A new Moenkhausia (Characiformes: Characidae) from rio Brao Norte, rio Tapajs basin, with comments on the fish endemism of Serra do Cachimbo plateau.

A new species of Moenkhausia is described from the rio Brao Norte, a tributary of Rio Teles Pires draining the Serra do Cachimbo, rio Tapajs basin, Par, Brazil. The new species is diagnosed from all congeners, except M. moisae and M. pirauba, by having a high number of scales in the longitudinal series (4346 vs. 2341 in other Moenkhausia species). It can also be distinguished from the aforementioned species based on the combination of the following characters: a single humeral blotch, 2125 branched anal-fin rays, and a round and symmetrical caudal blotch not continuous anteriorly with the dark midlateral stripe. The new tetra herein described represents an additional, possibly endemic, taxon from the headwaters draining from Serra do Cachimbo, in the Brazilian Shield.

Rapid assessment of the ichthyofauna of the southern Guiana Shield tributaries of the Amazonas River in Pará, Brazil

The Northern Pará Drainage System encompasses the left-bank tributaries of the Amazonas River in the southern Guiana Shield region of Pará state, Brazil. Five of the region's state protected areas are considered strategic for the conservation of its biodiversity. In the present study, we assessed the ichthyofauna of the five state protected areas of the Northern Pará Drainage System. Seven expeditions were conducted between January 2008 and January 2009, which surveyed stretches of the Cuminá, Cuminapanema, Curuá, Jari, Mapuera, Nhamundá, and Paru rivers. These surveys yielded 286 species belonging to 38 families and eight orders, including seven new records of fish species for Brazil, six of which are also new records for the Amazon basin. Our results provide a valuable database for future research and conservation programs in the protected areas of the region. (AU)

A new species of Hyphessobrycon (Characiformes, Characidae) from the upper Rio Jequitinhonha basin, Minas Gerais, Brazil, with comments on morphological similarities with Stethaprioninae species from headwater environments.

A new species of Hyphessobrycon is described from a marshland area in the headwaters of Rio Jequitinhonha basin, Minas Gerais, Brazil. The new species differs from congeners by presenting a single well-delimited conspicuous humeral blotch, rounded to vertically oval, restricted to the area dorsal to the lateral-line row of scales, without a narrower downward extension, greatest body depth anterior to dorsal-fin origin, bony processes in anal and pectoral-fin rays of males and four teeth in the inner row of the premaxillary bone. The new species presents a set of morphological features shared by some species currently assigned to Hasemania, Myxiops and to the Astyanax scabripinnis complex. Some of these features are discussed.

Description of a new species of Ituglanis (Siluriformes: Trichomycteridae) from Serra dos Carajás, rio Tocantins basin

A new species of Ituglanis is described from the rio Tocantins basin, State of Pará, Brazil. Ituglanis ina, new species, is distinguished from its congeners by the presence of a dark vertical bar over the base of the caudal-fin rays (vs. no bars over caudal-fin base); and by the presence of a middle trunk line of tiny neuromasts extending along the flank until the vertical through the dorsal fin, or near the caudal-fin base (vs. no middle trunk line of tiny neuromasts). Ituglanis ina can be further distinguished by a combination of characters related to color pattern and morphology. Comments on the relationship between Ituglanis species are presented.

Uma espécie nova de Ituglanis é descrita da bacia do rio Tocantins, Pará, Brasil. Ituglanis ina, espécie nova, é facilmente diferenciada das congêneres por apresentar uma barra vertical escura sobre a base dos raios da nadadeira caudal (vs. sem barras na base da nadadeira caudal); e por apresentar linha lateral seguida por uma linha de diminutos neuromastos até a região do flanco, abaixo da nadadeira dorsal, ou até o pedúnculo caudal (vs. sem neuromastos após a linha lateral). Ituglanis ina distingue-se, também, por uma combinação de caracteres relacionados ao padrão de coloração e morfologia. Comentários sobre o relacionamento das espécies e grupos de espécies de Ituglanis são apresentados.

Trichomycterus anhanga, a new species of miniature catfish related to T. hasemani and T. johnsoni (Siluriformes: Trichomycteridae) from the Amazon basin, Brazil

Trichomycterus anhanga is described from the Amazon basin, northern Brazil. The species is diagnosed by the latero-sensory system which is restricted to LL1 and LL2, the pectoral fin with two branched rays, the absence of pelvic fins and girdle, the reduced jaws and pharyngeal dentition, the presence of six to seven interopercular odontodes, the absence of a lateral series of spots, the presence of a small dark spot on the ventral surface of the mandibular symphysis, the narrow comma-shaped palatine, the absence of procurrent rays anterior to the dorsal and anal fins, the position of insertion of the first dorsal-fin pterygiophore and the presence of a single pair of pleural ribs. Trichomycterus anhanga shares with T. hasemani and T. johnsoni a wide cranial fontanel which occupies most of the skull roof. Miniaturization as well as synapomorphies for the T. hasemani group are discussed.

Trichomycterus anhanga é descrita da bacia Amazônica, norte do Brasil. A espécie é diagnosticada pelo sistema látero-sensorial restrito à LL1 e LL2, nadadeira peitoral com dois raios ramificados, ausência de nadadeiras e cintura pélvica, redução da dentição das maxilas e faringiana, presença de seis ou sete odontódeos no interopérculo, ausência de série lateral de manchas, presença de uma pequena mancha escura na superfície ventral da sínfise mandibular, palatino estreito, em forma de vírgula, ausência de raios vestigiais anteriores às nadadeiras dorsal e anal, inserção do primeiro pterigióforo da nadadeira dorsal e presença de um único par de costelas pleurais. Trichomycterus anhanga compartilha com T. hasemani e T. johnsoni a presença de fontanela craniana ampla, ocupando a maior parte do teto do crânio. A miniaturização e caracteres sinapomórficos para o grupo T. hasemani são discutidos.