34. Ponticola iranicus Vasil’eva, Mousavi-Sabet & Vasil’ev, 2015 (Fig. 31), Iranian Goby

Ponticola iranicus Vasil’eva, Mousavi-Sabet & Vasil’ev, 2015: 191, figs. 2–4; type locality: upper Sefidroud River basin, Tutkabon Stream, 36°50.756’N, 49°35.021’E; holotype: ZMMU P-23677, female, 81 mm TL, 68 mm SL, paratypes: ZMMU P-23678 (9), additional material: ZMMU P-23679 (5), ZMMU P-23680 (10), GUIC POI-AM (7), VMFC POI-P (12).

Etymology. Named for Iran.

Distribution and habitat: Endemic to the upper Sefidroud drainage basin of the South Caspian Sea sub-basin drainage (Fig. 27A) (Zarei et al. 2022b).

Remarks: Zarei et al. (2022b) assessed taxonomic diversity, phylogeography and evolutionary history for the south Caspian populations of Ponticola that were previously classified as P. iranicus and P. patimari, using an integrative taxonomic approach comprising entire geographic range sampling, and analyses of mitochondrial DNA haplotypes, the head lateral line system, otolith shape, and meristic and morphometric variation. They confirmed the presence of two freshwater endemic species in the P. syrman group (i.e., P. iranicus and P. patimari), and pending further investigation, hypothesized a possible third cryptic species. Zarei et al. (2022b) revised the distributional range of P. iranicus and P. patimari, documenting a narrow distributional range and low genetic diversity of P. iranicus, in contrast to the wider distributional range and high genetic diversity of P. patimari (Fig. 27A).

Material examined: ZM-CBSU S087 & ZM-CBSU S061, 33, Sefidroud at Imamzadehashem, Gilan Province, Iran.

IUCN: NE.