Characidium samurai, a species of the family Crenuchidae apparently endemic to rio das Almas and rio Vermelho basins, Bahia, Brazil, is described. The new species is readily distinguishable from its congeners, except C. lanei, by having a dark lateral band along the head and body that is particularly broad from the rear of the head to the end of the caudal peduncle (1.5 or 2 scales wide) and by the absence of dark bars or blotches on the ventral half of the body. Characidium samurai differs from C. laneiby having the lateral band with straight borders overall (vs.lateral band with somewhat irregular borders due to blotches extending dorsally or ventrally), anal fin ii,7-8 (vs. ii,6), and 4 horizontal scale rows above the lateral line and 4 below (vs. 5/3). It further differs from congeners by a series of features, including isthmus completely covered by scales, lateral line complete with 34-37 perforated scales, 9 scales on the transversal line, 14 scale rows around the caudal peduncle, anal fin ii,7-8, and the absence of dark bars or spots on the fins, except by a faded dorsal-fin bar. The presence of pseudotympanum in four species of Characidium is discussed.