8. Benthophilus granulosus Kessler, 1877 (Fig. 10), Granular Tadpole Goby

Benthophilus granulosus Kessler, 1877: 57, fig. 14; type locality: Baku Bay, Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan; lectotype: ZISP [= ZIN] 2242, syntypes: (7 + 1) BMNH 1897.7.5.14 [ex ZIN] (1), ZIN 10898 (1, damaged).

Etymology: Latin, granulatus = covered or composed of grains, refers to the granular appearance of the skin.

Distribution and habitat: Coastal waters in all three sub-basins of the Caspian Sea (Fig. 11A), also enters river deltas. Eurybathic, during the warm season, it inhabits shallow coastal waters (0.5–20 m), then migrates to deeper places (down to 60–70 m) in the winter (Boldyrev & Bogutskaya 2007). Marked for Iran on the minimap in Pinchuk & Miller (2004x), but according to Boldyrev & Bogutskaya (2007) lacked Iranian records, but now has been confirmed in Iran by Abbasi (2017) and by the present study’s examined material.

Material examined: ZM-CBSU S006, 1, off Anzali & ZM-CBSU S023, 2, off Chaboksar, Gilan Province, Iran.

IUCN: LC (Freyhof & Kottelat 2008c).