ANHINGA Anhinga anhinga
Anhinga, Darter, Snakebird, there are a host of evocative English names for this strange aquatic species. Like a long-tailed, long-winged cormorant he likes to swim with body submerged and only the snake-like neck visible. In the water he is an agile and efficient hunter of fish, using the sharp, dagger-like bill to impale his prey (not grasping it in the conventional way as does a cormorant). Anhingas are also masters of the air, and there is nothing they enjoy more than leisurely soaring to great heights on rising thermals.
FIGURE 1 - Adult female, PROCOSARA, PN San Rafael (Paul Smith February 2006).
FIGURE 2 - Adult female dorsal drying wings, PROCOSARA, PN San Rafael (Paul Smith November 2007).
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Photographs on this web-site were taken by Paul Smith, Hemme Batjes, Regis Nossent,
Alberto Esquivel, Arne Lesterhuis, José Luis Cartes, Rebecca Zarza and Hugo del Castillo and are used with their permission.
