Small headwaters streams of the Neotropical region usually have high species richness and diversity. This study aimed to investigate the species composition and abundance of fish fauna in the headwaters streams of the Madeira-Purus interfluvial plain in the Brazilian Amazon. A total of 22 streams of 1st to 3rd order were sampled during two expeditions at two separate locations in April-May and July of 2007. A total of 5508 fishes were captured using hand and small seine nets, belonging to 78 species, 22 families and six orders. Characiformes was the most diverse taxonomic group in the samples, followed by Gymnotiformes and Siluriformes. Our findings indicate that the fish fauna of streams in the Madeira- Purus interfluvial plain is both rich and diverse and should be considered during the implementation of strengthened environmental conservation strategies in this region.

Fish diversity in the Amazon Basin is recognized as one of the highest in the world. However, information on the estuarine ichthyofauna of the region is still fragmented and based on localized inventories. This study reports on an inventory carried out in the estuaries of São Caetano de Odivelas and Vigia, State of Pará, a poorly known area within the Amazon Estuary. Two research cruises of four days long each were undertaken in 2003, one in June (austral winter) and other in December (summer), with use of gill nets, traps, cast net and hook-and-line. It was collected 1,689 individuals, including 58 species from 23 families, all of them previously recorded in the Amazon Estuary. Perciformes, Siluriformes and Clupeiformes were the most diverse taxa, comprising 73.8% of the species. From the 58 recorded species, 24% are pelagic, 50% are demersal and the remaining have pelagic-demersal habits. Coastal-marine species predominated in the region.

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