I found references to it going back to 1830.
All of them said that “they had heard it. . . .”
Still–not ONE documented case so far.
I’m not a math expert, but I believe that a single counter-example would be enough to remove its UL status.
I think it’s the Amazon Indian’s equivalent of cell phone/gas station explosions.
One fine point before I lapse into hand-licking thanks, guys. The scientific name in the link that SaxFace gave is spelled Vaudellia cirrhosa–but bibliophage cites the spelling as Vandellia cirrhosa. Which is correct–vaU or vaN? (Is candiru the name used by the indigenous Amazonians?)
As a first time poster to this board (so dumb I signed my own name)I was amazed at the number and quality of these speedy responses. Cecil has a lot to answer for in the hereafter, having so clearly let loose upon the world a host of disciples who have honed–and sometimes equalled–the style of the master. In examining the seamier side of the human condition, the raucous insights of Cecil and his clones have strengthened the skeptical view that keeps civilization honest–and have highlighted the fact that the clergy seriously under-report the depths of The Creator’s sense of humor.
Frank, judging by your well-written first post, you will soon be among SDMB’s finest. I’m new here, too, and I also admire fine writing ability and quick wits. You’ll find both aplenty here, as well as fast and invaluable help on virtually every subject in the universe.
Ok this paper I found is the best description yet (not my work! but good!):
Candiru
Can their be a fish that is more feared than a shark? The Amazonian fish, the Candiru, will be introduced and explained why the fish is so feared. Three different issues related to the Candiru fish will be explained; its characteristics, its bad habit, and the cures for the incident which the fish causes.
The Candiru is a fish that is not widely known, but has interesting characteristics. Also called the Carnero fish, the Candiru is a very small breed of catfish. The fish’s length is one to two inches (Topping Family Publishers, World Wide Web) or 40 to 60 millimeters (Mike Hagen, World Wide Web). Only being four to six millimeters wide, (Mike Hagen, World Wide Web) helps the bad habit the fish has. The Candiru is a parasitic fish which is completely transparent (Topping Family Publishers, World Wide Web), which makes it almost impossible to see. Despite the transparent look of the fish it is very spiny and its bones are very sharp. The fish only lives in the Amazon and Oranoco River in South America (Topping Family Publishers, World Wide Web). The Candiru’s size, look and spine strike fear into humans swimming in these Amazonian rivers.
The Candiru fish does have an odd and painful instinctual habit. However, this habit is completely human insinuated. Blood and urine attract the fish to humans (Mike Hagen, World Wide Web), so never swim nude in these Amazonian rivers or urinate in the water. If this is done, while the person is urinating, the Candiru will swim up the person’s open urethra, man or women. At first, their is a small tickle felt by the person, almost a sexual tickle (Topping Family Publishers, World Wide Web). After the Candiru is in a comfortable position, it raises its spine, stabbing the inner surface of the urethra and causing outrageous pain (Topping Family Publishers and Mike Hagen, World Wide Web). However, that is only the beginning of the problem. Once the spine is lodged into the urethra, the fish will never leave. Women are more likely to have this event happen to them than men because they have a larger opening. However, more cases of this incident have been reported by men than women. This behavior of the Candiru is a very easily avoided.
Though this incident causes extreme pain, their are ways to make the pain stop. Unfortunately, they are either amputation of the organ or death (Topping Family Publishers, World Wide Web). However, these are not the only options to cure this incident. If the person is able to afford it, the person may have very expensive surgery to take out or kill the fish. The two plants used to do this are the Xaqua plant and the Buitach Apple (Mike Hagen, World Wide Web). These plants are inserted up the urethra and let alone to do the job at hand. The Buitach Apple kills the fish and dissolves it like an effervescent tablet (Mike Hagen, World Wide Web). If the surgery cannot be performed or afforded, their are always the first two options.
In summary, the Candiru Fish’s habit of climbing into a urinating urethra shows why is the most feared fish in all the Amazon. Though its characteristics are not like those of the shark or other dangerous fish, this small parasitic catch can cause just as much pain. The cures do exist, but amputation and death are the only quick ways for the pain to stop. These options are probably most often taken because of the intense non-stop pain. So, one might think twice before making vacation plans to the Amazon and Oranoco River to visit a nude beach.
Bibliography
Hagen, Mike. “Candiru Urethra” (http://www.best.com/- debunk/animals/candiru_urethra.html) (12/15/96)
Topping Family Publishers. “Text Bohica Candiru” (http://text_bohica_candiru/fish/fish3./html) (12/15/96)
by Peter Ambrose (1996)
John Adams Junior High
Oh, if you want to buy some Candiru…
http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/jsmelgar/fishlist.html
PEACE! --Mike
Yeeeeeesh! My gonads are crawling upwards to my ears.
Sorry, mac, but it’s just another case of somebody saying that somebody else said it.
Now matter how many times you do it, it still doesn’t make it true.
Mjollnir, give a few weeks and Unca Ceca will prove ya wrong.
Mjollnir’s right, we need an actual case of this having occurred. Did the articles posted by samclem:
Contain specific case studies or not? Those seem the most promising, but I haven’t read them.
I’ve also got to take issue with this:
The habit is not completely human insinuated. The nitrogenous wastes of any animal attract the candiru.