RE: Not too far off topic Fish Joke :)

["Griffiths, Richard" <rgriffit@visa.com>]

What Sean says is true; a lot of species. And they are drawn to the flow
and 'ammonia'. Most of the stories have dealt with women. rather than
men, since if one stands on the shore and urinates, it's a LONG swim;
whereas when in the water and one does the same thing, women are more
open to the 'attach' than a man--but maybe only barely. Probably more
affecting little children that are not informed of the problem before
they go into the water (much like us forgetting to tell our children
don't run out between parked cars).

Remember, too, these parasitic catfish, range down to very small sizes,
thinner than Corydoras pygmaus, etc.

For men, there is a solution, but it shortens us.  For women it is  a
painful process--and if you aren't nears civilization (usually the case)
without treatment, you can die. 

Stories, from various expeditions since the early exploration of the
Amazonia region have either apocryphal stories, or 1st hand stories of
these fish.

These days, travelers are warned about things like that, and manage not
to be bladder loose in the water. 
>----------
>From: 	Sean Murphy[SMTP:seancmurphy@hotmail.com]
>Sent: 	Wednesday, January 28, 1998 8:02 AM
>To: 	apisto@majordomo.pobox.com
>Subject: 	Re: Not too far off topic Fish Joke :)
>
>From Nelson: "Fishes of the World"
>
>Family TRICHOMYCTERIDAE - Parasitic Catfishes
>  Freshwater; South America, Panama, and Costa Rica
>
>About 27 Genera with about 185 species, individuals in the genus 
>Vandellia (a candiru) of Brazil are know to enter the urethra of humans 
>with serious consequences.
>
>I have not located a specific name yet.  Anyone have the TFH Catfish 
>tome handy?  I don't keep that book at work.
>
>Sean Murphy
>Fisheries Biologist
>
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