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#10430 Lagoa Lua de Prata, Guarapari, Espirito Santo, Brazil

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Brazil, Espirito Santo, Guarapari

Lua de Prata Lagoon is one of the largest and most beautiful lagoons in the Guarapari region of Espírito Santo, Brazil. It forms part of a group of coastal lagoons that are extremely threatened by human activity, suffering from land reclamation, pollution, and the introduction of invasive species. Despite this, Lua de Prata Lagoon still preserves a good portion of its original area and native plant and animal species. In this small freshwater paradise, rich in tannins, it is possible to find fish such as Centropomus undecimalis, Dormitator maculatus, and Eleotris pisonis, commonly associated with brackish water due to its location only 220 m from the sea, as well as freshwater species such as Deuterodon parahybae and Geophagus brasiliensis, in addition to shrimp and snails. Surrounding the lagoon are restinga and Atlantic Forest vegetation, with a bottom of clay and light-coloured sand, and a significant accumulation of organic plant matter from the surrounding trees.

Submitted by
Franttiesco P. Muciaccia
GPS
-20.7150497, -40.5239754
Geographical region
South America
Drainage Basin
Southeast Atlantic
River catchment
Microbasins of Guarapari
Water body type
Lagoon
Water body name
Lagoa Lua de Prata
Water body part
Open water
Water body course
Water body: tributary of
Tributary name

Videos above and below water


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Water Chemistry

Water information

Water type
Freshwater
Water color
Black water
Water transparency
Medium
Concentration of sediments
Medium
Water temperature
27 °C
Water flow/curent
None

Chemical parameters

pH
6.8
Conductivity
204
GH
17.85 mg/l
dGH
KH
35.6 mg/l
dKH
Dissolved Oxygen

Substrate in nature

Sand
Beige
Pebble/Gravel
None
Stone
None
Stone form
Silt/Mud
Brown
Leaves
Adundant
Driftwood
Many
Submerged terrestrial vegetation
Yes

Aquatic Biotope

Date of collecting
26/04/2026
Collecting area
Edge of reservoir
Water depth
1,0m
Air temperature
32.2 °C
Sunlight
Full sun

Environment

Environment
Affected by human activity
Affected by human activity
Deforestation
Deforestation
Advanced
Surrounding area

Lua de Prata Lagoon is one of the largest and most beautiful lagoons in the Guarapari region, Espírito Santo, Brazil. It is part of a group of coastal lagoons that are extremely threatened by human activity, including land reclamation, pollution, and the introduction of invasive species. However, Lua de Prata Lagoon still preserves a good portion of its original area and its native plant and animal species.

In this small freshwater paradise, rich in tannins, it is possible to find fish such as Centropomus undecimalis, Dormitator maculatus, and Eleotris pisonis, commonly associated with brackish water due to its location just 220 m from the sea. However, it also contains species found exclusively in freshwater, such as Deuterodon parahybae, Geophagus brasiliensis, and Astyanax aff. lacustris, as well as shrimp and snails. It is also a refuge for amphibians, caimans, capybaras, otters, and various species of aquatic birds and birds of prey.

The lagoon is surrounded by restinga vegetation and partially preserved Atlantic Forest. It represents the resilience of nature amid urban growth and human intervention, with unique characteristics and a striking presence in the region. Located in southeastern Brazil, in an area still little known to the aquarium hobby, Lua de Prata Lagoon, like the other coastal lagoons of the region, deserves attention and protection for its rich and fragile biome.

Underwater landscape

Lagoa Lua de Prata has vegetation covering much of its shoreline, with many submerged trunks and roots, a bottom of clay and light-coloured sand, a significant accumulation of organic plant matter from the surrounding trees, and peat present throughout much of the lagoon. The growth of rushes and other species of the family Cyperaceae forms large islands of vegetation where fish, shrimp, and snails find shelter and feed.

Fish

  • Deuterodon parahybae (Characidae)
  • Astyanax lacustris (Characidae)
  • Geophagus brasiliensis (Cichlidae)
  • Eleotris pisonis (Eleotridae)
  • Hoplias malabaricus (Erythrinidae)
  • Dormitator maculatus (Eleotridae)

Crustaceans

  • Palaemon sp. (Palaemonidae)
  • Macrobrachium carcinus (Palaemonidae)

Molluscs

  • Melanoides tuberculata (Thiaridae)
  • Pomacea lineata (Ampullariidae)

Wetland plants

  • Hypolytrum verticillatum (Cyperaceae)
  • Hypolytrum sp. (Cyperaceae)
  • Cyperus sp. (Cyperaceae)
  • Eleocharis sp. (Cyperaceae)
  • Myrcia sp. (Myrtaceae)
Threats to ecology

The coastal lagoons of Guarapari are of great importance for the conservation of native species, which are increasingly threatened by habitat loss. The construction of houses, land reclamation, and deforestation around the lagoon pose significant threats to the species living there. Being able to showcase the beauty and richness of this environment in a biotope competition is a source of great satisfaction.

Riparian zone

Trees near the aquatic habitat
Many -

Bibliography