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So-called ‘Spider fish’ are injuring bathers in Cadiz due to the increased water temperature
The greater weever fish (Trachinus draco) is known to the Spanish as the ‘Pez araña’ or ‘Pez escorpión’ – the Spider fish or Scorpion fish. It’s a fish which is common in the warmer waters of the Atlantic Ocean, and is venomous.
And it’s in attacking swimmers in Cadiz.
The so-called ‘Spider fish’ have reappeared on the beaches of Cádiz in recent days as a result of the rise in water temperature, leaving several bathers with nasty wounds.
Greater weever usually appear half-buried on the shore of the beach, especially when the tide is low, and people going in the sea normally don’t see them before they accidentally step on them and get stung on the sole of their foot by the poisonous spikes on the fish’s back.If you’ve been hurt by a greater weever fish and its venom has gone into your body, the recommendation for dealing with the pain is to bury your foot in dry sand, because the toxin is combated with heat.
After raising the temperature of your foot to around 40ºC in the hot sand (if you can stand it) to neutralise the pain, you should go to the nearest first aid post to receive medical care as the venom leaves a significant swelling that can last for several days.
The presence of the greater weever on the Cadiz coast dates back to a couple of decades ago, when the water temperature began to rise in the area. Before this, it was difficult to find this species.
The world’s oceans are warming up as a result of changes in the Earth’s climate caused by human activity. As well as having a knock-on effect on animal habitats and behaviour, such as that of the greater weever, this activity is also responsible for the extreme heatwaves and flood situations we have seen in recent years.
Image: Archive
Image 2: Wikimedia commons
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