About the Candiru Fish

Did you know? The myth of the dangerous Candiru fish is scarier than the reality!

Among the many legends of strange, dangerous creatures that haunt the Amazon, the story of the Candiru fish stands out. The Candiru fish (Vandellia cirrhosa) is a small catfish purported to enter the, ahem, intimate orifices of unfortunate people who urinate into Amazonian waterways.

Supposedly, the fish mistakes urine for water expelled from the gills of marine life. To the extreme agony of the unlucky person, the Candiru swims up… into their genitals. Spines on its head make it very difficult to extract. Amputation is sometimes the only course of action that can be taken.

According to legend, that’s what the Candiru is capable of. In reality, extensive research shows that much of this legend is probably a myth! First of all, Candiru detects the gills of fish by sight more than by scent. And the physics of fluid dynamics make it impossible for them to swim up a stream of urine! Also, the amputations noted in some areas were more likely from Piranha bites. Finally, the one modern case of a Candiru supposedly swimming up a man’s urethra might actually be a hoax!

Then what is known about the Candiru fish? There are several small species of catfish going by this Tupi-language name in the waterways of the Amazon basin. They appear to be common and to feed off the blood of other fish species. Candiru swim up the gills of larger fish, feasting on their host’s blood for a minute or so, before swimming off happily to digest their meal.

Candiru Fish Fun Facts

A transparent catfish: The Candiru easily sneaks up on its “hosts” due to its small size and light, transparent appearance. Looking more like a cave creature, the clever Candiru is very difficult to see in murky Amazon waters.

Belongs to a large family of catfish: The Candiru are three species (one of which occurs in Tambopata) in the large Trichomycteridae catfish family. Known as the Pencil Catfish, some of the 207 species live in caves, while others feed on the scales, blood, and even mucus of fish!

How to plan your Amazon jungle travel to see the Candiru fish and other jungle wildlife?