Gobies (Teleostei: Gobiidae) of the oldest and deepest Caspian Sea sub-basin: an evidence-based annotated checklist and a key for species identification Author Zarei, Fatah 0000-0001-5552-4301 Ichthyology and Molecular Systematics Research Laboratory, Zoology Section, Department of Biology, College of Sciences, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran. & fataahzarei @ gmail. com; https: // orcid. org / 0000 - 0001 - 5552 - 4301 fataahzarei@gmail.com Author Esmaeili, Hamid Reza 0000-0002-9736-397X Ichthyology and Molecular Systematics Research Laboratory, Zoology Section, Department of Biology, College of Sciences, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran. & hresmaeili @ shirazu. ac. ir; https: // orcid. org / 0000 - 0002 - 9736 - 397 X hresmaeili@shirazu.ac.ir Author Abbasi, Keyvan Inland Waters Aquaculture Research Center, Iranian Fisheries Sciences Research Institute, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization, Bandar Anzali, Iran. Author Kovačić, Marcelo Natural History Museum Rijeka, Lorenzov prolaz 1, HR- 51000 Rijeka, Croatia. Author Schliewen, Ulrich K. 0000-0003-0187-4319 SNSB-Bavarian State Collection of Zoology, Department of Ichthyology, Münchhausenstr. 21, 81247 München, Germany. schliewen @ snsb. de; https: // orcid. org / 0000 - 0003 - 0187 - 4319 schliewen@snsb.de Author Stepien, Carol A. 0000-0002-5544-4333 National Museum of Natural History, Department of Vertebrate Zoology, Smithsonian Institution, Washington D. C, USA. StepienCA @ si. edu; https: // orcid. org / 0000 - 0002 - 5544 - 4333 text Zootaxa 2022 2022-09-28 5190 2 151 193 journal article 153839 10.11646/zootaxa.5190.2.1 60faa853-726d-4b71-a3cb-c21a0087515f 1175-5326 7120060 92BFDA7A-28C0-4816-8A91-CFB842C95E96 23. Knipowitschia iljini Berg, 1931 ( Fig. 18 ), Iljin’s Dwarf Goby Knipowitschia iljini Berg, 1931: 1271 , fig. 1–2, pl. I; type locality: Middle Caspian Sea; syntypes : ZIN 22052 (65), 24370 (16),?24424 (6+). Etymology: Named for B. S. Iljin, Russian ichthyologist. Distribution and habitat: The coastal waters of all three areas of the Caspian Sea ( Fig. 16C ). Ragimov (1965) reported this species from between Kultuk and Astara region of Azerbaijan and generally in the Middle and South Caspian Sea; It was mapped around the coast of the entire Caspian Sea by Miller & Pinchuk (2004b) . Listed by Abbasi (2017) in the coastal waters of Gilan Province in Iran . Benthic and also collected in the water column above the bottom. Shallower coastal areas ( 20–70 m ), but also found farther offshore, from 40–500 m ( Miller & Pinchuk 2004b ). Does not enter freshwaters ( Miller & Pinchuk 2004b ). Material examined: ZM-CBSU S104, 7, off Anzali , Gilan Province , Iran . IUCN: DD ( Larson 2019a ).