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Candiru (fish)

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candirú
Vandellia cirrhosa
Conservation status
Secure
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Siluriformes
Superfamily: Loricarioidea
Family: Trichomycteridae
Bleeker, 1858

‎

Candirú(candiru without an accent in official Portuguese spelling; also canero or toothpick fish) refers to parasitic freshwater catfish of a number of genera in the family Trichomycteridae. They are found in the Amazon River and have a reputation among the natives as the most feared fish in its waters, even over the piranha. They are eel-shaped and translucent, making them almost impossible to see in the water. Some species have been known to grow to a size of 6 inches (~15 cm) in length.

The definition of candirú differs between authors. The word has been used to refer to only Vandellia cirrhosa, the entire genus Vandellia, the subfamily Vandelliinae, or even the two subfamilies Vandelliinae and Stegophilinae.

Parasitism

While the members of the subfamily Vandelliinae feed on blood, members of Stegophilinae may feed on scales, mucus, or carrion.

This fish is feared to attack humans and swim into an orifice (the vagina, anus, or even the penis—and deep into the urethra). Because of spines protruding from the fish, it is almost impossible to remove except through surgery. The fish locates its host by following a water flow to its source and thus urinating while bathing increases the chance of a candirú homing in on a human urethra. Natives have also been known to bathe facing the current, as doing so would decrease the chances of the organism lodging itself in the rectum. Other orifices such as the penis or vagina are covered up with the use of hands.

Though there have been documented candirú attacks on humans, there is no evidence the fish can survive once inside a human. A traditional cure involves the use of two plants, the Jagua plant (Genipa americana) and the Buitach apple which are inserted (or their extract in the case of tight spaces) into the affected area. In theory, these two plants together will kill and then dissolve the fish. More often, infection causes shock and death in the victim before the candirú can be removed.

A well-circulated myth is that the candirú is capable of swimming up the stream of urine in mid-air to a victim standing on shore or a boat. This is physically impossible as the maximum swimming velocity of the fish is opposed by the downward velocity of the urine stream, and the further impossible act of the 5-14 mm wide fish maintaining position and thrust within a 2–7 mm wide column of fluid. They are also probably not attracted to urine as commonly thought.

Popular culture

References

  1. Axelrod, Herbert R. (1996). Exotic Tropical Fishes. T.F.H. Publications. ISBN 0-87666-543-1. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  2. Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Vandellia cirrhosa". FishBase. July 2007 version.
  3. Breault, J.L. "Candirú: Amaconian parasitic catfish". Journal of Wilderness Medicine. 2 (4): 304–312.
  4. ^ de Carvalho, Marcelo R. (2003). "ANALYSE D'OUVRAGE" (PDF). Cybium. 27 (2): 82.
  5. DoNascimiento, Carlos (2006). "The Genus Henonemus (Siluriformes: Trichomycteridae) with a Description of a New Species from Venezuela". Copeia (2): 198–205. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  6. Schaefer, Scott A. (November 29, 2005). "New and Noteworthy Venezuelan Glanapterygine Catfishes (Siluriformes, Trichomycteridae), with Discussion of Their Biogeography and Psammophily" (PDF). American Museum Novitates (3496): 1–27. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  7. DiClaudio, Dennis (2006). The Hypochondriac's Pocket Guide to Horrible Diseases You Probably Already Have. Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN 9781596910614.
  8. Kirschling, Gregory (April 27, 2007). "A Perfect Day for Penisfish". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 2007-05-17.

External links

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