 Anhingas The Anhingas were once placed in the same family as the Cormoramts and
Shags; they are now recognized as not being as closely related as once
assumed. Depending on the author, there are either 2 or 4 species of
Anhinga. These birds are found all over the world, and subsequently
have quite a few different names. The name ‘Anhinga’ is used mainly in
the Americas, and was originally a Brazilian name for the bird. It is
now the genus name. It may catch it’s fishy prey with a fast stabbing
action of the bill. This behaviour has given the bird the other common
name of ‘darter’. When swimming on the surface of the water, their body
is usually under the waterline and only it’s neck and head are seen,
giving it the appearance of a snake, and thus resulting in another
common name ‘Snake bird’. |