The Animal Voyeur

... the urethra.



For the uninformed, please do refer to wikipedia for the definition of the urethra. It's ok, this blog ain't going anywhere while you check it out. I'll wait. Seriously.























Done? Now imagine a catfish swimming up your urethra. In particular, imagine this guy swimming north from you-know-where.



Doesn't that just give you the shivers? But before you think this perverse animal (or blogger) is trying to get fresh with you, let's look at the motivations for the creature. Especially since we can't imagine anything that would motivate one to slide so eagerly into the genitalia. (no wait, maybe we'll leave it at that while there's some ambiguity.)


The Candiru, also known as canero or toothpick fish is a parasitic freshwater catfish, found in the Amazon Rivers. The indigenous people along the river system have been known to fear this fish over all others, even over piranhas. This is because this parasitic fish has been historically reported lodging itself in the urethra of human hosts. While this has been rare, it has become the stuff of legends. In the meantime, the parasites often die within the urethra as the conditions are inhospitable to a fish.


So why and how are they able to zero in with such finesse? Candirus are attracted to urea and ammonia commonly found in fish gills. The fish's slim profile and the extra slime on the fish's body allows it to slip unnoticed into a fish's gills.


Unfortunately, urea and ammonia are also commonly released through human urine, inspiring these Candirus to seek the point of origin.


So for unsuspecting river-urinaters, do expect a surprise if these fellas are in the area. You never know who'll be getting intimate with you when you're peeing in the Amazon River.