Atlantic and Mediterranean coast: what is this species of fish that bites swimmers’ legs?

They’re not piranhas, but watch out for your legs! Since the beginning of summer, holidaymakers have been bitten when swimming in the south of France, both in the Atlantic and in the Mediterranean. This Monday alone, on the large beach of Hendaye (Pyrénées-Atlantiques), dozens complained. The injuries were caused by “schools of fish”, according to Yann Huynh-Tot, head of the rescue station concerned. “We are used to stings, jellyfish, but this is the first time that I have seen this phenomenon,” he explained to our colleagues from Southwest.