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.

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.

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.