ponticus, Mullus barbatus Essipov [V. K.] 1927:137 [French p. 146] [Trudy Kerčenskoj Naučnoj Rybochozjajstvennoj Stancii v. 1 (nos 2-3); ref. 15847] District of Kerch and Anapa, northeastern Black Sea, Russia. Syntypes: (many) none at ZIN. •Synonym of Mullus barbatus Linnaeus 1758, but a valid subspecies as described -- (Hureau 1973:402 [ref. 7197], Hureau in Whitehead et al. 1986:878 [ref. 13676], Kim 2002:61 [ref. 26347], Parin 2003:S14 [ref. 28536], Vassilev & Pehlivanov 2005:179 [ref. 28369], Ninua & Japoshvili 2008:170 [ref. 31251], Parin et al. 2014:374 [ref. 33547], Abliazov et al. 2021:10 [ref. 38576], Uiblein et al. 2024:17 [ref. 40891]). •Valid as Mullus ponticus Essipov 1927 -- (Echreshavi et al. 2022:6 [ref. 39234]). Current status: Valid as Mullus ponticus Essipov 1927. Mullidae. Distribution: Black Sea. Habitat: brackish, marine.