5. Benthophilus baeri Kessler, 1877 (Fig. 9), Baer’s Tadpole Goby

Benthophilus baeri Kessler, 1877: 53, fig. 10; type locality: Caspian Sea: near Mangyshlak, Kazakhstan; lectotype: ZISP 2239, paralectotypes: (11) BMNH 1897.7.5.16 [ex St. Petersberg Univ.] (1), SPU 395 [463/410] (1), ZIN 53665 [ex 2239] (4).

Etymology: Named for K.E. von Baer, the Baltic German scientist and explorer.

Distribution and habitat: Coastal waters of the Caspian Sea (Fig. 8B). Eurybathic, in warm seasons at depths 0.5–30 m, migrates to deeper waters, down to 100 m depth, in winter (Boldyrev & Bogutskaya 2007).

Material examined: ZM-CBSU S002, 33, off Anzali & ZM-CBSU S054, 11, off the coast of Gilan Province, Iran .

IUCN: LC (Bogutskaya 2020a).