The lesser weever fish buries itself in the sand and waits for unsuspecting victims.
NATURE NOTESNOW the summer holidays are here, it is to be hoped lots of families will be able to enjoy that typical British activity of paddling in all weathers.
However, a timely reminder that one should always wear suitable footwear came my way a couple of weeks ago.
Our neighbours’ son had the unfortunate experience of receiving a stab from a weever fish, while paddling on Ventnor beach.
This delightful creature (actually the lesser weever or echiichthys vipera) buries itself in the sand in shallow water and waits for unsuspecting prey.
As it is sandy coloured, the only bit you are likely to spot, if you do, is the black dorsal fin which carries between three and six spiny pointed rays. The chances are, though, that the first you will know of it is the pain, apparently likened to cutting yourself with glass.
I have not experienced this and do not intend to, so I cannot speak from personal experience.
The spines discharge a poison which produces an intense pain, causing the foot to become inflamed and to swell, and then go numb for up to twenty-four hours. After which it is likely to remain irritable for two weeks or so.
Because the protein, from which the poison is made, breaks down in higher temperatures, the immediate treatment is, perhaps surprisingly, to immerse the affected part in water as hot as you can bear.
This has the dual effect of destroying the poison and also dispersing, it so its effects are not concentrated in one place.
Some people react more severely to the sting of the Weever Fish, but fortunately the lifeguards on the beaches are well versed in what to do, and reports of serious cases are rare.
The fish is about 15 centimetres long (which is only about six inches to old fogies like me) and has a mouth with very sharp teeth, too. It has a larger relative (the greater weever or trachinus draco), which can be up to 40 centimetres long in length but you are less likely to encounter this species, which prefers deeper water.
In the Mediterranean, the greater weever is used widely for food but I expect that catching it is done very carefully!
Rather strangely for a fish, it does not swim well. It has no swim bladder and therefore little buoyancy. Having sprung up to catch its prey (small shrimps etc) in its large mouth, it falls back to the sea bed and buries itself again.
Anyway, I do not want to put you off enjoying your precious time on the beach, but forewarned is fore-armed, and I hope you have a lovely time.