233. Benthophilus ctenolepidus Kessler, 1877

Common name. Transparent tadpole goby

Taxonomy. Original description: Benthophilus ctenolepidus Kessler, 1877: 48, Pl. 4 (fig. 11) [ The Aralo-Caspian Expedition]; Caspian Sea, 40°08'N, 0°26'E of Baku, Azerbaijan. Lectotype: ZIN 10897. Paralectotypes: (4) BMNH 1897.7.5.13 [ex ZIN] (1), ZIN (lost). Lectotype selected by Ragimov [Rahimov] 1982:48 .

Revisions. None.

Illustrations. Kessler (1877: 48, fig. 11).

Distribution in Iran. —Distribution in River Basin: Caspian Sea.—Distribution in Ecoregions: 452-Caspian Marine.

Status in Iran. [Native].—Gavmahi-e shafaf.—Listed in previous checklists from Iran by Esmaeili et al. (2017 a, 2018); Jouladeh-Roudbar et al. (2020) and Eagderi et al. (2022).—Iran material: ZM-CBSU.

Conservation. —IUCN: LC.