Weever

Ordinary Petermännchen ( Trachinus draco)

The Petermännchen ( Trachinidae ) are a family of fish belonging to the order Perciformes ( Perciformes ), which are mainly distributed in the eastern Atlantic, the Mediterranean and the Black Sea. A largely unknown and dubious way Trachinus cornutus should occur off the coast of Chile.

Name

The name " Peter males " is by its Dutch name " pieterman " descended and is explained by the fact that Dutch fishermen caught thrown back copies because of the danger of the spines usually back into the sea and they have consecrated it as an offering to their patron saint Peter.

Features

Peter males are elongated, laterally flattened demersal fish that are 15-53 cm long. Her eyes are on top of the head, foot column is steep. The dorsal fin is in two parts, the first is short and is supported 5-7 spines, the second elongated 21-32 soft rays. The anal fin has two spines and 24 to 34 soft rays. The pelvic fins are throat constantly and have a spine and five soft rays, the pectoral fins 15 fin rays. The head is scaleless, the body covered with small round or comb scales. The lateral line is complete, a swim bladder may be present or absent.

Toxicity

The spines of the first dorsal fin and a sting on the gill cover are poisonous. Due to their toxicity and the habit of digging near the beach in sand or mud, make some species a danger to bathers; they are among the most dangerous European poisonous animals. The toxicant formulation that is delivered by the animals, which contains, inter alia, serotonin and proteins that induce histamine release. Poisoning passes not usually fatal, it often causes severe, often painful swelling that can last a very long time. Some people are allergic to the venom, however, which can lead to dizziness, headache, loss of consciousness or even cardiac arrest. In cases of suspected poisoning, a doctor should be sought immediately.

Way of life

Peter males come near the coast before to depths of 150 meters. You spend the day up to his eyes buried in sand or mud, in the night they roam. They feed on small bottom fishes and crustaceans. Eggs and larvae are pelagic.

Inside systematics

There are two genera and nine species:

• Echiichthys Viperqueise ( Echiichthys Vipera ) ( Syn: Trachinus Vipera, also: Small Viper males ) - Distribution: Eastern Atlantic coast of Scotland to West Africa, Mediterranean

• Mediterranean Petermännchen ( Trachinus aranaeus ) - Distribution: Eastern Atlantic, Mediterranean
• Ordinary Petermännchen ( Trachinus draco) also: Large Petermännchen, Weber Big Fish - Distribution: Northeastern Atlantic, North Sea, Mediterranean, Black Sea
• Radiation Petermännchen ( Trachinus radiatus ) - Distribution: Mediterranean, African Atlantic coast from Morocco to Senegal
• Trachinus armatus - distribution: African Atlantic coast from Mauritania to Angola
• Trachinus collignoni - distribution: African Atlantic coast of Gabon to Congo
• Trachinus cornutus - Distribution: Southeastern Pacific off Chile
• Trachinus lineolatus - distribution: African Atlantic coast of Guinea- Bissau to Gabon
• Trachinus pellegrini - distribution: African Atlantic coast from Senegal to Nigeria

Economic Importance

Peter males are mainly by-catch in nets and fishing. They are also used as food fish. In France they are because of their dry but tasty meat as a delicacy. There is a legal requirement that fish the spines are removed before they reach the market, as these often have a longer period of time can be active after the catch.