Candiru
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Candiru or candirú (also canero, toothpick fish, or willy fish, penis 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.[1] 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 candiru 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.[2][3][4][5]
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[edit] Parasitism
Candiru are parasites. Their ability to detect respiratory currents in the water allows them to swim into the gill openings of other aquatic species, where they feed on their prey's blood.
While the members of the subfamily Vandelliinae feed on blood, members of Stegophilinae may feed on scales, mucus, or carrion.[6]
Though there have been documented candiru attacks on humans,[7] 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 candiru can be removed.
A well-circulated myth is that the candiru 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.[4] However they are capable of jumping and entering the urethra of a man standing thigh-deep in the water and urinating. They are also probably only able to enter a human urethra when it is expanded during urination.[7]
[edit] Popular culture
- The candiru has been featured on the television shows Grey's Anatomy (where it was called the "penis fish"),[8] The Venture Bros., Metalocalypse (in the episode "Dethcarraldo"), and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. Dr. Oz discussed the candiru on The Oprah Winfrey Show on May 21, 2007. It was sought after in Nick Baker's Weird Creatures, a British TV series about the world's strangest animals, and featured in an episode of Weird Nature, which runs on The Science Channel
- It has also been mentioned in the films Anaconda, The Rundown, Medicine Man, Sniper and the RiffTrax version of Predator
- It is also mentioned in the books All the Trouble in the World by P. J. O'Rourke, In Trouble Again by Redmond O'Hanlon, Amazonia by James Rollins, The Codex by Douglas Preston, Born Survivor by Bear Grylls, "Whirlwind", by David Klass,Naked Lunch by William S. Burroughs, The Professor and the Madman by Simon Winchester,and is referred to in A History of the World in 10½ Chapters by Julian Barnes, The Burglar In The Rye by Lawrence Block, and The River of Doubt by Candice Millard (Doubleday 2005), about the 1913-14 Roosevelt-Rondon Scientific Expedition along the River of Doubt. It is mentioned in the afterword to Peeps by Scott Westerfeld, and is misrepresented in Ted Bell's novel Spy as swimming up the urine stream of someone standing knee-deep in water, then living inside the person.
- In episode 4 of the game Sam & Max Season One, Max offers a joke to the audience that involves Chester A. Arthur, the Pope, and their encounter with a candiru along the Amazon.
- In an episode of House, Dr. House (Hugh Laurie) affectionately referred to this fish as the N.P. fish.
- Candiru Sushi- Popularized in Tustin, CA, Candiru Sushi is served raw in what are known as Paravano Rolls.
- In the Adult Swim show, Metalocalypse, in the episode "Dethcarraldo", William Murderface falls victim to some Candiru while peeing off of the boat into the Amazon River. They lay eggs inside his penis.
[edit] References
- ^ Axelrod, Herbert R.; Emmens, C.; Burgess, W.;Pronek, N. (1996). Exotic Tropical Fishes. T.F.H. Publications. ISBN 0-87666-543-1.
- ^ "Vandellia cirrhosa". FishBase. Ed. Ranier Froese and Daniel Pauly. July 2007 version. N.p.: FishBase, 2007.
- ^ Breault, J.L.. "Candirú: Amaconian parasitic catfish". Journal of Wilderness Medicine 2 (4): 304–312.
- ^ a b de Carvalho, Marcelo R. (2003). "ANALYSE D’OUVRAGE" (PDF). Cybium 27 (2): 82.
- ^ DoNascimiento, Carlos; Provenzano, Francisco (2006). "The Genus Henonemus (Siluriformes: Trichomycteridae) with a Description of a New Species from Venezuela". Copeia (2): 198–205.
- ^ Schaefer, Scott A.; Provenzano, Francisco; de Pinna, Mario; Baskin, Jonathan N. (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.
- ^ a b Can the candirú fish swim upstream into your urethra (revisited)?. The Straight Dope (07-September 2001).
- ^ Kirschling, Gregory (April 27, 2007). A Perfect Day for Penisfish. Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved on 2007-05-17.
[edit] External links
- Britannica Online Encyclopedia article on Candiru
- Article on removal of Candiru from a male patient with pictures.
- Youtube Video of Animal Planet documentary detailing infestation by and surgical removal of Candiru from penis.
- George Hrab's album Vitriol, containing the song Cruel Spines (mp3 available)
- The Candiru, cat fish Brazil vampire myth or reality
