A small parasitic catfish from South American rivers, notorious for allegedly swimming into human bodies through body openings.
From Portuguese candiru, borrowed from an indigenous Amazonian language. The term entered English in the 19th century through explorers' accounts of Amazon River wildlife.
The candiru has an absolutely terrifying reputation in folklore—but scientists now think many of the gruesome stories about it attacking people are exaggerated or false, making it a perfect example of how exploration myths can be more dramatic than reality!
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