MZUSP 115486 (1 male 101.1 mm SL), Brazil, Minas Gerais State, municipality of Ouro Preto, córrego Bananeiras, affluent of rio Gualaxo do Norte, rio Doce basin, 20°14'20"S, 43°28'40"W, Abril 2010, BP Maia.

All from Brazil, Minas Gerais State, rio Doce basin (97 specimens).

LBP 1098 (1 female 40.9, 1 male c&s 57.3 mm SL), municipality of Alto Rio Doce, rio Xopotó, 21°08'56"S, 43°23'58"W, October 2001, JC Oliveira, Al Alves, LR Sato. LBP 12261 (3 females 28.7–46.2 mm SL), municipality of Desterro do Melo, rio Xopotó, 21°09'09"S, 43°31'37"W, October 2011, A Ferreira, FF Roxo, GSC Silva. LBP 18981 (2 females 58.3–82.0 mm SL), uncertain location of the rio Piranga, 19 November 2000, JC Oliveira, OT Oyakawa. MCNIP 439 (3 males 80.6–86.7 mm SL), municipality of São José do Mantimento, rio José Pedro, affluent of rio Manhuaçu, 20°04'45"S, 41°44'00"W, 27 February 2012, TC Pessali, TA Barroso. MCNIP 1169 (1 female 59.4 mm SL, 4 males 75.0–100.3 mm SL), municipality of São José do Mantimento, rio José Pedro, affluent of rio Manhuaçu, 20°00'57"S, 41°44'07"W, 25 September 2013, TC Pessali, GM Santos. MZUSP 69368 (2 females 70.6–88.0 mm SL), municipality of Coroací, rio Suaçuí Pequeno (at bridge of Procópio), 18°41'38"S, 42°12'50"W, 29 April 2001, AM Zanatta. MZUSP 80971 (3 males 70.8–96.3 mm SL), municipality of São Luiz, rio Manhuaçu, 20°20'11"S, 42°042'48"W, 21 April 2002, CBM Alves. MZUSP 94487 (1 female 54.1 mm SL), municipality of Alto Rio Doce, rio Xopotó, rio Doce basin, 21°04'04"S, 43°27'50"W, 11 July 2007, OT Oyakawa. MUZSP 94505 (6 females 31.4–40.5 mm SL) municipality of Desterro do Melo, rio Xopotó, rio Doce basin, 21°08'53"S, 43°30'46"W, 10 July 2007, OT Oyakawa. MUZSP 94514 (1 female 35.8 mm SL) municipality of Alto Rio Doce, rio Xopotó, rio Doce basin, 21°03'11"S, 43°26'46"W, 10 July 2007, OT Oyakawa. MUZSP 94527 (7 females 33.7–41.5 mm SL) municipality of Desterro do Melo, rio Xopotó, rio Doce basin, 21°09'10"S, 43°31'49"W, 10 July 2007, OT Oyakawa. MZUSP 94542 (1 male 53.1 mm SL, 7 females 37.7–53.9 mm SL) municipality of Desterro do Melo, rio Xopotó, rio Doce basin, 21°09'10"S, 43°31'28"W, 10 July 2007, OT Oyakawa. MZUSP 107368 (2 males 61.1–84.5 mm SL, 3 females 47.8–79.5 mm SL), uncertain location of the rio Piranga, 19 November 2000, JC Oliveira, OT Oyakawa. MZUSP 109327 (9 males 55.3-90.6 mm SL, 29 females 32.2–93.6 mm SL), municipality of Manhuaçu, affluent of the rio Manhuaçu, 20°17'34"S, 42°03'41"W, October 2008, TC Pessali. MZUSP 109339 (1 male 51.7 mm SL, 2 females 53.8–69.6 mm SL) collected with holotype. MUZUSP 110931 (2 males 63.7–80.7 mm SL), municipality of Mariana, rio Gualaxo do Sul, 20°30'17"S, 43°24'40"W, July 2012, LF Salvador, LAC Missiaggia. NUP 17003, (1 female 83.2 mm SL, 2 males 96.6–100.3 mm SL), municipality of São José do Mantimento, rio José Pedro, affluent of rio Manhuaçu, 20°00'57"S, 41°44'07"W, 25 September 2013, TC Pessali, GM Santos. NUP 17004, (3 males 89.4–97.7 mm SL), municipality of São José do Mantimento, rio José Pedro, affluent of rio Manhuaçu, 20°04'45"S, 41°44'00"W, 27 February 2012, TC Pessali, TA Barroso.

LBP 1096 (2 unsexed 54.4–57.7 mm SL), municipality of Alto Rio Doce, rio Xopotó, 21°08'56"S, 43°23'58"W, October 2001, JC Oliveira, AL Alves, LR Sato.

Neoplecostomus doceensis is distinguished from all other congeners by having enlarged, fleshy folds between dentaries in all specimens, more evident in mature males, Fig. 2a (vs. absence of the enlarged fleshy folds, Fig. 2b). The new species can also be distinguished from all congeners by the presence of two or three series of well-developed papillae anterior to premaxillary teeth, Fig. 2c (vs. papillae poorly developed or absent Fig. 2d). Additionally, the new species can be distinguished from Neoplecostomus botucatu and Neoplecostomus paranensis by the presence of a fully-developed adipose fin (vs. lacking or reduced adipose fin); from Neoplecostomus selenae by 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); from Neoplecostomus franciscoensis and Neoplecostomus ribeirensis by having a well-developed dorsal-fin spinelet, wider than dorsal-fin spine base (vs. absent or narrower than dorsal-fin spine base); from Neoplecostomus microps and Neoplecostomus variipictus by a higher number of dentary teeth 12–35 (vs. 5–12 and 7 respectively); from Neoplecostomus granosus by having a lower number of lateral-line figs, 25–29 (vs. 34–43); from Neoplecostomus langeanii by the presence of a developed membrane on the dorsal portion of the first, second and third pelvic-fin branched rays (vs. lacking).

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.

Ground color of dorsal surface of head and body dark brown to lighter brown in some specimens. Head with a pale spot on naked area of snout tip; orbital margin slightly lighter, mainly on its superior portion; small pale spot on interorbital space; lateral margin of snout usually lighter than rest of dorsal surface of head. Body dorsal color pattern in most specimens with four transverse light bands: first through supraoccipital, second in middle of dorsal-fin, third posterior to dorsal-fin, fourth posterior to adipose-fin. Body lateral portion with an upper darker and a lower lighter, just below lateral line. Dorsal, pectoral, pelvic, anal and caudal fins with hard visible irregular series of dark spots on rays. Ventral surface of head and body light brown.

Males with papilla at the urogenital opening and a membrane along the dorsal portion of the unbranched pelvic-fin ray. Males seem to reach a greater length.

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).

Neoplecostomus doceensis is found in clear water rivers, varying from small to medium sized, with rocky outcrops forming small waterfalls and substrates of rocks and sand. The species is found at the bottom of the rivers among the rocks.

The specific name doceensis is a Latin noun meaning being located or having connection with the rio Doce basin. This hydrographic system is located in the southeastern region of Brazil and comprises a drainage area of 83, 400 km², on the border of Minas Gerais and Espirito Santo states.