Ichthyology and Molecular Systematics Research Laboratory, Zoology Section, Department of Biology, College of Sciences, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran..
Natural History Museum Rijeka, Lorenzov prolaz 1, HR51000 Rijeka, Croatia..
Zootaxa. 2022 Jun 16;5154(4):401-430. doi: 10.11646/zootaxa.5154.4.1.
Ponticola hircaniaensis sp. nov. is described as a new gobiid species from the Kaboudval Stream, southern Caspian Sea basin. The new species is diagnosed among Caspian Sea basin Ponticola species by the following combination of characters: second dorsal-fin branched rays 1416, anal-fin branched rays 1012, scales in lateral series 5259; lower jaw slightly, if at all, prognathous; head and body yellowish brown showing a reticulate brown pattern on a yellow background, first dorsal fin with a marginal bright orangish-yellow band and a dark anterior spot, upper part of pectoral-fin base with a distinct dark brown stripe; length of third spine in first dorsal fin 13.418.3 % of standard length (SL), second dorsal-fin spine length 11.113.8 % SL, caudal peduncle length and depth 16.420.1 % and 11.112.8 % SL, respectively, head depth at nape 70.981.0 % of head length (HL), and at eye 52.566.0 % HL; sagittal otolith dorsal rim with a broad concavity in the middle, dorsal depression absent or indistinct, sulcus length/sulcus height and sulcus height/otolith height ratios 1.471.82 and 0.340.40, respectively. It is also characterised by a K2P nearest neighbour distance of 5% to P. kessleri in the mtDNA COI barcode region. Mitochondrial and nuclear DNA analyses suggested extensive hybridization between P. hircaniaensis sp. nov. and P. gorlap at Kaboudval, providing evidence for the first record of hybridization in the Ponto-Caspian gobiids. Based on narrow geographic range isolated above the Zarrin Gol Dam (< 2 km2), extensive hybridization with P. gorlap, and other threats, the new species should be considered Critically Endangered.
新发现的 Ponticola hircaniaensis sp. nov. 是里海盆地的一种新的虾虎鱼物种，来自卡布德瓦尔溪。该新种与里海盆地的 Ponticola 物种的区别在于以下特征组合：第二背鳍分支射线 1416，臀鳍分支射线 1012，侧线鳞 5259；下颌略微前突，如果有的话；头部和身体呈黄褐色，背景为黄色，带有网状棕色图案，第一背鳍有一条边缘鲜橙色的带和一个深色的前部斑点，胸鳍基部上部有一个明显的深褐色条纹；第一背鳍第三刺长占标准体长（SL）的 13.418.3%，第二背鳍刺长占 SL 的 11.113.8%，尾柄长和深分别占 SL 的 16.420.1%和 11.112.8%，项部深度占头长（HL）的 70.981.0%，眼后深度占 HL 的 52.566.0%；矢耳石背缘中部有宽阔的凹面，背凹陷缺失或不明显，槽长/槽高和槽高/耳石高比分别为 1.471.82 和 0.340.40。它还具有 mtDNA COI 条码区中与 P. kessleri 相距 5%的 K2P 最近邻距离。线粒体和核 DNA 分析表明，P. hircaniaensis sp. nov. 和 P. gorlap 在卡布德瓦尔广泛杂交，为 Pontocaspian 虾虎鱼的首次杂交记录提供了证据。基于狭窄的地理范围（隔离在扎林戈勒大坝上方<2 平方公里）、与 P. gorlap 的广泛杂交以及其他威胁，该新种应被视为极危物种。
