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.