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==External Links== | ==External Links== | ||
{{GSearch|Anhinga+melanogaster}} | {{GSearch|Anhinga+melanogaster}} | ||
| + | *[http://www.orientalbirdimages.org/birdimages.php?action=birdspecies&Bird_ID=1080&Bird_Image_ID=660&Bird_Family_ID=114 View more images of this species on Orientalbirdimages] | ||
[[Category:Birds]] | [[Category:Birds]] | ||
Revision as of 19:34, 4 September 2007
- Anhinga melanogaster
Identification
The Oriental Darter or Indian Darter (Anhinga melanogaster ),is sometimes called Snakebird, It is a cormorant-like species that has a very long neck. The Oriental Darter differs in appearance from African and American darters most recognisably by its white lateral neck stripe.
Distribution
It is a water bird of tropical South Asia and Southeast Asia.
Taxonomy
The Oriental Darter is a member of the darter family, Anhingidae, and is closely related to American (Anhinga anhinga), African (Anhinga rufa), and Australian (Anhinga novaehollandiae) Darters.
Habitat
Lives in large stretches of clean fresh water in lakes and big rivers where it is an amazing diver, spending long periods under water.
Behaviour
It often swims with only the neck above water. It is a fish-eater. It builds a stick nest in a tree and lays 3-6 eggs. It can reduce buoyancy so that only the head comes out of the water but, thus waterlogged, has difficulty running and flapping over the water to get airborne. Spends many hours sitting on an exposed perch with wings held out to dry; roosts communally in open trees.
