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.

All labels observed (6)

Label Occurrences
Vandellia cirrhosa 3
Vandellia canonical 1
Vandellia beccarii 1

How this entity was disambiguated

Statements (47)

Predicate Object
instanceOf catfish genus
fish genus
genus
behavior locates hosts by following water currents from gill ventilation
belongsToSubfamily Vandelliinae
bloodFeedingMechanism attaches to gill filaments and feeds on blood
bodyShape eel-like
elongate
class Actinopterygii
commonName candiru
describedAs slender
diet blood
distribution South America
ecologicalRole fish ectoparasite
family Trichomycteridae
feedingBehavior parasitic
feedingSite gill arteries of host fish
habitat Amazon basin
linked to: Amazon Basin

freshwater
hasSpecies Vandellia beccarii
linked to: Vandellia

Vandellia cirrhosa
linked to: Vandellia

Vandellia eigenmanni
linked to: Vandellia

Vandellia plazai
linked to: Vandellia

Vandellia sanguinea
linked to: Vandellia
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
parasitizes gill tissues of host fish
larger fish
phylum Chordata
region Amazon River
Orinoco basin
linked to: Orinoco Basin
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
linked to: Vandellia

How these facts were elicited

Referenced by (8)

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

Trichomycteridae notableGenus Vandellia
Trichomycteridae includesSpecies Vandellia cirrhosa
linked to: Vandellia
Vandellia hasSpecies Vandellia cirrhosa
linked to: Vandellia
Vandellia hasSpecies Vandellia beccarii
linked to: Vandellia
Vandellia hasSpecies Vandellia sanguinea
linked to: Vandellia
Vandellia hasSpecies Vandellia plazai
linked to: Vandellia
Vandellia hasSpecies Vandellia eigenmanni
linked to: Vandellia
Vandellia typeSpecies Vandellia cirrhosa
linked to: Vandellia