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).