Lesser weever

Viperqueise ( Echiichthys Vipera )

The Viperqueise ( Echiichthys Vipera ) ( Syn: Trachinus Vipera ) is a species of the family of Peter males ( Trachinidae ). It occurs in coastal areas of the eastern Atlantic, the North Sea and the entire Mediterranean and lives on sandy soils. Since they often close to staying in very shallow water at the beach and also in the rays of the first dorsal fin has a very strong poison, it is considered as the most dangerous type of Petermännchen.

Description

The Viperqueise resembles the ordinary Petermännchen, however, is significantly smaller, compressed and slightly less greenish than this. The body length is 10 to 15 centimeters, the body height is about one-fifth of the body length.

The Viperqueise is light gray on the top and dark gray on the bottom. The flanks are brownish, the back marked throughout with small black dots. The gill covers are bright silver color. The mouth is nearly vertical.

Habitat and behavior

The Viperqueise holds, in contrast to Petermännchen always in shallow, sandy shore zones. Only during the spawning season from June to August, she pulls into something deeper zones.

Food

The food of Viperqueise consists of shrimp, young fish, eggs and small soil animals.