“‘Piranhas’ on the beach of Benidorm”, headlines a number of Spanish media humorously. In the British tabloids, it sounded more alarmist: “Express” talked about “Benidorm Horror” and “piranha-like fish attacks”. It was then illustrated as follows:
Holidaymakers in Benidorm have been warned of ‘piranha-like’ fish attacking more than 15 people a day. The fish, which visitors leave bloodied and begging on the Spanish beach, are known as Obladas, or saddleback sea bream. https://t.co/rYTYNz2hdh
— Sharon K Gilbert (@sharonkgilbert) September 5, 2023
In fact, of course, these are not the notorious South American river fish, but ribbon bream. They look like this:
The fish, which grow to be 6 to 10 inches in length, like to nibble on anything edible, including warts, moles, or broken skin. Sometimes even minor bloody injuries can result from the fish’s sharp teeth.
On some days this summer, as many as 15 swimmers reported such minor injuries in Benidorm, reported the newspaper La Opinión de Murcia.
Warmer water increases metabolism
According to scientists, one of the reasons for the increased appetite of the fish is the higher water temperature due to climate change. This speeds up the fish’s metabolism, which therefore also needs more food, quotes the newspaper Alfonso Ramos, researcher at the Department of Marine Sciences and Applied Biology.
The Mediterranean Sea has been warming particularly quickly in recent years. Benidorm is currently measured up to 27 degrees, in August it was sometimes 30 degrees. (sda/dpa/jaw)
15 tourists from hell who have no respect for anything
Soource :Watson
I am Amelia James, a passionate journalist with a deep-rooted interest in current affairs. I have more than five years of experience in the media industry, working both as an author and editor for 24 Instant News. My main focus lies in international news, particularly regional conflicts and political issues around the world.
