WEEVER, or WEAVER. The weevers (Trachinus) are small marine fishes common on the coasts of Europe. They belong to a family of spiny-rayed fishes (Trachinidae), and are distinguished , by a long low body with two dorsal fins, the anterior of which is composed of six or seven spines only, the posterior being long and many-rayed. The ventral fins are placed in advance of the pectorals. The upper surface of the head is bony, without skin.
Several species are known, but two only occur on the British coasts, viz., the Greater Weever (Trachinus draco) and the Lesser Weever (T. vipera) ; the former is frequently found of a length of i 2in., whilst the latter grows only to about half that length.
The colouration of both is plain, but the short first dorsal fin is always deep black. The weevers are bottom fish, burying and hid ing themselves in the sand or shingle—the lesser species living close inshore and the greater preferring deeper water. They inflict wounds by their dorsal and opercular spines. The spines are deeply grooved, and the poisonous fluid lodged in the grooves is secreted by glands at their base. The flesh is not bad eating.
See Jordan, Guide to the Study of Fishes.