- Oriental Darter
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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
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.
References
- ^ BirdLife International (2006). Anhinga melanogaster. 2006. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. www.iucnredlist.org. Retrieved on 11 May 2006. Database entry includes a brief justification of why this species is near threatened
Views, plumages
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Immature at Bharatpur.
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At Bharatpur.
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At Bharatpur.
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At Bharatpur.
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At Bharatpur.
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At Bharatpur.
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Adults breeding at Uppalapadu, Andhra Pradesh, India.
Categories:- IUCN Red List near threatened species
- Anhingidae
- Birds of Asia
- Birds of Pakistan
- Birds of South Australia
- Birds of India
- Birds of Malaysia
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