An expedition set out today to search for piranhas in the Belovskoe Reservoir, not far from the western Siberian city of Kemerovo, Izvestia newspaper reports. The expedition, made up of zoologists and ichthyologists, who study fish, from Kemerovo and Tomsk State Universities, was mounted after fishermen caught an 8-kg. (17 ½-lb.) piranha in the reservoir.
(Photograph courtesy of Wikimedia)A photograph of the lucky catch was sent to Kemerovo university, where it was identified. Other fishermen have reportedly caught piranhas weighing around 2 kg. (4 ½ lb.), leading scientists to believe that the fish are breeding in the reservoir.
Scientists speculated that the South American fish might have been released into the Siberian reservoir by fish hobbyists. It is a unique occurrence for a tropical fish to adapt to the local conditions, where air temperatures sink well below -15 degrees C (0 degrees F) in the winter. Piranhas have been spotted in the Potomac River in the US, but they seem unable to survive there.
Omnivorous South American tropical fish adapting to an Arctic climate? Now that’s evolution in action! However, I suspect that won’t comfort the next Siberian who wades out into the lake this summer for a quick dip, and becomes a quick snack instead!
Peter
8 Kilos?
That’s a huge one. I don’t think I have ever heard of a piranha that big. Maybe they like Russia better than the amazon.
Yes, the weight surprised me too. I suspect it may have grown in the telling over the long distance between Siberia and Moscow!
🙂
Cold climates favor big animals- easier to retain heat that way, not that that’s as much of a problem for fish. This is why you can find a mountain lion clocking it at over 200 lbs in Canada and maybe 80 in central America.
I’m pretty thoroughly surprised that they survived- tropical fish are usually quite picky, especially in temperature requirements- but not in the least surprised that this is the first adaptation…