sixth from the posterior base of D2 (from approx. tenth ray) and the anterior caudal peduncle, and the seventh extending at middle caudal peduncle. Posterior end of caudal peduncle and caudal fin base brown. White areas of the IAAAAII pattern are two poorly visible whitish vertical stripes on caudal peduncle and two clear stripes anteriorly below D1 and predorsal area; in between three white dorsal saddles are present below D2, seven white triangles along the lower flanks (the three posteriormost on caudal peduncle poorly visible), and several small whitish marks inside orange-brown vertical bands. Nape anterior to first orange-brown band with a narrow white band followed anteriorly by an orange-brown area with embedded whitish marks and with two pairs of orangebrown lateral ���legs��� extending from that area laterally, followed behind eye by another narrow white band. One orange-brown oblique stripe extends ventrally from orbit slightly backwards ending at about center of the cheek, another one from orbit to mouth; below those two marks are present, one on posterior angle of mouth and one on lower cheek behind the first one. Preopercle and operculum with three irregular oblique orange bands (forming a ���/ I/���-pattern) connected dorsally to form a distinctive orange brown pattern. Lower part of anterior pectoral fin base with a prominent white area followed anteriorly by an orange brown band or blotch; anterior parts of branchiostegal membranes, i.e. ventrally below preopercle blackish-grey, forming an intensively pigmented black spot at each of the upper lateral sides. Ventral body coloration varies from white to grey. Pectoral and ventral fins with white rays and clear membranes, anal fin rays white with a membranes having a dusky hue; D1 whitish with a white posterior margin, and four to three brown oblique bands, the anteriormost being darker and broader than the posterior ones; first D1 spin with contrasting dark-brown and white bands partially corresponding with the D1 bands. D2 white with seven to six oblique orange brown series of brown dots on fin rays, the anteriormost being darker and broader than the posterior ones; C base with a narrow brown bar embedded in a white field, the remaining C area whitish to clear with eight or fewer pale rows of brown dots on C rays. Variation (based on color photographs of three additional specimens (not shown)): smaller individual may have less ill-defined and more contrasting lateral bands and orange head coloration pattern may be slightly different in size and distribution of colored elements. Preserved color. Body bars and blotches on flanks and operculum the same as in life, but orange-brown live colors have changed after preservation to dark brown, and previously white areas have become whitish-beige, the pattern being less distinctive than in living specimens; head, nape, cheek and snout bands and blotches also less distinct; branchiostegal membranes below preopercle uniformely black (without a clear dark spot on the upper part) forming V mark from ventral view, otherwise ventral whitish-grey; narrow bar on caudal fin base black but ill defined, white area on C fin base prominent and larger than in living specimens; D1 and D2 whitish-translucent with blackish-brown bands; ventrals and pectorals dusky; anal fin with blackish-brown rays and whitishtranslucent membranes. Variation (based on all five specimens): smaller individual may have less ill-defined and more contrasting lateral bands and head coloration pattern may be slightly different in size and distribution of elements ��� analogous to variation in life coloration (see above). Etymology. The species name is dedicated to Mrs. Janet Camp and Ms. Janet Eyre, who generously supported our goby research. A noun in feminine genitive (plural). Distribution and habitat. Didogobius janetarum sp. nov. is only known from two locations of Santiago Island, Republic of Cabo Verde. It was collected exclusively from small caves and rock crevices between 12 and 20 m depth. One specimen was observed lurking out of a small cave before it was collected, whereas the other four known specimens were retrieved after spraying a fish anaesthetic (clove oil) into rock crevices on vertical walls covered with the coral Tubastrea caboverdiana., Published as part of Schliewen, Ulrich K., Wirtz, Peter & Kova��i��, Marcelo, 2018, Didogobius janetarum sp. nov., a new cryptobenthic goby species from the Cape Verde Islands (Teleostei: Gobiidae), pp. 381-393 in Zootaxa 4438 (2) on pages 384-391, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4438.2.12, http://zenodo.org/record/1298150, {"references":["Van Tassell, J. L. (1988) A new species of Didogobius (Perciformes: Gobiidae) from the Canary Islands. American Museum Novitates, 1988 (2906), 1 - 8."]}

