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).