The postcranial skeleton of the Ponto-Caspian endemic benthophilines Anatirostrum and Benthophilus show unique specializations within gobioid fishes. Precaudal and caudal vertebrae are reduced in numbers and the dorsal pterygiophore insertion pattern is modified. Pterygiophores, which support no spine or segmented fin ray, are present in the skeletons at the rear of the first dorsal fin and at the second dorsal fin origin. Because of the low number of vertebrae the second dorsal and anal fin pterygiophores of Anatirostrum and Benthophilus are displaced anteriorly. The pterygiophores that support the first spine of these two median fins are positioned opposite to each other.