Buenia jeffreysii (Günther, 1867) Gobius jeffreysii Günther 1867 Syntypes. BMNH 1867.8.24.3-5 (3): male, 34.2 mm SL, caudal fin damaged; male, 42.4 mm SL, caudal fin damaged; female, 37.7 mm SL, caudal fin damaged (Fig 6a). All material from Scotland, Off the Hebrides, North Atlantic, depth 145–165 m, coll. J.G. Jeffreys. Non-type material. PMR VP3769, two males, 42.6+ 8.9 mm and 40.3 + 8.5 mm (Fig 6b); ZSM 45583, female, 50.0 + 9.9 mm. All material from Norway, Lysefjorden, N 58.9490, E 6.1449, sand with few cobbles, depth 30–35 m, 16th October 2015, coll. R. Svensen & U. Schliewen. Diagnosis. (1) anterior oculoscapular canal normally closed with pores σ, λ, Κ,α, ρ; (2) posterior oculoscapular canal present; (3) suborbital row c of 7-8 papillae; (4) LL 28–30; (5) P 17–18; (6) D 1 II, the longest spine of D1, with elongate filament, backwards reaching to D2 beginning in males when folded down, in females not reaching D 2 I; (7) V anterior membrane 2/5 of spinous ray in midline depth (the anterior membrane damaged on syntypes BMNH 1867.8.24.3–5); (8) head length 28.5–31% of SL; (9) eye 28.7–30.6% of head length; (10) first dorsal fin base 9.6–10.4% of SL; (11) pelvic to anus 22,1–24.1% of SL; (12) second dorsal fin base 17.8–21.5% of SL; (13) snout to origin of first dorsal fin 34.0–37.4% of SL; (14) cheek depth 17.4–20.7% of head length. ......continued on the next page Description. General morphology (Fig. 6). Body proportions are given in Table II. Body moderately elongate, laterally compressed towards caudal fin. Head 28.5–31.0 of SL, moderately depressed, its greatest width being 58.5–69.4% of its length, with a nearly horizontal predorsal profile. Snout moderately extent but shorter than eye, 78.9–94.7% in eye length, dorsal profile of snout moderately sloping. Eyes dorsolateral, close to each other, slightly extending above dorsal profile in some specimens, 29.2–30.6 in the length of the head. Anterior nostril short, tubular, erect, without process from rim; posterior nostril pore-like, near orbit, with erected rim. Mouth oblique, lower jaw projecting beyond the upper, posterior angle of jaws below anterior half of pupil. Rows of teeth in lower jaw with one row of large outer teeth, one to two intermediate rows of smaller teeth and inner row with teeth nearly as long as the outer ones. Rows of teeth in upper jaw with one row of large outer teeth, one intermediate row of smaller teeth and inner row with teeth nearly as long as the outer ones. Teeth in outer and inner rows pointed and moderately curved towards the buccal cavity in both jaws. Tongue reduced to short flap free from the floor of the mouth (not checked on syntypes BMNH 1867.8.24.3–5 to avoid damage of type material). Branchiostegal membrane attached to entire lateral margin of isthmus from immediately anterior to near pectoral fin base. Fins. D 1 VI (VI: 6); D 2 I /9–10 (9: 3, 10: 3); A I/9 (9: 5) (A too damaged for count in male 42.4 mm SL syntype of lot BMNH 1867.8.24.3–5); C 13 branched rays, 15 segmented rays (C rays too damaged on syntypes BMNH 1867.8.24.3-5 material for these counts); P 17–18 (17: 3, 18:5, one pectoral fin left on non-type material and male 34.2 mm SL syntype of lot BMNH 1867.8.24.3–5, V I/5 + 5/I (I/5 + 5/I: 6). Fin-bases and lengths in proportion to standard body length are given in Table II. D 1 II the longest, D 1 II with elongate filament in males, backwards reaching to D 2 I when folded down, in females not reaching D 2 I. Fin membrane of D 1 VI not connected with base of D 2 I. D2 commences at vertical of urogenital papilla, with last ray over or slightly behind vertical of last A ray. A commences below second to third segmented ray of D2 (second in syntypes BMNH 1867.8.24.3–5 material). C rounded (C in syntypes BMNH 1867.8.24.3-5 too damaged to check the shape). P uppermost rays within membrane (P in syntypes BMNH 1867.8.24.3–5 too damaged to check), P rays all branched except in some specimens lowermost ray unbranched (not visible in syntype male 34.2 SL of lot BMNH 1867.8.24.3–5, due to damaged P), ending back before D 2 I (P tips in syntypes BMNH 1867.8.24.3–5 too damaged