Occurence of Characidium xavante (Characiformes: Crenuchidae) in the Tapajós River basin and comments about the conservation status of the species.

Abstract Characidium xavante was described from two tributaries of the Culuene River drainage, in the upper Xingu River basin. New samplings recorded the species for streams from the Kaaiapo River drainage (Teles Pires River drainage, upper Tapajos River basin) with additional specimens also recorded in the Xingu River basin, Paranatinga municipality, Mato Grosso State, Brazil. The new records represent an extension of the geographical distribution of the species, that from now on fits in a pattern of distribution known to be shared with other ca. 20 species of fishes. We suggest that Characidium xavante could be classified as Least Concern (LC), according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature Standards and Petitions Committee (IUCN).