Paleo-drainage connections and headwater stream-captures are two main historical processes shaping the distribution of strictly freshwater fishes. Recently, bathymetric-based methods of paleo-drainage reconstruction have opened new possibilities to investigate how these processes have shaped the genetic structure of freshwater organisms. In this context, the present study used paleo-drainage reconstructions and single-locus cluster delimitation analyses to examine genetic structure on the whole distribution of Pareiorhaphis garbei, a ‘near threatened’ armored catfish from the Fluminense freshwater ecoregion in Southeastern Brazil. Sequences of two mitochondrial genes (cytochrome b and cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1) were obtained from five sampling sites in four coastal drainages: Macaé (KAE), São João (SJO), Guapi-Macacu [sub-basins Guapiaçu (GAC) and Guapimirim (GMI)], and Santo Aleixo (SAL). Pronounced genetic structure was found, involving 10 haplotypes for cytB and 6 for coi, with no haplotypes shared between localities. Coalescent-based delineation methods as well as distance-based methods revealed genetic clusters corresponding to each sample site. Paleo-drainage reconstructions showed two putative paleo-rivers: an eastern one connecting KAE and SJO; and a western one merging in the Guanabara Bay (GAC, GMI, and SAL). A disagreement was uncovered between the inferred past riverine connections and current population genetic structure. Although KAE and SJO belong to the same paleo-river, the latter is more closely related to specimens from the Guanabara paleo-river. This discordance between paleo-drainage connections and phylogenetic structure may indicate an ancient stream-capture event in headwaters of this region. Furthermore, all analyses showed high divergence between KAE and the other lineages, suggesting at least one cryptic species in the latter, and that the nominal species should be restricted to the Macaé river basin, its type locality. In this drainage, impacts such as the invasive species and habitat loss can be especially threatening for such species with a narrow range. Our results also suggest that freshwater fishes from headwaters in the Serra do Mar mountains might have different biogeographical patterns than those from the lowlands, indicating a complex and dynamic climatic and geomorphological history.

Listrura costai, new species, is described from small streams in a swampy coastal plain in the rio Jurumirim basin, Angra dos Reis Municipality, Rio de Janeiro State, southeastern Brazil. The new species is morphologically very similar to L. nematopteryx and L. picinguabae, all possessing only one long pectoral-fin ray. It differs from its congeners by possessing an autapomorphic character: first hypobranchial with an anterior process (vs. process absent). Other features such as coloration, numbers of opercular and interopercular odontodes, number of anal-fin rays, head length, and shape of some bone structures help to distinguish the new species from L. nematopteryx and L. picinguabae. Molecular analyses using partial sequences of the mitochondrial DNA genes cytochrome oxidase c subunit 1 and cytochrome b from the new species and morphologically similar species are provided. The results about both molecular markers corroborate the validity of the new species by significant genetic distance values between it and congeneric species, and by its phylogenetic position in the hypotheses performed by maximum-parsimony method.Listrura costai, espécie nova, é descrita de exemplares obtidos em pequenos córregos restritos à bacia do rio Jurumirim, município de Angra dos Reis, estado do Rio de Janeiro, sudeste do Brasil. A espécie nova é morfologicamente muito similar a L. nematopteryx e L. picinguabae, todas possuindo um único e longo raio na nadadeira peitoral. Difere-se dos seus congêneres por possuir um caráter autapomórfico: primeiro hipobranquial com um processo anterior (vs. processo ausente). Outras características como coloração, número de odontóides operculares e interoperculares, número de raios na nadadeira anal, e forma de algumas estruturas ósseas ajudam a diferenciar a nova espécie de L. nematopteryx e L. picinguabae. Análises moleculares usando sequências parciais dos genes mitocondriais citocromo oxidase c subunidade 1 e citocromo b da nova espécie e espécies morfologicamente similares são apresentadas. Os resultados de ambos os marcadores moleculares corroboram a validade da espécie nova pelos valores significativos das distâncias genéticas entre esta e as espécies congenéricas, e por sua posição filogenética nas hipóteses feitas pelo o método de máxima parcimônia.

Parotocinclus halbothi is described as a new species from the Trombetas and Marowijne river basins, in Brazil and Suriname. The new species is distinguished from its congeners in the Guianas, Orinoco, and Amazon basins by details of color pattern, form and arrangement of bony plates, body shape, and morphometric features. It is distinguished from all other species of Parotocinclus by the elongation of the canal cheek plate on the ventral surface of head posteriorly to contact the cleithrum. The new species is differentiated from Parotocinclus collinsae, the most similar species in terms of color pattern, by the small, circular, median abdominal plates, the poorly developed preanal shield with two or three plates, and by having the adipose fin rudimentary. This new species is one of the smallest loricariid catfishes known to date. Parotocinclus halbothi é descrito como uma espécie nova das bacias dos rios Trombetas e Marowijne, no Brasil e no Suriname.A espécie nova é distinguida das suas congêneres das bacias dos rios das Guianas, Orinoco e Amazonas por detalhes do padrão de colorido, forma e arranjo das placas ósseas, forma do corpo e caracteres morfométricos. Ela é diferenciada de todas as demais espécies de Parotocinclus pela placa com canal da bochecha alongada posteriormente e em contato com o cleitro ventralmente. A espécie nova é diferenciada de Parotocinclus collinsae, a espécie mais similar em termos de coloração, pelas placas abdominais centrais pequenas e arredondadas, pelo escudo pré-anal pouco desenvolvido com duas ou três placas, e por possuir uma nadadeira adiposa rudimentar. Esta é uma das menores espécies de Loricariidae conhecidas até o momento.