to check). V complete and rounded, reaching behind anus in males, not in females. V anterior membrane about 2/5 of spinous ray in midline depth (could not be measured in syntypes BMNH 1867.8.24.3–5 due to material state). Squamation. Body covered with ctenoid scales. Predorsal area, including nape and along D1 base to D 1 IV– VI, opercle and cheek naked. Breast scaled with cycloid scales (scale type not confirmed on syntypes BMNH 1867.8.24.3–5 since only the scale pouches were left on breast), scales along ventral midline 3–4 (3 in syntypes BMNH 1867.8.24.3–5). Scales in lateral series 28–30 (left and right side: 28:2, 29:1, 30:4), in transverse series 7 (on syntypes counts confirmed only on female 37.7 mm SL syntype of lot BMNH 1867.8.24.3–5, left and right side, and both sides in other two syntypes damages of lateral surfaces that prevent longitudinal and transversal counts). ......continued on the next page Specimen BMNH BMNH BMNH PMR PMR ZSM 1867.8.24.3-5 1867.8.24.3-5 1867.8.24.3-5 VP3769 VP3769 45583 Lateral line system (Fig. 7). Head with anterior oculoscapular canal with pores σ, λ, Κ, α, ρ. Posterior oculoscapular canal with pores ρ 1 and ρ 2 or as open furrow. Preopercular canals with pores γ, δ, ε. In syntypes BMNH 1867.8.24.3–5 canal roof membrane damaged and canal space was filled with send particles. Rows and number of sensory papillae as follows (from comparative material and single stained female 37.7 mm SL syntype of lot BMNH 1867.8.24.3-5,): (1) preorbital: snout with three rows in median preorbital series, superior row r close to pore σ (2 larger papillae), inferior row s with two sections, s 1 (1) close to nostrils, s 3 (1) above upper lip. Lateral series c in three parts: superior c 2 (1–2) between anterior and posterior nostrils, middle c 1 (1-2 larger papillae) behind and below anterior nostril and inferior c 1,2 (1-2 larger papillae) above upper lip. (2) suborbital: rows a and c, including cp, without transverse proliferation; a longitudinal (2-3 larger papillae) below rear part of eye; c (7-8 larger papillae) longitudinal below frontal and middle part of eye starting anteriorly with two papillae above below each other at vertical of front border of eye, posteriorly ending with or without remote papilla near row b beginning. Two cp larger papillae below a row, lower cp’ anterior to upper cp. Longitudinal row b short (3– 5), anteriorly beginning below rear border of eye. Longitudinal row d distantly separated in supralabial (8-10) and horizontal part back on cheek (2–4). (3) preoperculo-mandibular: external row e and internal row i divided into anterior (e: 15–19, i: 10–14), and posterior sections (e: 13–19, i: 10–14); row f (1–2). (4) oculoscapular: anterior longitudinal row x 1 divided in anterior section (4–6) vertical to pore γ and posterior section (1) above between pore ρ and posterior oculoscapular canal, posterior longitudinal row x 2 (1–3) above row y; row z (3–4) behind pore γ, rows q (1) and u (1) larger papillae behind pore ρ, row y single papilla above posterior edge of opercle. Axillary rows as 1 (3–4), as 2 (2–3), as 3 (2–4), la 1 (1–2) and la 2 (1–2) present. (5) opercular: transverse row ot (18–20); superior longitudinal row os (8-12) (in syntype BMNH 1867.8.24.3–5, female 37.7 mm SL surface damaged on opercles and row os not visible); inferior longitudinal row oi (4–6). (6) anterior dorsal: rows n and o as single papillae, longitudinal row g (3–5), row m (1–2) present (in female 37.7 mm SL syntype of lot BMNH 1867.8.24.3– 5, dorsal area in poor state, rows g and m not visible) and row h continuous (6-11). Colour of preserved specimens in alcohol (Fig. 6). Syntypes BMNH 1867.8.24.3-5: Body and head grey brown, no colouration pattern could be recognized, but individual melanophores visible, with different density depending on the area. Upper part of body more intensively pigmented anteriorly, pigmentation decreasing posteriorly and from lateral midline down to ventral side pigmentation more or less completely missing. On head cheek is the most intensively pigmented, melanophores also dorsally behind eyes and from eye to upper lip. Underside of head and prepelvic area unpigmented. Eyes grey dark. Prepectoral area, caudal fin base and anal fin base with visible melanophores. Fins transparent. Non-type material: Body and head yellowish white, with dark brown markings. No distinct sexual dimorphism is evident except for the more intensive pigmentation of V in males. Upper