The Truth About That Fish That Climbs Into Urethras

TL;DR

The myth of the parasitic Amazonian catfish, Candiru, swimming into urethras is scientifically debunked.

Transcript

[INTRO ♪] The candiru is a legendary monster. This parasitic Amazonian catfish is said to swim up into the urethras of unsuspecting bathers and devour their genitals from the inside out. It’s a terrifying tale—and one that we’ve actually told here on SciShow a couple of times. But science has shown that this story is just that—a story—and one that ... Read More

Key Insights

• 🏊 The myth of Candiru swimming into human urethras originated from misinterpreted stories by European explorers in the 1800s.
• ❓ Scientific experiments show that Candiru is not attracted to human urine.
• 🏊 There is only one documented case of a Candiru allegedly swimming into a human urethra, which has been questioned as a hoax.
• 🏊 Candiru's physical characteristics and behavior make it unlikely to swim into human urethras.
• 👊 The Amazon remains a dangerous place, but Candiru attacks on humans are scientifically unfounded.
• 🛟 The Candiru myth serves as a cautionary tale about the spread of sensational misinformation.
• ❓ Proper scientific investigation debunks myths and clarifies misconceptions about animal behavior.

Questions & Answers

Q: Where did the myth of Candiru swimming into human urethras originate?

The myth of Candiru attacking humans originated from misinterpretations by European explorers who heard stories from indigenous communities in the Amazon.

Q: Is there any scientific evidence supporting the idea of Candiru entering human urethras?

No, scientific experiments show that Candiru is not attracted to human urine and lacks the physical ability to enter a human urethra.

Q: Are there any documented cases of Candiru attacking humans?

There is only one documented case of a Candiru allegedly swimming into a man's urethra in 1997, but this case has been questioned by scientists and deemed likely a hoax.

Q: What are some reasons why Candiru would not swim into human urethras?

Candiru lacks the physical capability to enter a human urethra, is not attracted to human urine, and scientific evidence contradicts the myth propagated by 19th-century explorers.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The Candiru, a parasitic Amazonian catfish, is believed to swim into urethras and devour genitals, but scientific evidence refutes this myth.

• Stories of Candiru attacks on humans originated from misinterpretations by European explorers in the 1800s.

• Scientific experiments show that Candiru is not attracted to human urine and would not be physically capable of swimming into a urethra.