the gruta da surucucu, or bushmaster cave, is one example of a typical rio de janeiro cave, while most brazilian caves are found in the atlantic forest, in the savanna or in country's transitional areas between the forest's moist vegetation and the savannah's drier, flatter topography.

these areas can be found in the brazilian states of bahia, mato grosso, minas gerais, pernambuco and são paulo - the state of rio de janeiro is also home to several caves. one of the first records on caves in brazil was done by danish naturalist peter wilhelm lund, who arrived in the country in the 1820s.