Vandellia

E805755

Vandellia is a small, parasitic catfish genus from the Amazon basin, infamous for its blood-feeding habits and reports of entering the orifices of larger animals, including humans.

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Observed surface forms (1)

Surface form Occurrences
Vandellia cirrhosa 1

Statements (47)

Predicate Object
instanceOf catfish genus
fish genus
genus
behavior locates hosts by following water currents from gill ventilation
belongsToSubfamily Vandelliinae NERFINISHED
bloodFeedingMechanism attaches to gill filaments and feeds on blood
bodyShape eel-like
elongate
class Actinopterygii
commonName candiru
describedAs slender
diet blood
distribution South America NERFINISHED
ecologicalRole fish ectoparasite
family Trichomycteridae NERFINISHED
feedingBehavior parasitic
feedingSite gill arteries of host fish
habitat Amazon basin NERFINISHED
freshwater
hasSpecies Vandellia beccarii NERFINISHED
Vandellia cirrhosa NERFINISHED
Vandellia eigenmanni NERFINISHED
Vandellia plazai NERFINISHED
Vandellia sanguinea NERFINISHED
isA parasitic catfish
kingdom Animalia
locomotion swimming
maximumLength a few centimeters
mythology alleged attacks on humans
notableFor entering gill chambers of larger fish
hematophagy
order Siluriformes NERFINISHED
parasitizes gill tissues of host fish
larger fish
phylum Chordata
region Amazon River NERFINISHED
Orinoco basin NERFINISHED
reproduction oviparous
respiration gills
riskToHumans low
scientificConsensus human infestations extremely rare or unverified
scientificInterest parasitic adaptations in catfishes
size small
skeletonType bony
skepticismAbout reports of entering human urethra
taxonRank genus
typeSpecies Vandellia cirrhosa NERFINISHED

Referenced by (2)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Trichomycteridae includesSpecies Vandellia
this entity surface form: Vandellia cirrhosa
Trichomycteridae notableGenus Vandellia