candiru

noun

can·​di·​ru

¦kandə¦rü

plural -s

: a minute bloodsucking catfish (Vandellia cirrhosa, family Pygidiidae) of the Amazon that commonly parasitizes the gill chambers of freshwater fishes but may enter orifices of human or other animal bodies from which it is dislodged only with great difficulty due to the erectile spines on its gill covers

Word History

Etymology

Portuguese candirú, from Tupi candirú, candérú

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