Two new species ofAstyanax microschemos difere das demais espécies do gênero pela pequena altura do corpo de 26,9-29,7% no comprimento padrão, uma única mancha umeral verticalmente alongada, estendendose acima e abaixo da linha lateral, estreita largura inter-orbital, 26,9-30,4% no comprimento da cabeça e 14-18 raios ramificados na nadadeira anal. Astyanax pelecus difere das demais espécies do gênero pela presença de uma única mancha umeral situada dorsalmente à linha lateral, uma conspícua faixa escura lateral que vai desde o canto superior do opérculo até a base dos raios caudais, baixa altura do corpo (26,7-34,8% no comprimento padrão), 16-18 raios ramificados na nadadeira anal, 38 a 39 escamas da linha lateral, e quatro escamas entre a linha lateral e a origem da nadadeira pélvica. Astyanax microschemos possui a cabeça larga, focinho curto, geralmente menor que o diâmetro orbital, e com perfil abrupto, corpo baixo e mancha umeral verticalmente alongada, caracteres que permitem sua alocação no complexo de espécies A. scabripinnis. É fornecida uma sinopse comparativa das espécies que supostamente fazem parte deste complexo.

We herein analyse the history of the description of the freshwater fish fauna from three drainages in one of the most densely collected areas of Brazil, and possibly of South America, the Rio Grande do Sul State, southern Brazil. An updated inventory of the freshwater fish species from rio Uruguay (partial) in Brazil, Laguna dos Patos (complete) and rio Tramandaí basins (complete) is presented. We found the number of new species described in these drainages increased nearly 56% since 1981, reaching a total of 422 species, but even now 10% of this number still corresponds to undescribed species. This rate of species description suggests that previous estimates of the Neotropical fish fauna are low, and we predict a final number of Neotropical fishes larger than the largest prediction estimate (8,000 species), after other regions of South and Central Americas become densely sampled. We discuss and attempt to demonstrate that species diversity knowledge is historically and strictly related to collecting efforts. We also demonstrate that the ecoregions in eastern South America with the highest density of species per area correspond to the areas more densely sampled in collections, and this may represent a bias in such kinds of analyses. This uneven sampling in Brazilian regions is apparently associated with the uneven distribution of Zoological research centers in different regions of the country. Small-sized species represents an important source of new species, along with little explored regions or little explored habitats, sometimes associated with restricted range species, and species complexes that need revisionary work. In contrast to other Neotropical regions, Atheriniformes are relatively diverse, sharing the fifth place in species richness with Gymnotiformes, and there is a remarkably high number of species of Rivulidae. Eight species are endemic to the rio Tramandaí drainage, 68 to the Laguna dos Patos system, and 78 to the rio Uruguay drainage. Almost 10% of the freshwater fish species are "Critically Endangered", "Endangered" or "Vulnerable" according to the IUCN criteria, with Rivulidae as the family with the largest number of threatened species.

