Last week it was sharks and this week local news has been warning the population of another troublesome tenant of the Mediterranean Sea. Scores of unsuspecting bathers, some of them young children, have already fallen prey to the small sea creature’s venomous sting. In Spain they call it the Pez Vibora – Viper Fish but it is commonly known in the UK as the Weever fish. This sly fish has sharp spines laced with venom along its dorsal fin which stick up out of the sand, where it hides while waiting for prey, and inflict agony on any unsuspecting bathers unlucky enough to tread on one. The sting is far more painful than any common jellyfish you may come across.
The nerve poison injected into victims brings excruciating pain lasting several hours, often causes people's limbs to swell and in extreme cases can lead to temporary paralysis. Irritation can last for two weeks.
Death is extremely rare following stings, although respiratory failure and gangrene have been reported after puncture wounds have become infected. It is considered one of the top ten most poisonous fish in the world, being nº 9 on the list!
The sandy-coloured fish, measuring around six inches, are more commonly found throughout the Mediterranean’s warm waters but are known be spreading around the British coastline too. They are usually invisible to the naked eye as they camouflage themselves under sand in shallow water. So at the end of the day it is potluck!
There are some basic precautions to avoid getting stung. The simplest is to wear some form of footwear in the water which is what all the local news channels have been recommending after there were a few cases this last weekend on Valencia’s coast. Another way is to shuffle your feet through the sand as you walk - this disturbance should scare away any nearby fish. Pain from an attack can last for up to 24 hours and those stung by the poisonous fish should treat the area with hot water.
Apparently if you do get stung the most effective treatment is to put the affected limb in water as hot as the victim can stand without causing scalding. The heat helps to break down the poison and it also increases blood flow to the sting causing natural cleaning and healing. The venom is a type of protein that is 'denatured' - broken down - at temperatures above 40C.
These little monsters bury themselves in the sand backwards for camouflage and snatch prey as it swims past. The venom is a nerve poison and has a chemical in it which is one of the most potent pain producing substances known.
The Weever's poisonous dorsal spine is a defence against potential attackers. Victims say that a sting feels at first like a sharp stab but the pain increases quickly. Weever fish are not strong swimmers but are capable of bursts of speed over very short distances. They use their excellent camouflage to lie in wait for prey to approach, when they suddenly dart out and engulf it in their relatively huge mouths although at most they could swallow your toe so I wouldn’t worry too much about their mouths but look out for spikes in the sand, as they particularly like shallow water!
Happy Bathing !