Anhinga

Anhinga anhinga (Linnaeus, 1766)

Anhingidae — Anhingas, Darters

Anhinga is a water bird of North, Middle and South America, breeding from south-eastern USA and west-central Mexico to northern Argentina, as well as Cuba and the Cayman Islands. It belongs to the darter family, Anhingidae, and is also known as the American darter. When it swims, only the neck shows above the surface, giving it a snake-like appearance. It has no external nostrils and breathes through its epiglottis, using small openings at the sides of the bill. Its sharp, slender bill is used to spear fish and other small prey.

Order: Suliformes
Family: Anhingidae — Anhingas, Darters
Breeding range: North America, Middle America, South America: sc, se USA and wc Mexico to n Argentina, Cuba and Cayman Is.