Benthophilus macrocephalus (Pallas, 1787)

Jouladeh-Roudbar, Arash, Ghanavi, Hamid Reza & Doadrio, Ignacio, 2020, Fig. 4 in Fig. 4 in Fig. 3 in Fig. 21. Sesarmops mora n in Paralbunea dayriti, Zoological Studies 59 (21), pp. 1-303 : 228-230

Benthophilus macrocephalus (Pallas, 1787) – Native

Gobius macrocephalus, Pallas [P. S.] 1787: 352; Type locality: Mare Caspicum [Caspian Sea]. No types known.

Common name: Pr: Gavmahi-ye akhtari, Gav mahi sar bozorg, En: Caspian tadpole goby.

Diagnosis: Distinguished by having the following combination of characters: developed dermal fold with rectangular shape and scalloped free margin, 20–26% HL (an unique shape in the genus), 3–4 neuromasts in row 7 (shared only with B. casachicrs and B. leobergius , vs. usually 1), a wide head, 103–111% HL (103–115% HL only in B. leobergius ).

Meristic characters: D 1: II–IV (III), D 2: I 8–9 (8), A: I 6–8 (7), P: 16–18 (17), TV: 27–29 (27), PF: 3–22(11*)1*0001.

Distribution: Caspian basin ( Fig. 423). Found in Anzali Wetland and Gorgan Bay.

Taxonomy: Berg (1949) placed in Benthophilus . Conservation: IUCN: Least Concern ( Freyhof and

Kottelat 2008k).