Greater weever

Greater weever
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Trachiniformes
Family: Trachinidae
Genus: Trachinus
Species:
T. draco
Binomial name
Trachinus draco
Synonyms

Trachinus lineatus Bloch & Schneider, 1801

The greater weever (Trachinus draco, Linnaeus 1758) is a benthic and demersal venomous marine fish of the family Trachinidae. The greater weever is widely distributed along the eastern Atlantic coastline from Norway to Morocco, extending to the Mediterranean, Aegean and Black Seas. Trachinus draco has been shown to occur in depths ranging from shallow water up to -150 meters where it inhabits mostly muddy or sandy grounds.[2][3] Trachinus draco is mostly and notoriously known for its venomous spines that can inflict serious injuries on humans through accidental stinging. Because of these spines and its potent venom it is classified as one of the most venomous fishes in the Mediterranean.[3]⁠ The name “weever” is thought to originate from the Anglo-Saxon word “wivre” which translates as “viper”.[4]

  1. ^ Carpenter, K.E.; Smith-Vaniz, W.F.; de Bruyne, G.; de Morais, L. (2015). "Trachinus draco". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2015: e.T198719A42691954. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-4.RLTS.T198719A42691954.en. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  2. ^ ORDINES, F.; FARRIOLS, M.T.; LLEONART, J.; GUIJARRO, B.; QUETGLAS, A.; MASSUTÍ, E. (26 September 2014). "Biology and population dynamics of by-catch fish species of the bottom trawl fishery in the western Mediterranean". Mediterranean Marine Science. 15 (3): 613. doi:10.12681/mms.812. hdl:10508/2639.
  3. ^ a b Čustović, Selma; Vrgoč, Nedo; Isajlović, Igor; Krstulović Šifner, Svjetlana; Piccinetti, Corrado (2015). "Distribution and Population Structure of Greater Weever, Trachinus draco (Linnaeus, 1758.), in the Northern and Central Adriatic Sea". Naše More. 62 (1): 20–24. doi:10.17818/NM.1.4.2015.
  4. ^ Russell, Findlay E.; Emery, Jerry A. (November 1960). "Venom of the Weevers Trachinus Draco and Trachilvus Vipera". Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences. 90 (3): 805–819. Bibcode:1960NYASA..90..805R. doi:10.1111/j.1749-6632.1960.tb26424.x. PMID 13744837. S2CID 43812740.