Greater Weever
Trachinus draco
Identification
The greater weever is an elongated bottom fish of 25 to 40 cm with an upward-angled head and eyes on top. Color is sand-brown with oblique dark stripes. Warning: the first dorsal fin carries venomous spines that can inflict extremely painful, sometimes dangerous stings. The gill covers also carry venomous spines.
Behavior & ecology
Lives buried in sand on the seabed, with only the eyes and venomous dorsal fin protruding. From this ambush position, it shoots up to catch passing small fish and shrimp. Found on sandy bottoms at 10 to 150 meters depth.
In the Netherlands
Found in the southern North Sea as a common bycatch for trawlers. Lives deeper than the lesser weever, so swimmers rarely encounter it. A sting is extremely painful and requires medical attention.
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Seasonal patterns
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Key predictors
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