candiru
Orifice-invading catfish
A candiru is a small parasitic catfish native to the Amazon basin, notorious for its alleged ability to enter human orifices—particularly the urethra—attracted by urine streams.
While documented cases are rare and disputed, the fish's reputation makes it a staple of travel warnings and horror stories about Amazonian waters.
The candiru normally parasitizes the gills of larger fish, feeding on blood.
Greek warrior women
- BrazilLargest South American nation
- PeruPacific coast republic
- EcuadorCountry at zero latitude
- ColombiaEquatorial South American republic
river · tributary · freshwater · tropical · rainforest · indigenous · urethra · orifice
Barbeled freshwater bottom-feeder
- bullheadBroad-headed freshwater fish
- barbelsFish sensory projections
- bottom-dwellerOrganism living on substrate
- nocturnalActive during darkness
Exploiting a host organism
- bloodsuckerOrganism feeding on plasma
- spineColumn of vertebrae
- translucentPermitting diffused light passage
- slenderThin and graceful
tiny · miniature · centimeter · eel-like · mucus · lodging · attachment · extraction
Persistent irrational dread
- dreadIntense anticipatory fear
- terrorExtreme, overwhelming fear
- horrorExtreme fear or disgust
- nightmareFrightening dream causing wakefulness
revulsion · disgust · aversion · urban legend · myth · cautionary tale · anxiety · paranoia
Urinary tract medicine
- extractionAct of removing
- surgeryInvasive medical procedure
- urogenitalOf excretory-reproductive organs
- infectionPathogen invasion causing illness
inflammation · blockage · pain · case report · anecdotal · specimen · documentation · hospital
Amazon
Greek warrior women
Colombia · river · tributary · freshwater · tropical · rainforest · indigenous · urethra · orifice · legend
catfish
Barbeled freshwater bottom-feeder
- bullheadBroad-headed freshwater fish
- barbelsFish sensory projections
- bottom-dwellerOrganism living on substrate
parasitic
Exploiting a host organism
- bloodsuckerOrganism feeding on plasma
- spineColumn of vertebrae
- translucentPermitting diffused light passage
slender · tiny · miniature · centimeter · eel-like · mucus · lodging · attachment · extraction
phobia
Persistent irrational dread
nightmare · revulsion · disgust · aversion · urban legend · myth · cautionary tale · anxiety · paranoia · wariness
urology
Urinary tract medicine
- extractionAct of removing
- surgeryInvasive medical procedure
- urogenitalOf excretory-reproductive organs
infection · inflammation · blockage · pain · case report · anecdotal · specimen · documentation · hospital · emergency