The first record of pughead deformity in a Neotropical freshwater fish not raised in captivity is provided, based on an adult male of Cichla kelberi introduced into an estuary of Rio de Janeiro State, south-eastern Brazil. A general biological characterization of the specimen is provided and aspects of its aberrant anatomy are described. Environmental and biological factors that may cause pughead deformity in fishes are discussed.

Summary The present study provides the length‐weight relationship (LWR) for eight species from the estuarine stretch of the Macaé River, Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil. Data were obtained quarterly between June 2011 and March 2012. These LWRs are the first records for six species and present new maximum values of total length for three ones.

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In this study, a new species of Pseudogilbia Møller, Schwarzhans & Nielsen 2004 is described based on two male specimens (40–44 mm LS) from shallow reefs of Bahia, Brazil. Pseudogilbia australis sp. nov. is distinguished from its only congener, Pseudogilbia sanblasensis Møller, Schwarzhans & Nielsen 2004 from Caribbean Panama, by having: two lower preopercular pores (vs. one); dorsal‐fin rays 65–67 (vs. 69); anal‐fin rays 51–53 (vs. 56); pectoral‐fin rays 18 (vs. 20); caudal vertebrae 27–28 (vs. 30); pectoral‐fin length 15.0%–15.9% LS (vs. 14.3); pelvic‐fin length 13.5% LS (vs. 16.4) and a different morphology of the male copulatory organ. Pseudogilbia australis sp. nov. is the only dinematichthyid so far recorded in the South Atlantic. An updated diagnosis for the genus is also provided.

The present study reports on the first records of the bythitid Redfin Brotula, Petrotyx sanguineus (Meek & Hildebrand, 1928), in the western South Atlantic, based on 7 specimens (50.8–152.8 mm SL) from 5 localities along the northeastern coast of Brazil: (1) Praia de Maracaípe, Ipojuca and (2) Praia de Tamandaré, Tamandaré, in Pernambuco state; and (3) Praia do Forte, Mata de São João, (4) Praia de Busca Vida, Camaçari, and (5) Barra do Pote, Vera Cruz, in Bahia state. This species was previously known only in the western Central Atlantic, from Bahamas to Trinidad and Tobago, including the Caribbean Sea. In addition to the new distributional information, morphological data are provided based on the specimens examined.