The species of Hemibrycon occurring in the east of the Andean Cordilleras are reviewed based on their type series and additional specimens. Nine species are redescribed: H. beni from río Beni basin, Bolivia; H. helleri from the upper rio Ucayali, Peru; H. huambonicus from the ríos Huallaga and Marañon basins, Peru; H. jeslkii from the upper portions of ríos Marañon, Ucayali and Madeira basins, Bolivia, Brazil, and Peru; H. metae from río Orinoco basin, Colombia and Venezuela, and Caribbean coastal basins of Venezuela; H. polyodon (type species) from río Pastaza basin, Ecuador; H. surinamensis from coastal basins of French Guiana and Suriname, and from lower rios Tapajós, Tocantins and Xingu basins, Brazil; H. taeniurus from river basins from Trinidad Island, Trinidad and Tobago, and H. tridens from upper río Ucayali basin, Peru. Two new species are described: H. inambari from the upper río Madre de Dios basin, Peru and H. mikrostiktos from río Ucayali basin, Peru. These species are distinguished among themselves mainly by the color pattern, and meristic characters. The distribution area of the genus is enlarged reaching the lower Tapajós, Tocantins and Xingu river basins, Brazil, with the first record of the occurrence of H. surinamensis in this country. A new description and diagnosis is provided for the type species of the genus, regardless its recent redescription. The type series of H. helleri that was previously considered dubious is found and described. Hemibrycon coxeyi and H. pautensis are considered junior synonyms of H. polyodon. Tetragonopterus (Hemibrycon) trinitatis, previously considered species inquirenda in Characidae, and Hemibrycon guppyi are junior synonyms of H. taeniurus. Hemibrycon orcesi is transferred to Boehlkea. A taxonomic key for the species of the genus to the east of the Andean Cordilleras is presented.As espécies de Hemibrycon que ocorrem a leste das Cordilheiras dos Andes são revisadas com base na análise do material tipo e exemplares adicionais. Nove espécies são redescritas: H. beni da bacia do río Beni, Bolívia; H. helleri do alto río Ucayali, Peru; H. huambonicus para as bacias dos ríos Huallaga e Marañon, Peru; H. jeslkii para as porções superiores das bacias dos rios Marañon, Ucayali e Madeira, Bolívia, Brasil e Peru; H. metae para a bacia do río Orinoco, Colômbia e Venezuela, e bacias costeiras do Caribe na Venezuela; H. polyodon (espécie-tipo) para a bacia do río Pastaza, Equador; H. surinamensis para as bacia costeiras da Guiana Francesa e Suriname, e porção inferior das bacias dos rios Tapajós, Tocantins e Xingu, Brasil; H. taeniurus para os rios da ilha de Trinidad, Trinidad and Tobago; H. tridens para a bacia do alto río Ucayali, Peru. Duas espécies novas são descritas: H. inambari para a bacia do alto río Madre de Dios, Peru e H. mikrostiktos para a bacia do río Ucayali, Peru. Estas espécies distinguem-se principalmente pelo padrão de colorido e caracteres merísticos. A área de distribuição do gênero é ampliada para as porções inferiores das bacias do Tapajós, Tocanti...

Three new species of Astyanax are described from southern Brazil: A. dissensus and A. xiru from the laguna dos Patos system and rio Uruguay basin, the first species also occurring in the rio Tramandaí system, and A. procerus from the laguna dos Patos system. Astyanax procerus and A. xiru possess outer row premaxillary teeth pentacuspid and inner row heptacuspid, maxillary with one tri- to pentacuspid teeth, 18-23 branched anal-fin rays, and two humeral spots. Astyanax procerus has the largest body depth (38.3-46.0% of SL), while A. xiru has the lowest body depth (32.5-37.5% of SL) among the three species. The characters combination can distinguish these species from its congeners. Astyanax dissensus distinguish from Astyanax species by the presence of one developed heptacuspid teeth on maxillary, 22-28 branched anal-fin rays, 35-39 perforated scales along the lateral line, two humeral spots, conspicuous lateral band continuous on middle caudal rays, 6-7 scale row between dorsal-fin origin and lateral line, and head length 22.7-27.3% of SL. All three species has the predorsal region of the body scaled. An identification key to the species of Astyanax species from the rio Uruguay basin, and laguna dos Patos and rio Tramandaí systems is provided.

Astyanax jordanensis, new species, is described from the rio Jacu and rio das Torres, both tributaries to the lower rio Jordão, in the rio Iguaçu basin, Paraná, Brazil. The new species is a member of the A. scabripinnis species complex. Astyanax jordanensis differs from its congeners by several meristic and morphometric characters. Mature males possess bony hooks in the dorsal, pectoral, pelvic, and anal fins, and mature females have a few small bony hooks on the first rays of the anal fin. The presence of these bony hooks in females and the endemism of the ichthyofauna in the rio Jordão are discussed.Astyanax jordanensis, espécie nova, é descrita do rio Jacu e do rio das Torres, ambos tributários do baixo rio Jordão na bacia do rio Iguaçu, Paraná, Brasil. A nova espécie é membro do complexo de espécies Astyanax scabripinnis. Astyanax jordanensis difere das congêneres por vários caracteres merísticos e morfométricos. Machos maduros apresentam ganchos ósseos nas nadadeiras dorsal, peitoral, pélvica e anal, e as fêmeas maduras possuem poucos ganchos ósseos pequenos nos primeiros raios da nadadeira anal. A presença destes ganchos nas fêmeas e o endemismo da ictiofauna no rio Jordão são discutidos.