Trichomycterus caipora, new species, is described from rio Macabu basin, lagoa Feia drainage, serra de Macaé, southeastern Brazil. The new species is distinguished from its congeners from southern and southeastern Brazil by the combination of: the presence of nine pectoral-fin rays, caudal fin emarginated and high number of opercular and interorpecular odontodes. Ecological notes are presented and putative phylogenetic relationships and characters shared with congeners are discussed.Trichomycterus caipora, espécie nova, é descrita para a bacia do rio Macabu, drenagem da lagoa Feia, serra de Macaé, sudeste do Brasil. A nova espécie distingue-se dos demais Trichomycterus do sul e sudeste do Brasil pela combinação: da presença de nove raios na nadadeira peitoral, nadadeira caudal emarginada e elevado número de odontódeos operculares e interoperculares. Dados ecológicos são apresentados e as supostas relações filogenéticas e caracteres compartilhados com espécies do gênero são discutidos.

Spatial distribution, suitable spawning sites, and sexual dimorphism were investigated in armored catfish Neoplecostomus microps in the Macaé River from March 2004 to March 2005. Individuals of N. microps (n=290) were limited to fast-flowing stretches, and the distribution was related to ontogenetic development. Larvae in post-flexion occurred in the marginal vegetation, and adults only in gaps between boulders and stones in the river channel. Juveniles occurred in both environments. Spawns were found in the natural habitat in rapid stretches, with the eggs attached to the lower surface of stones in openings formed in the riverbed. The number of eggs per stone ranged from 62 to 375, with significant differences among the mean sizes of the eggs. Sexual dimorphism was noticed to N. microps. The anal and urogenital papillae are separated in males and merged in females and there is an epidermal growth along the pectoral-fin spine of males.

The aim of the current study was to address length‐weight relationships (LWRs) in seven ornamental fish species from the Unini River basin—the main tributary of lower Negro River (Brazilian Amazon). Specimens were seasonally sampled by using hand nets and beach seines (mesh size < 1 mm) in five different occasions (August 2009—December 2010). Preserved specimens (initially kept in 10% formalin and transferred to 70% ethanol 10 days later) were measured and weighted in laboratory. The LWR was calculated based on a log‐transformed linear regression. The maximum standard length of each species was different from the ones previously reported at Fishbase. In addition, b values were different from the ones reported for the four species whose data were available in the literature.

We explored patterns of phenotypic variation in Hemigrammus coeruleus from the Unini River basin, a blackwater river in the Brazilian Amazon. Geometric morphometrics was used to evaluate variation in body shape among populations from four tributaries (UN2-UN5). We found no evidence for sexual dimorphism in body size and shape. However, morphological differences among populations were detected as the analyses recovered significant groups corresponding to each sub-basin, with some overlap among them. The populations from UN2, UN3 and UN5 had more elongate bodies than fish from UN4. The most morphologically divergent population belonged to UN4, the tributary with the most divergent environmental conditions and the only one with seasonally-muddy waters. The morphological variation found among these populations is likely due to phenotypic plasticity or local adaptation, arising as a product of divergent ecological selection pressures among sub-basins. This work constitutes one of the first to employ a population-level geometric morphometric approach to assess phenotypic variation in Amazonian fishes. This method was able to distinguish subtle differences in body morphology, and its use with additional species can bring novel perspectives on the evaluation of general patterns of phenotypic differentiation in the Amazon.Keywords: Geometric morphometrics, Morphology, Ornamental fish, Phenotypic plasticity, Populations.Neste estudo foram explorados os padrões de variação fenotípica em Hemigrammus coeruleus da bacia do rio Unini, um rio de água preta na Amazônia brasileira. Métodos de morfometria geométrica foram aplicados para avaliar as variações na forma do corpo entre populações provenientes de quatro tributários (UN2-UN5). Os resultados mostraram ausência de dimorfismo sexual relacionado ao tamanho e formato do corpo. Entretanto, diferenças morfológicas entre populações foram detectadas, uma vez que as análises apontaram agrupamentos correspondendo a cada sub-bacia, com certo grau de sobreposição entre populações. As populações dos rios Preto, Arara e Pauini (UN2, UN3 e UN5) apresentaram formato de corpo mais alongado do que a amostra do igarapé Solimõezinho (UN4). A população mais divergente morfologicamente pertenceu ao igarapé Solimõezinho (UN4), o tributário que apresentou a condição ambiental mais divergente e o único com águas sazonalmente barrentas. A variação morfológica encontrada nessas populações de H. coeruleus é provavelmente devido a plasticidade fenotípica ou adaptação local por seleção induzida por diferentes pressões seletivas entre as sub-bacias. Este estudo constitui a primeira contribuição científica usando métodos de morfometria geométrica para avaliar a variação fenotípica entre populações em peixes amazônicos. Esse método foi capaz de distinguir diferenças sutis na morfologia e sua replicação em outras espécies amazônicas pode trazer novas perspectivas na avaliação de padrões gerais de diferenciação fenotípica na região.

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