CANDIRU: VAMPIRE CATFISH of the AMAZON!

[E_americanus]

The Aquarium Society of Ann Arbor (ASAA) is proud to present, for our October meeting:

"Candiru: Vampire Catfish of the Amazon"

Richard Kik (aka Brooklamprey/Polypterus on the forums ), Naturalist for the Belle Isle Nature Zoo, will be presenting his latest research, photos, and video on the fact & fiction behind these unique and little understood parasitic catfishes.

These fishes are the blood-feeding parasites native to South American river systems and made infamous by their 'attacks' on humans. For a little more information on the candiru, feel free to do a google search, you may be shocked at what you find!

LIVE specimens of various species will be on display, most of them never-before-seen by the public! Refreshments will be provided, as well as plenty of time for socialization and Q & A with the speaker.

Meeting info:
Meeting is FREE!!!
Date: Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Time: 7:00 pm
Place: University of Michigan Exhibit Museum of Natural History - 2nd Floor Exhibit Hall*
Web address: http://sitemaker.umich.edu/aquarium.society/events_calendar

*Please note change of venue from our regular meetings. DIRECTIONS can be found here:
http://www.exhibits.lsa.umich.edu/exhibitmuseum/visiting/directions/

Please feel free to forward, distribute, and post this information to other interested parties.

If you have any questions about the meeting or the ASAA in general, please email ASAAexec@umich.edu. We hope to see you there on Tuesday, October 23!--
--solomon

 

[Geo_Master]

I want one!

 

[Mr Pleco]

Aren't these the fish that swim into human orfices and do some painful damage before there discovered?

 

[Polypterus]

Aren't these the fish that swim into human orfices and do some painful damage before there discovered?

They are rather infamous for this and there are documented cases of them mistaking certain orifices for a prey item...There is a whole lot more to them then just this though...

 

[davo]

More than women than men no?
Anyhow what about our international members... there going to be a webcam livefeed... sounds interesting, anyone who has the chance should go.

 

[Onion01]

RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

When I read UM, I was like "yeah, frickin sweet", cause i am a university of miami student. But it is the other UM. Bollocks

 

[Acestro]

ah, I wish I could see this. We'll have to share talks sometime Rikki...

 

[E_americanus]

for those who can't make it, we'll be sure to take a lot of pics, and perhaps we'll be able to something to make portions of the talk more "online accessible". either way, we are grateful to have richard share his research & experiences with these unique fishes!--
--solomon

 

[Onion01]

for those who can't make it, we'll be sure to take a lot of pics, and perhaps we'll be able to something to make portions of the talk more "online accessible". either way, we are grateful to have richard share his research & experiences with these unique fishes!--
--solomon

I am holding you to this

 

[guppy]

For those who want one of these, check your local laws as many states have outlawed the genus.