RESUMO Uma nova espécie de loricariídeo do gênero Pareiorhaphis é descrita com base em espécimes coletados em vários tributários da parte superior e média da bacia do rio Jequitinhonha, no estado de Minas Gerais, leste do Brasil. A nova espécie eleva para 25 o número de espécies conhecidas de Pareiorhaphis e ao mesmo tempo representa o segundo registro de um membro de Neoplecostominae na bacia do rio Jequitinhonha. A nova espécie é diagnosticada de todas as demais congêneres por uma característica até então única relacionada ao padrão de colorido, uma faixa marrom escura bem definida na série média de placas laterais, que se estende ao longo do flanco, desde a margem posterior do pterótico composto até a base dos raios médios da nadadeira caudal. O pedúnculo caudal baixo e o número de dentes comparativamente alto no dentário, também distinguem a nova espécie da maioria das demais congêneres. A nova espécie é comparada com Pareiorhaphis stephanus, uma congênere sintópica com caracteres similares.

ABSTRACT A new species of the loricariid genus Pareiorhaphis is described based on specimens from several tributaries of the upper and middle rio Jequitinhonha basin, Minas Gerais State, eastern Brazil. The new species increases the number of known species of Pareiorhaphis to 25 and, at the same time, represents the second member of the subfamily Neoplecostominae reported from the rio Jequitinhonha basin. The new species is diagnosed from all remaining congeners by a putative autapomorphic feature related to the color pattern: a well-defined, dark brown stripe on the median series of lateral plates that extends along the flank from the posterior margin of compound pterotic to the caudal-fin base. The shallow caudal peduncle and the comparatively larger number of dentary teeth also distinguish the new species from most congeners. The new species is also compared to Pareiorhaphis stephanus, a syntopic congener with similar traits.

ABSTRACT The digestive tract of Trachelyopterus striatulus (Steindachner, 1877) was studied using morphological, histological, and histochemical techniques. The barbels, lips and tongue had stratified squamous epithelium with mucous, claviform cells, and taste buds. Trachelyopterus striatulus had a dental plaque with villiform teeth. The bucopharyngeal cavity was formed by the gill apparatus and pharyngeal teeth with vilifform denticles. The oesophagus presented stratified squamous epithelium with mucous cells and taste buds. The stomach included cardiac, fundic, and pyloric regions and a simple prismatic epithelium with prismatic cells that reacted positively to periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) and amylase+PAS. Only the cardiac and pyloric regions responded positively to alcian blue pH 2.5 (Ab pH 2.5) and alcian blue pH 0.5 (Ab pH 0.5). The cardiac and fundic regions exhibited tubular gastric glands. The intestine was 118.90 ± 22.49 mm long with an intestinal coefficient (CO) of 0.83 ± 0.13. The epithelium was simple prismatic with a brush border and goblet cells, and a greater number of goblet cells were found in the caudal region of the intestine. The mucous cells and goblet cells reacted positively to PAS, amylase+PAS, Ab pH 2.5, and Ab pH 0.5. We analysed if the function of the mucosubstances and morphological characteristics of the digestive tract of T. striatulus are compatible with omnivorous feeding habit.