'People-attacking fish' Piranha appears in southern Brazil... What is the reason?

River Water Temperature Rises, Creating Suitable Habitat Conditions

Piranha caught in a river in the southern region of Brazil.
Photo by Globo TV Brazil

[Asia Economy Reporter Na Ye-eun] Carnivorous tropical fish piranhas have been discovered in the southern region of Brazil, raising concerns about ecological disruption.

On the 11th (local time), Brazilian news portal G1 reported that fish originally inhabiting the Amazon rainforest region have also been found in southern Brazil.

According to the report, biologists stated that piranhas began to be found in the Jacu? River in the southern state of Rio Grande do Sul since February, and with the approach of summer, there is a high possibility of their spread to other areas.

They added, "Piranhas can disrupt the ecosystem by preying on other fish and may also attack humans, so caution is necessary."

Professor Andreas Koller (Biology) from Santa Cruz do Sul University said, "Piranhas may already be present in rivers near Porto Alegre, the capital of Rio Grande do Sul."

Maur?cio Vieira de Souza, a researcher at the environmental regulatory agency, the Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources (Ibama), stated, "Piranhas have been spotted in a river 50 km away from Porto Alegre," adding, "There is no official report that piranhas have reached Porto Alegre yet, but the possibility is high."

The discovery of tropical fish piranhas in the southern region is believed to be due to irrigation canals created during construction acting as pathways, and the rise in river water temperature creating a suitable habitat. The piranhas' vigorous reproductive ability is also a factor enabling long-distance movement.

The word "piranha" comes from the Amazon indigenous language meaning "toothed fish." They have a highly developed lower jaw and sharp triangular teeth that allow them to easily tear their prey.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.