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).