The islets arise from an oceanic plateau called Baixa da Ponta dos Rosais, which itself is part of the Terceira Rift.

Rosais, a civil parish within the larger municipality of Velas, is the settlement nearest the islets.

They are home to various fish including anchovy, Atlantic bonito, Atlantic goliath grouper, bluefish, European hake, frigate tuna, longfin yellowtail, needlefish, red scorpionfish, sawfish, skipjack tuna, vadigo, and yellowmouth barracuda.

[1] Marine birds including black-headed gull, common tern, Cory's shearwater, Eurasian whimbrel, great black-backed gull, Kentish plover, roseate tern, ruddy turnstone, and sanderling frequent the Ponta dos Rosais area and islets.

[4] Since June 1995 the islets—as part of the overall Ponta dos Rosais area—have been protected through the European Environment Agency's Natura 2000 initiative under the Habitats Directive.