part of body more intensively dark brown pigmented, pigmentation decreasing below lateral midline and is almost lost on ventral side. Melanophores on upper part of body scattered irregularly, more grouped on some scales or around their edges. Five intensive dark brown marks are distributed along lateral midline: one below anterior part of D1, two at the beginning and end of D2, one at caudal peduncle and the fifth one is mark on the end of caudal peduncle at caudal fin origin. Underside, including breast and belly, yellowish white. Head also yellowish white, with dark brown pigmentation, slightly more intensively pigmented on cheek below mideye, also dorsally behind eyes and from eye to upper lip. Underside of head and prepelvic area whitish. Eyes dark. D1 with two oblique rows of spots, D2 with three to four oblique rows of spots. C and A densely pigmented with tiny melanophores. A also with darker band along tip. P transparent, with oval mark on the beginning of upper rays. V pigmented as C and A in males, tiny melanophores much more rare on female V. Ecological and geographical distribution. Our recently collected material of B. jeffreysii from Norway was collected on sandy bottom with few cobbles at depth 30- 35 m. Habitat preferences for this species are poorly documented. However, the species apparently occurs on various bottom types: sandy bottom with cobbles (present research), gravel, shell debris and corallines (Le Danois 1910, Miller 1963), sand (Byrkjedal et al. 2016), various mixed bottom like sandy muddy or mixed sediment including shell, rubble with a mud or silt component (Louisy 2015), but it was not reported from the pure mud. The depth range in Miller (1986) for this species is 5– 330 m. B. jeffreysii was described from off the Hebrids (Scotland). It is cold temperate Atlantic species ranging from northernmost locations at the Lofoten islands north of the Arctic Circle, 67°30’ N (Byrkjedal et al. 2016) to southernmost locations from the Celtic Sea (Miller, 1986) and Brittany (estuaries of rivers Morlaix and Penzé), 48°40’ N (Le Danois 1910). The single recorded water temperature at collecting depth was 7.4° C (Byrkjedal et al. 2016). Remarks. The original description of B. jeffreysii in Günther (1867) is a short description based on a three specimens reporting rough estimates of their total length, counts of dorsal and anal fins and scales in lateral series, and a few qualitative shape descriptions, a few morphometric ratios and three sentences on colouration. Hence, it is not sufficiently differentiated with regard to presently known congeneric species and even with regard to other European gobies. Therefore, considering recent development in Buenia taxonomy (Kovačić et al. 2017, present work), a redescription of B. jeffreysii had become necessary., Published as part of Kovačić, Marcelo, Ordines, Francesc & Schliewen, Ulrich K., 2018, A new species of Buenia (Perciformes: Gobiidae) from the western Mediterranean slope bottoms, the redescription of Buenia jeffreysi and the first Balearic record of Buenia affinis, pp. 267-288 in Zootaxa 4392 (2) on pages 275-282, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4392.2.3, http://zenodo.org/record/1195391, {"references":["Gunther, A., (1867) Additions to the British Fauna. Annals and Magazine of Natural History, Series 3, 20 (118), 288 - 291.","Le Danois E. (1910) Sur la faune ichthyologique du Maerl. Bulletin de la Societe Zoologique Paris, 35, 167 - 171.","Miller, P. J. (1963) Taxonomy and biology of the genus Lebetus (Teleostei-Gobioidea). Bulletin of the British Museum of Natural History (Zoology), 10, 207 - 256.","Byrkjedal, I., Wienerroither, R. & Jensen, G. (2016) Lebetus scorpioides and Buenia jeffreysii (Teleostei: Gobiidae) found north of the Arctic Circle. Fauna norvegica, 36, 47 - 50. https: // doi. org / 10.5324 / fn. v 36 i 0.1952","Louisy, P. (2015) Europe and Mediterranean Marine Fish Identification Guide. 3 rd Edition. Ulmer, Paris, 512 pp.","Miller, P. J. (1986) Gobiidae. In: Whitehead, P. J. P., Bauchot, M. - L., Hureau, J. - C., Nielsen, J. & Tortonese, E. (Eds.), Fishes of the North-eastern Atlantic and the Mediterranean. Vol. 3. UNESCO, Paris, pp. 1019 - 1085.","Kovacic, M., Ordines, F. & Schliewen, U. K. (2017) A new species of Buenia (Teleostei: Gobiidae) from the western Mediterranean Sea, with the description of this genus. Zootaxa, 4250 (5), 447 - 460. https: // doi. org / 10.11646 / zootaxa. 4250.5.3"]}