Oriental Darter
Anhinga melanogaster
- Family
- Anhinga and Darters (Anhingidae)
- Order
- Suliformes
Overview
The Oriental darter (Anhinga melanogaster) is a water bird of tropical South Asia and Southeast Asia. It has a long and slender neck with a straight, pointed bill and, like the cormorant, it hunts for fish while its body is submerged in water. It spears a fish underwater, bringing it above the surface, tossing and juggling it before swallowing the fish head first. The body remains submerged as it swims, and the slender neck alone is visible above the water, which accounts for the colloquial name of snakebird.
Summary from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Range and habitat
Indus Valley (central Pakistan) southward to Sri Lanka and eastward Greater Sundas, Sulawesi, and Philippines (now only southern Philippines).
Range description: AviList Global Avian Checklist.
Sources and further reading
- Wikipedia: Oriental darter
- eBird: sightings, maps and photos
- xeno-canto: sound recordings
- Birds of the World: full species account (subscription)
- BirdLife DataZone: status and threats
- IUCN Red List (threat status)
- AviList global checklist (taxonomy)
Last updated September 29, 2026.