Neoplecostomus doceensis Roxo, Silva, Zawadzki & Oliveira 2014

Neoplecostomus doceensis can be distinguished from all its congeners by the presence of enlarged, fleshy folds between dentaries in all specimens, more evident in mature males (vs. absence of the enlarged fleshy folds). It also differs from all congeners by the presence of two or three series of well-developed papillae anterior to premaxillary teeth (vs. papillae poorly developed or absent). Other characters useful for its identification from other congeners include: presence of a fully-developed adipose fin (vs. lacking or reduced adipose fin in N. botucatu and N. paranensis); moderately-sized odontodes along lateral margins of snout and snout without swollen skin in mature males (vs. presence of large-sized odontodes surrounded by swollen skin along lateral margins of snout in mature males of N. selenae); a well-developed dorsal-fin spinelet, wider than dorsal-fin spine base (vs. absent or narrower than dorsal-fin spine base in N. franciscoensis and N. ribeirensis); 12-35 dentary teeth (vs. 5-12 in N. microps and 7 in N. variipictus); 25-29 lateral-line plates (vs. 34-43 in N. granosus); presence of a developed membrane on the dorsal portion of the first, second and third pelvic-fin branched rays (vs. absence in N. langeanii) (Ref. 106072).

Dorsal spines (total): 2; Dorsal soft rays (total): 7; Analspines: 1; Analsoft rays: 5

Inhabits clear water rivers, varying from small to medium sized, with rocky outcrops forming small waterfalls and substrates of rocks and sand. Occurs at the bottom of the rivers among the rocks (Ref. 106072).

Neoplecostomus doceensis is a species of catfish in the family Loricariidae. It is native to South America, where it occurs in the Doce River basin in the state of Minas Gerais in Brazil. It is typically found in small to medium-sized rivers with clear water, rocky outcrops, small waterfalls, and substrates composed of rocks and sand. The species reaches 10.1 cm (4 inches) in standard length.

Counts and measurements are presented in Table 1. Body robust, elongated and depressed, greatest width at cleithrum (25.8–28.7% SL), narrowing to caudal peduncle. Dorsal profile of the head elevating and gently convex from snout tip to posterior margin of nares, straight to slightly concave to posterior margin of parieto supraoccipital, straight to dorsal-fin origin. Dorsal profile of trunk slightly concave and descending from dorsal-fin origin to adipose-fin origin, almost straight and descending to first procurrent caudal-fin ray; greatest body depth at dorsal-fin origin (15.3–19.6% SL). Ventral profile slightly convex from snout tip to anal-fin origin; concave at anal-fin region, straight and ascending to lower caudal-fin ray. Trunk and caudal peduncle almost ellipsoid in cross-section, rounded laterally and almost flat dorsally and ventrally. Dorsal body surface completely covered by dermal figs, except for a naked area around dorsal-fin base and a small naked area at snout tip. Ventral head surface naked except for a fig bearing odontodes in front of gill openings. Abdomen with conspicuous, small dermal figlets between insertions of pectoral and pelvic fins, forming a thoracic shield surrounded by naked areas. Abdominal figlets densely covered by backward-oriented odontodes, their tips round. Head wide (79.8–90.8% HL) and depressed (47.1–57.1% HL). Head and snout rounded in dorsal view; interorbital space straight to slightly concave in frontal view. Snout tip with a weak ridge between nares, sometimes absent, more evident in larger specimens. A weak ridge from middle of snout to superior margin of orbit. Moderate-sized odontodes along lateral margins of snout, more evident in mature males. Eye moderately small (7.0–11.2% HL) and dorso-laterally placed; lips well developed and rounded; lower lip almost reaching pectoral girdle and covered with papillae, wider anteriorly. Enlarged fleshy folds among dentary, more evident in mature males (Fig. 2a). Two to three irregular and conspicuous rows of large and transversally flattened papillae along and posterior to dentary teeth and anterior to premaxillary teeth (Fig. 2c). Maxillary barbel very short, coalesced, usually its tip not free from lower lip. Teeth long, slender and bicuspid; mesial cusp longer than lateral; dentary ramus forming an angle of approximately 125–130°. Dorsal fin II,7; origin slightly posterior to pelvic-fin origin; dorsal-fin spinelet semicircular and wider than dorsal-fin spine base (spinelet hardly visible in some specimens, but always present); dorsal-fin locking mechanism not functional; dorsal-fin posterior margin straight to slightly rounded, reaching end of pelvic-fin rays when adpressed. Adipose-fin well developed and always present, preceded by azygous fig. Pectoral-fin I,6; unbranched ray depressed and curved inward (more pronounced in larger specimens), shorter than longest branched ray; posterior margin slightly concave, almost reaching half pelvic-fin ray length when adpressed; unbranched ray anteroventrally covered with backward-oriented odontodes. Pelvic-fin I,5; posterior margin nearly straight, reaching anal-fin insertion when adpressed; pelvic-fin unbranched ray ventrally flattened, with dermal flap on its dorsal surface in males; first and second branched rays also with dermal flap on its dorsal surface in males; unbranched ray anteroventrally covered with backward-oriented odontodes. Anal-fin I,5; posterior margin nearly straight; unbranched ray ventrally covered with back-oriented odontodes. Caudal-fin I,7,7,I; bifurcated; lower spine longer than upper; pectoral spine and unbranched pelvic-fin rays with odontodes on lateral and ventral portions.

Neoplecostomus doceensis is known from thirteen localities: one at rio Gualaxo do Norte, one at rio Gualaxo do Sul, one at rio José Pedro, one at rio Piranga, three at rio Manhuaçu, one at rio Suaçuí Pequeno and five at rio Xopotó, all in the rio Doce Basin, Minas Gerais State, Brazil (Fig. 3).