Greater weever
Trachinus draco
- Scientific name
- Trachinus draco
- Group
- Reef fish
- Rarity
- Common
- Where to see it
- Mediterranean, Temperate Atlantic / English Channel
- Conservation status (IUCN)
- Least concern
Did you know?
The greater weever spends most of the day almost entirely buried in sand, with only its eyes and venomous dorsal spines poking out. It's considered one of the most venomous fish in the Mediterranean, and its sting causes intense pain for swimmers who accidentally step on it.
What defines this group — Reef fish
The bony fish that live against coral and rock: the living backdrop of almost every dive.
- A bony skeleton, scales, and a rigid gill cover closing over the gills.
- A swim bladder acts as a float: they hold their depth without swimming.
- Many change colour, pattern — sometimes even sex — over the course of their life.
Other species in this group
- Ocellaris clownfish
- Blue tang
- Red lionfish
- Spot-fin porcupinefish
- Mediterranean moray
- Clark's anemonefish