Teeth are something to be afraid of: Fish bite Germans in the leg on Mallorca

Cala Major (Spain) – A Berlin woman (28) just wanted to splash around in the sea for a moment – but suddenly a stabbing pain shot through her calf. Fish had bitten. The tourist was attacked in knee-deep water off Cala Major on Mallorca. “First of all, I was totally scared,” she told “Mallorca Magazin”.

The woman was completely surprised. She had no idea that there were biting fish in the holiday paradise. This is what happens Mallorca again and again: of all things in summer, when the beaches are full. In the In July 2023 there were up to 15 cases on some days registered.

Robbers with strong teeth

Marine biologist Silvia García from the environmental organization Oceana explained that black bream or sea bream were probably behind the attacks. With their silvery bodies, both species are similar; they grow up to 30 and 36 centimeters respectively. Their thick mouths with often strong teeth are striking.

As a rule, young fish target people. This Animals are small and transparent. That’s why you can hardly see them in the water. But older bream also like to bite. Their attacks are more painful and often end in blood. The Berlin woman may have been caught by young animals: no blood flowed from her. She still had pain.

Fish like wounds to eat

It is unclear why the bream bite. “The water temperature may have a big influence,” suspects Pablo Arechavala. The theory of the marine biologist from the Imedea research institute: rising water temperatures could make the fish hungrier.

If food becomes scarce, the fish apparently make do with anything that looks edible. These include calluses on the feet, flakes of skin and even small skin injuries such as scratched mosquito bites or pimples.

The animals also get used to people because they are fed by them. This makes them more fearless and more willing to bite. As a rule, bream bites are harmless. According to Mallorca Magazine, bream attacks have also been recorded on the beaches of Sa Ràpita, S’Estanyol, Cala Pi and Cala d’Or – all on the south coast of the island.