CLASS AVES

Anhinga

Animals Kingdom (Animalia)

• Chordates (Phylum Chordata)

• Vertebrates (Subphylum Vertebrata)

• Birds (Class Aves)

The Anhinga Anhinga is a large aquatic bird found in fresh and brackish wetlands across the Americas. It has a wide range, stretching from southeastern Canada and the southern United States into the Caribbean, Central America, and northern South America. Anhingas belong to a small group of birds called the darters, and they look a bit like cormorants. These birds feed on fish, frogs, crustaceans, and other aquatic prey, typically by diving or quickly surfacing from the water. Anhingas have a unique and striking appearance, with dark brown feathers on their wings and backs, white feathers on their chests and bellies, and long, S-shaped necks. They are often called “snakebirds” due to their ability to swim with just their heads and necks above the water.