Candiru: The Man-Eating Catfish
The candiru is a freshwater fish native to the Amazon River, classified as a type of catfish. However, its ferocity has earned it the terrifying nickname of “man-eating catfish.” It tears flesh and invades bodies to devour internal organs, attacking prey regardless of size.
Particularly infamous is the “Santos Incident” of 1981, where over 200 passengers attempting to swim away from a sunken ship in the river were attacked by candiru and lost their lives. The cause of death for many was shock from organ destruction, making it a creature even more feared than piranhas in the region.
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