5.16.2005

Evidence of Evolution

Beware the candiru fish if you ever find yourself trudging through the Amazon or any of its many tributaries. It is a cruel little beastie, attracted by the scent of urine, it swims to the source and attaches itself. In the case of the incautious human male emptying his bladder, this may mean the fish swims up his urethra and implants itself, its barbed head making extraction exceedingly difficult and mind-blowingly painful.

The fish came to my attention while watching part of the Deep Jungle series on PBS. It was a very quick reference and the show continued on its way, leaving me aghast and agog wondering, "WHAT?!" and wanting more information.

So here it is....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Candiru

Why, then is this evidence of evolution? Only the cruelest god would spend his time concocting such a thing - yes, only by accident could an idea as sublime as this take form.

Highly recommend the Deep Jungle series - it's filled with fascinating information.

5 comments:

Dan said...

Good God! It sounds like an animal made up on the Monty Python Show!

C.F. Bear said...

All animals play an important role in our fragile web of life. Even though we don't truly understand the purpose for it's existance, we must respect the crazy powers it has. Wear a condom when swimming in the Amozon River. Oh, and please don't pee in the river.

Dan said...

C'mon! Have a heart. Join me and sacrifice your weenie in the name of perpetuating this wonderful symbiotic relationship.

Pat said...

Yeah - symbiotic relationship my ass.

Symbiosis implies that there's some shared value. A barbed fish in my weenie does nothing for me, nor for any other hapless animal that it might choose to work its magic on.

C.F. Bear said...

It's nature's environmental police. It was designed to stop environmental polluters and to bring them to justice. All of those animals and humans who piss and shit while in the water will have to answer to it. It is really very ironic. It must feel good to poop and pee in the water and to have that water carry your ickiness away? That good feeling, not sure about that, is contrasted with the pain of a nasty little fish eating and digging it's way around those openings. Alanis Morreset should have sang about it on her albumn.