Ectrepopterus uruguayensis Fowler 1943 is redescribed based on the holotype and new series of additional specimensfrom the río Uruguay, río Negro, and small coastal rivers in Uruguay draining to the río de La Plata. Previously proposedsynonyms of Ectrepopterus Fowler 1943 to Megalamphodus Eigenmann 1915 and Hyphessobrycon Durbin 1908 aretested and refuted. A new diagnosis is presented for the genus based on the following apomorphies: foramen in posteriorregion of metapterygoid forms an incomplete arch, bordered posteriorly by the hyomandibula; pectoral-fin rays bearinghooks; posterior margin of second infraorbital posteroventrally oblique and second infraorbital ventrally borderinganterior region of third infraorbital; fourth infraorbital more developed longitudinally than dorsoventrally; ascending process of premaxilla reaching just anterior end of nasal; and lateral line interrupted.

The aquatic habitats of the Taquari-Antas river basin (in the Patos Lagoon basin, southern Brazil) are under marked environmental transformation because of river damming for hydropower production. In order to provide an information baseline on the fish fauna of the Taquari-Antas basin, we provide a comprehensive survey of fish species based on primary and secondary data. We found 5,299 valid records of fish species in the basin, representing 119 species and 519 sampling sites. There are 13 non-native species, six of which are native to other Neotropical river basins. About 24% of the total native species are still lacking a taxonomic description at the species level. Three native long-distance migratory species were recorded (Leporinus obtusidens, Prochilodus lineatus, Salminus brasiliensis), as well as two potential mid-distance migrators (Parapimelodus nigribarbis and Pimelodus pintado). Although there is only one officially endangered species in the basin (S. brasiliensis), restricted range species (21.7% of total species) should be considered in conservation efforts.Keywords: ichthyofauna, biodiversity, survey, neotropical, Rio Grande do Sul. Peixes da bacia do rio Taquari-Antas (sistema da Laguna dos Patos), sul do Brasil ResumoOs ambientes aquáticos da Bacia do rio Taquari-Antas (Bacia da Laguna dos Patos, sul do Brasil) vêm sofrendo considerável transformação, principalmente em razão da implantação de barragens para geração de energia elétrica. Com o objetivo de estabelecer um diagnóstico amplo da ictiofauna da Bacia do Taquari-Antas, realizou-se um inventário das espécies dessa bacia a partir de dados primários e secundários. Foram obtidos 5.299 registros válidos de espécies de peixe na bacia, representando 119 espécies e 519 localidades amostradas. Ocorrem, na bacia, 13 espécies não nativas, seis das quais são oriundas de outras bacias neotropicais. Cerca de 24% de todas as espécies carecem de descrição taxonômica no nível específico. Foram registradas três espécies nativas migradoras de longa distância (Leporinus obtusidens, Prochilodus lineatus e Salminus brasiliensis) e duas potenciais migradoras de média distância (Parapimelodus nigribarbis e Pimelodus pintado). O fato de uma espécie ser oficialmente reconhecida como ameaçada na bacia (S. brasiliensis) e a grande proporção de espécies de distribuição restrita (21,7% do total) devem ser levados em consideração nos esforços de conservação.Palavras-chave: ictiofauna, biodiversidade, inventário, neotropical, Rio Grande do Sul.

A new species of characid, Hyphessobrycon hamatus, is described from the upper rio Tocantins, Goiás, Brazil. The new species is distinguished from all other Hyphessobrycon species by the presence of bony hooks on dorsal, anal, pelvic, and pectoral fins of males, the two black humeral spots, the 4 or 5 teeth in the inner series of the premaxilla, a maxilla with 2-3 teeth, the iiiv, 16-18 anal-fin rays, and a lateral line with 10-32 perforated scales and 33-35 scales in a longitudinal series.Uma nova espécie de caracídeo, Hyphessobrycon hamatus é descrita para os tributários do alto rio Tocantins, Goiás, Brasil. A nova espécie distingue-se das demais espécies de Hyphessobrycon pela presença de ganchos nos raios das nadadeiras dorsal, anal, pélvica e peitoral dos machos, duas manchas umerais pretas verticalmente alongadas, 4-5 dentes na série interna do pré-maxilar, 2-3 dentes no maxilar, 16-18 raios ramificados na nadadeira anal, 10-32 escamas perfuradas na linha lateral, e 33-35 escamas em uma série longitudinal.