Monday, June 4, 2012

>Anhinga melanogaster (Oriental Darter or Indian Darter)

Oriental Darter   or Indian Darter



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

Adult drying its wings at Bharatpur,Rajasthan, India.
The Oriental Darter or Indian Darter (Anhinga melanogaster ), sometimes called Snakebird, 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 Australasian(Anhinga novaehollandiae) Darters.

Description

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.

Behaviour

It often swims with only the neck above water. It is a fish-eater.

Views, plumages


No comments: