Recife de Itacepanema

Recife de Itacepanema never becomes exposed at low tide, as is also the case with the Araripe, Alagados and Naufrágio reefs. It was one of the five shallow reefs off Santa Cruz Cabrália and Porto Seguro whose fish community was described for the first time in a scientific study, carried out in January 2007.

In that study's counts, the most abundant fish on the reef were Stegastes fuscus, Abudefduf saxatilis, Ophioblennius trinitatis, Anisotremus surinamensis and Halichoeres poeyi. Cryptobenthic fish, small fish that live hidden on the bottom, were more abundant here and on the Alagados reef. Among the species recorded, herbivorous fish and invertebrate feeders appeared in balanced proportions. Zoanthids were also more abundant on this reef, as well as on Alagados and Naufrágio.