6. Benthophilus casachicus Ragimov, 1978, Kazakhstan Tadpole Goby

Benthophilus stellatus casachicus Ragimov, 1978: 795; type locality: south of Kenderlinskaya Spit, eastern shore of the Middle Caspian Sea, depth 36 m; holotype: ZISP 53661, female, 62 mm TL, paratypes: IZA 204 (2), whereabouts unknown.

Etymology: The species name casachicus is derived from the country name of Kazakhstan off whose coast the species was first discovered.

Distribution and habitat: Mostly along the eastern Caspian Sea coast from Cape Peschany (Kazakhstan) to Ogurchinskiy Island (Turkmenistan) (Fig. 8C), in brackish waters at 15–75 m depth and 13 ‰ salinity, also known from the Volga River delta (Boldyrev & Bogutskaya 2007). No records for Iran.

IUCN: LC (Bogutskaya 2020b).