| Oriental Darter | |
|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Pelecaniformes |
| Family: | Anhingidae |
| Genus: | Anhinga |
| Species: | A. melanogaster |
| Binomial name | |
| Anhinga melanogaster (Pennant, 1769) |
|
| Synonyms | |
|
Plotus melanogaster |
|
The Oriental Darter or Indian Darter (Anhinga melanogaster ), sometimes called Snakebird, is a water bird of tropical South Asia and Southeast Asia.
Contents |
The Oriental Darter is a member of the darter family, Anhingidae, and is closely related to American (Anhinga anhinga), African (Anhinga rufa), and Australasian (Anhinga novaehollandiae) Darters.
It is a cormorant-like species that has a very long neck.
The Oriental Darter differs in appearance from American darters most recognisably by its white lateral neck stripe. It builds a stick nest in a tree and lays 3-6 eggs.
It often swims with only the neck above water. It is a fish-eater.