OXYDURCIDAE

Family OXYDURCIDAE

Genus Hyrcanogobius Iljin, 1928

27. Volga dwarf goby Hyrcanogobius bergi Iljin, 1928

This is a non-commercial species, endemic to the Caspian Sea. It is known from the northern and western parts of the Caspian Sea. This species is widespread in the Northern Caspian Sea basin, along the western coast to Cape Turaly, including the lakes of the lower reaches of the Terek River ( Berg, 1931; Iljin, 1956; Ragimov, 1965). Ragimov (1986) reported this species from the eastern coast of the Southern Caspian Sea. According to the most recent data ( IUCN, 2024), this species is widespread in the western Caspian Sea along the Russian and Azerbaijani coasts, and in the Southern Caspian Sea in the waters of Iran and Turkmenistan. As its population is estimated to be stable and no threats to the population have been identified ( IUCN, 2024), we consider that additional conservation measures are not currently appropriate.

Genus Knipowitschia Iljin, 1927

28. Iljin’s dwarf goby Knipowitschia iljini Berg, 1931

This is a brackish water, neritic, non-commercial species, endemic to the Caspian Sea ( IUCN, 2024). Ragimov (1965) indicated its range between Kultuk and Astara off the coast of Azerbaijan. In general, this species is mostly found in the Southern Caspian Sea (waters of Iran and Turkmenistan) and partly in the Middle Caspian Sea (waters of Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan) ( Naseka and Bogutskaya 2009, Özcan, 2009, Freyhof, 2011, Esmaeili et al., 2015; Jouladeh-Roudbar et al., 2015). It is not found in the Northern Caspian Sea, including Russian waters ( Bogutskaya et al., 2013; IUCN, 2024). Therefore, it is not included in the list of species of conservation concern in Russian waters.

Species in need of additional conservation measures