- Weever
Taxobox
name = Weevers
image_width = 240px
image_caption =Lesser weever , "Echiichthys vipera"
regnum =Animal ia
phylum =Chordata
classis =Actinopterygii
ordo =Perciformes
familia = Trachinidae
subdivision_ranks = Genera
subdivision = "Trachinus " "Echiichtys " See text for species.Weevers (or Weaverfish) are eight species of
fish of familyTrachinidae , orderPerciformes . They are long (up to 37 cm), mainly brown and have poisonous spines on their firstdorsal fin andgill s. During the day, weevers bury themselves in sand, just showing their eyes, and snatch prey as it comes past, which consists ofshrimp s and small fish. Weevers are unusual in not having aswim bladder as do mostbony fish es and as a result sink as soon as they stop actively swimming.This fish is used in the recipe of the
bouillabaisse .Weevers are sometimes erroneously called 'weaver fish', although the word is unrelated. In fact, the word 'weever' is believed to derive from the
Old French word 'wivre', meaningserpent ordragon , from the Latin 'viper a'. [ [http://www.yourdictionary.com/ahd/w/w0080800.html The American Heritage ® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition] ] It is sometimes also known as the viperfish, although it is not related to theviperfish proper.In
Australia , sand perches of the family Mugiloididae are known as weevers.pecies
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.Interaction with humans
Causes, frequency and prevention
Most human stings are inflicted by the lesser weever which habitually remains buried in sandy areas of shallow water and is thus more likely to come into contact with bathers than other species (such as the greater weever, which prefers deeper water), stings from other species are generally limited to anglers and commercial fishermen. Even very shallow water (sometimes little more than damp sand) may harbour lesser weevers. The vast majority of injuries occur to the foot and are the result of stepping on buried fish, other common sites of injury are the hands and buttocks.
Stings are most common in the hours before and after low
tide (especially at springs) so one possible precaution is to avoid bathing or paddling at these times. They also increase in frequency during the summer (to a maximum in August) but this is probably the result of the greater number of bathers.The lesser weever can be found from the southern
North Sea to the Mediterranean and is common around the south coast of the United Kingdom & Ireland, theAtlantic coast ofFrance andSpain , and the northern coast of the Mediterranean. The high number of bathers found on populartourist beaches in these areas means that stings are common although individual chances of being stung are low. The "South Wales Evening Post " stated (on8 August 2000 ) that around 40 weever stings are recorded in theSwansea and Gower area every year [ [http://www.thisissouthwales.co.uk/ this is swansea - news, entertainment, jobs, homes and cars ] ] however many victims will not seek medical assistance and go uncounted.Weever stings have been known to penetrate
wet suit boots even through arubber sole (if thin) and it is recommended that bathers and surfers wear sandals, "jelly shoes " or wetsuit boots with a relatively hard sole and avoid sitting or "rolling" in the shallows.ymptoms
The first and most obvious symptom is what feels like a sharp stone, although this does not hurt, the pain occurs about 2-3 minutes after being stung.The pain from weever stings has been described as so severe that sailors stung by the fish would cut off their stung fingers or hands in a desperate attempt to relieve the pain,Fact|date=February 2007 this is however highly unlikely.
Lifeguard s on the south coasts ofEngland andWales deal with weever stings almost daily, and stings are often described as "extremely painful" causing throbbing pain and swelling in the effected area and "much worse than awasp (orbee ) sting" - some victims find the comparison to wasp or bee stings offensive.The following symptoms may occur following a weever sting:
Common/minor symptoms:
Severe pain, itching, swelling, heat, redness, numbness, tingling,
nausea , vomiting, joint aches, headaches, abdominal cramps, lightheadedness, increased urination and tremors.Rare/severe symptoms:
Abnormal
heart rhythms, weakness, shortness of breath, seizures, decreasedblood pressure ,gangrene and tissue degeneration,Branko Šuljić,Sportski ribolov, 2001] , unconsciousness.Treatment
Although extremely unpleasant, weever stings are not generally dangerous and the pain will ease considerably within a few hours even if untreated. Complete recovery may take a week or more; in a few cases victims have reported swelling and/or stiffness persisting for months after envenomation.
First Aid treatment consists of immersing the affected area in hot water (as hot as the victim can bear) which will accelerate denaturation of theprotein basedvenom . The use of hot water will reduce the pain felt by the victim after a few short minutes. Usual experience is that the pain then fades within ten to twenty minutes, as the water cools.Folklore often suggests the addition of substances to the hot water includingurine ,vinegar andepsom salt s but this is of limited (if any) value. Heat should be applied for at least 15 minutes but, as a rule of thumb: the longer the delay (before heat is applied) the longer the treatment should be continued. Once the pain has eased the injury should be checked for the remains of broken spines and any found need to be removed. Over the counteranalgesic s such asaspirin oribuprofen may be of assistance in management of pain and can also reduceoedema (Caution see Aspirin Warnings).Medical advice should be sought if any of the symptoms listed above as Rare/Severe are observed, if swelling spreads beyond the immediate area of injury (e.g. from hand to arm), if symptoms persist or if any other factor causes concern. Medical treatment consists of symptom management, analgesia (often with
opiate s) and the same heat treatment as for first aid - more systemic treatment usinganti-histamine s has been largely discredited.Fatalities
Some severe cases of poisoning may be fatal. [Neven Milišić, Život Jadrana, 2001]
The only recorded death in the UK occurred in 1927, when a fisherman off
Dungeness suffered multiple stings. There is some suspicion that the victim may have died of other medical causes exacerbated by the stings. [ [http://www.glaucus.org.uk/weever2.htm Beware the Weever fish! ] ]Jonathan Wickings died after being stung by an unknown sea creature off the coast of
Majorca in 1998. This was reported as a possible weever sting [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/164992.stm BBC News | Europe | Mystery bite kills Briton ] ] although he was not in contact with the seabed and some witnesses reported seeing a "snake" in the water. Other reports suggested that his death was the result of a fluke, whereby the venom was injected directly into a vein, causing immediate, body-wide dispersal. [http://www.no1chancerylane.com/141/text.nc?form_89.replyids=9&form_139.userid=15&form_139.replyids=22] dead link|date=September 2008References
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.