ABSTRACT. Reproductive indicators of Paraucheniplerus slrialu/us (Steindachner) (Pisces, Auchenipteridae) in the Ribeirão das Lajes reservoir, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil. Parauchenipterus striatulus is a representative of the freshwater catfish with wide distribution in the South America region. Despite of being a very abundant fish in rivers and reservoirs of this region, little is known about its biology and ecology. ln Ribeirão das Lajes reservoir (22°42'S -22°50'S, 43°53'-44°05'W, Rio de Janeiro), the Rio de Janeiro state's largest hydroelectric reservo ir, this species is very abundant, representing about40% ofthe total experimental lish catches using gil l nets. This papel' aims to assess aspects of the reproductive cycle of this species descri bing the gonadal stages, gonadosomatic index, weight-Iength relationship and condition factor. Fish sampling were calTied out bi-monthly, between April 1996 and May 1997. Gill nets used were 100 m long, 4 m high with mesh size between 25 and 65 mm. Macroscopic analysis of339 individuaIs were performed for the detelmination of 5 maturation stages, for both sexes (immature, maturation I, maturation II , ripe, spawned (females) and emptied (males). The gonadosomatic index for both sexes was higher from October to March, suggesting a long spawning period while the condition factor was higher Irom February to June, showing an inverse relationship between these two parameters. Wei~ht-Iength relationship for males was W= 0,0095L 3 ,0862 and for females W= 0,0116L 3 . 126, and no significant differences were shown between sex with reference to the alometry coefticient. KEY WORDS. Auchenipteridae, length-weight relationship, reproduction, condition factor, gonadosomatic index, reservoir A família Auchenipteridae, à qual pertence Parauchenipterus striatllllls (Steindachner, 1876), vulgarmente conhecido como cangati ou cumbaca, encontrase distribuída em rios de água doce de toda a região neotropical da América do Sul tropical estendendo-se desde a Argentina até o Panamá (NELSON 1976). É o único representante desta família encontrada na região da Represa Hidrelétrica de Ribeirão das Lajes e pouco se conhece sobre sua condição e biologia reprodutiva apesar de ser uma das mais abundantes com cerca de 40% do total das capturas experimentais.