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).