Candirú

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Candirú

Vandellia cirrhosa

Scientific classification

Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Siluriformes
Family:	Trichomycteridae
Genus:	Vandellia Cuvier and Valenciennes, 1846

Species^[1]

V. balzanii
V. beccarii
V. cirrhosa
V. sanguinea

‎ The candirú or canero (Vandellia cirrhosa) or toothpick fish is a freshwater fish in the group commonly called the catfish. It is found in the Amazon River and has a reputation among the natives as the most feared fish in its waters, even over the piranha. The species has been known to grow to a size of 6 inches in length and is eel shaped and translucent, making it almost impossible to see in the water. The candirú is a parasite.

1 Parasitism
2 Cultural references
3 Resources
4 References
5 External links

[edit] Parasitism

The candirú parasitizes other fish. It swims into the gill cavities of other fish, erects a spine to hold itself in place, and feeds on the blood in the gills, earning it a nickname as the "vampire fish of Brazil". Recent research [1] has shown that candirú do not suck blood, but rather latch on to an artery and have blood pumped into them.

It is feared by the natives because it is attracted to urine or blood^[2], and if the bather is nude it will swim into an orifice (the anus or vagina, or even the penis—and deep into the urethra). It then erects its spine and begins to feed on the blood and body tissue just as it would from the gills of a fish. The candirú is then almost impossible to remove except through surgery. As the fish locates its host by following the water flow from the gills to its source, urinating while bathing increases the chance of a candirú homing in on a human urethra.

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, however this is physically impossible. This is because 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.

A traditional cure involves the use of two plants, the Xagua plant (Genipa americana) and the Buitach apple which are inserted (or their extract in the case of tight spaces) into the affected area. 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. Though there have been documented candirú attacks on humans, there is no evidence the fish can survive once inside a human. It was recently sought after by Nick Baker, a wildlife specialist on British TV in a series about the world's strangest animals.

[edit] Cultural references

A candirú.

The author William Burroughs encountered stories about the candirú during his travels in South America, and referenced the creature in his book Naked Lunch. Candice Millard's The River of Doubt also presents rumors of attacks heard on Theodore Roosevelt's Amazon trip. The fish is also mentioned in the afterword of author Scott Westerfeld's novel Peeps and in several movies, such as Sniper, The Rundown, Medicine Man, and Anaconda. Novelist Julian Barnes mentions the fish in his book A History of the World in 10½ Chapters, and Chuck Palahniuk references the candirú in Fight Club.

References were also made in a season one episode of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, A Single Life; the animated show The Venture Bros., in the episode "Are You There God? It's Me, Dean"; and during an episode of the British medical drama Casualty, aired on January 28, 2006, when a patient is found to have such a fish inside him which apparently entered via his penis during a recent visit to the Amazon.

Several references to the candirú are also made in Douglas Preston's adventure fiction novel, The Codex (2004) and it is mentioned in the thriller Amazonia (2002) by James Rollins.

Singer-songwriter George Hrab wrote a song called Cruel Spines about the candirú that can be found on his album Vitriol.

Cecil Adams of the Straight Dope reported on the surgical removal of a candirú from a man that survived an attack by the fish. The deceased fish was measured to be 134mm (5 1/2 inches) in length. The fish entered the victim's urethra while he urinated thigh deep in the water, "with his penis out of the water yet close to it."^[3]

The candirú is briefly mentioned in the spy thriller "Spy", by Ted Bell.

[edit] Resources

Herman, John B, "Candiru: Urinophilic catfish—Its gift to urology", Urology 1(3):265-267 (1973).
Gudger, EW, "Bookshelf browsing on the Alleged Penetration of the Human Urethra by an Amazonian Catfish Called Candiru", American Journal of Surgery 8(1): 170-188, 443-457 (1930).
Spotte, Steven (2002). Candiru: Life and Legend of the Bloodsucking Catfishes. Creative Arts Book Company. ISBN 0887394698
Vinton, KW, Stickler, WH, "The Carnero, a fish parasite of man and possibly animals", American Journal of Surgery 54:511- (1941).
Redmond O'Hanlon (1989) In Trouble Again: A Journey Between the Orinoco and the Amazon Penguin Books Ltd ISBN 0140119000