Brazilian Corals
Brazilian corals form an ecosystem with unique characteristics of the South Atlantic Ocean, with the Abrolhos reef standing out. Our variety of species is low, with only 23 species, and 46% of these are found only here (endemic), such as the Mussismilia braziliensis, popularly called the Brain Coral.
Usually groups of reefs are about 5 km away from the coast, ours are located very close to the coastline, which has conditions that are not considered ideal for these animals. In our waters there is a lot of availability of nutrients, the high turbidity makes access to light difficult, which is essential for microalgae to carry out photosynthesis; and the sediments that reach the sea through the rivers, make these animals spend a lot of energy cleaning themselves. Research was carried out, and when Brazilian coral species were exposed to higher temperatures, there was an increase of up to seven times in the amount of zooxanthellae in their tissue. Thus demonstrating a high resistance, compared to corals that live in crystalline waters and low levels of nutrients and organic matter. In the south of Bahia, mainly in the Abrolhos region, there are very characteristic coral formations, the so-called Chapeirões. These formations grow vertically on the ocean floor and expand to the sides, forming different designs, sometimes similar to mushrooms.
Sea star - Echinaster brasiliensis
They live in the western Atlantic, at a depth of up to 9 m. It feeds on zooplankton, anemones and sponges and its maximum size is 6 cm. It is a species that has not been much studied.
Doctorfish - Acanthurus chirurgus
They live in the Western and Eastern Atlantic, at depths of up to 70 meters. Inhabits coral reefs and rocky areas. It feeds on algae, always looking for its food in sandy bottoms. It also cleans green turtles (Chelonia mydas) that are on the coral reefs next to the Blue Surgeon (Acanthurus coeruleus) and the Sargentinho (Abudefduf saxatilis). It is common to be confused with the Barber Surgeon (A. bahianus), as the only physical difference is the slight vertical lateral lines that A. chirurgus has.
Redspotted hawkfish - Amblycirrhitus pinos
Specie of fish characteristic of the western Atlantic Ocean until Rio de Janeiro; in the eastern Atlantic it occurs on the Santa Helena island. In the Indian Ocean this fish occurs in the Indonesian region. It inhabits rocky and coral bottoms, from 2 to 46 m deep. It feeds on zooplankton. In adulthood it reaches up to 10 cm in length. It has ten dorsal spines with small tufts similar to hair, used for protection, and numerous red spots on the head and on the dorsal and lateral region of the body, a characteristic that gives the brazilian popular name of "little measles", referring to the symptom of a viral infection that occurs in Brazil and other countries.
Brazilian flamefish - Apogon americanus
It is an endemic species of the brazilian coast, that is, it is only found in brazilian waters, and lives in coastal environments, gravel bottoms, close to banks of algae and reefs, corallines or not. It feeds at night from small crustaceans and zooplankton. It has a maximum size of 10cm long and has the habit of remaining still in the water column. The males keep the eggs in their mouths and remain without feeding until hatching.
Flameback angelfish - Centropyge sp.
It lives in the Western Atlantic, hidden in coral reefs, at a depth of up to 25 meters. It feeds on algae and sponges. It can reach 7 cm.
Porkfish - Anisotremus virginicus
A species of fish that can be found in tropical waters across the western Atlantic Ocean. It lives on coral and/or rocky bottoms, usually solitary. Despite being an omnivorous fish, juveniles usually feed on small parasites found in larger fish, and adults on small crustaceans, mollusks and annelids. This species can reach 40 cm in length. In the mating period, large aggregations can be formed. It has yellowish color with white bands along the body.
Greater soapfish - Rypticus saponaceus
It lives in the Atlantic, and can be found from the United States to Brazil and from Mauritania to Angola, in the Eastern Atlantic. It lives associated with coral reefs in shallow waters and feeds on small fish and invertebrates. It secretes mucus on the skin, when stressed, this mucus turns into soapy foam, which contains a toxic protein.