Anhinga
Anhinga anhinga
The anhinga (; Anhinga anhinga), sometimes called darter, American darter, snakebird, or water turkey, is a water bird of the warmer parts of the Americas.
About the Anhinga
The anhinga (; Anhinga anhinga), sometimes called darter, American darter, snakebird, or water turkey, is a water bird of the warmer parts of the Americas. The word anhinga comes from a'ñinga in the Brazilian Tupi language and means "devil bird" or "snake bird". The origin of the name is apparent when swimming: only the neck appears above water, so the bird looks like a snake ready to strike. They do not have external nares (nostrils) and breathe solely through their epiglottis, via small opercula at the corners of the beak. The anhinga is placed in the darter family, Anhingidae, and is closely related to the Oriental (Anhinga melanogaster), African (Anhinga rufa), and Australasian (Anhinga novaehollandiae) darters. Like other darters, the anhinga hunts by spearing fish and other small pre
Fun Facts About Anhinga
- The origin of the name is apparent when swimming: only the neck appears above water, so the bird looks like a snake ready to strike.
- Like other darters, the anhinga hunts by spearing fish and other small prey using its sharp, slender beak.
Conservation Status
The Anhinga is classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. This species is currently stable and not at significant risk of population decline.
Taxonomy & Classification
| Order | Suliformes |
| Family | Anhingidae |
| Genus | Anhinga |
| Species | Anhinga anhinga |
Range & Habitat
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