Weevers or Weaverfish are eight species of fish of family Trachinidae, order Perciformes. They are long (up to 37 cm), mainly brown and have poisonous spines on their first dorsal fin and gills. During the day, weevers bury themselves in sand, just showing their eyes, and snatch prey as it comes past, which consists of shrimps and small fish.

This fish is used in the recipe of the bouillabaisse.

Species

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There are nine species in two genera:

• Genus Echiichthys
  • Lesser weever, Echiichthys vipera (Cuvier, 1829).
• Genus Trachinus
  • Spotted weever, Trachinus araneus Cuvier, 1829.
  • Guinean weever, Trachinus armatus Bleeker, 1861.
  • Sailfin weever, Trachinus collignoni Roux, 1957.
  • Trachinus cornutus Guichenot, 1848.
  • Greater weever, Trachinus draco Linnaeus, 1758.
  • Striped weever, Trachinus lineolatus Fischer, 1885.
  • Cape Verde weever, Trachinus pellegrini Cadenat, 1937.
  • Starry weever, Trachinus radiatus Cuvier, 1829.

Danger - if you stand on a weever fish or prick yourself on its spikes then you must run the affected area under water that is as hot as you can stand and this should neutralise the poison it injects. If you do not then the pain and swelling could last for several months.

References

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Trachinidae

Petermännchen | Trachinidae | Drakoniukinės | Ostroszowate | Trachinidae