Designed by Paul Smith 2006. This website is copyrighted by law.
Material contained herewith may not be used without the prior written permission of FAUNA Paraguay.
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.
ANHINGIDAE - ANHINGA
A single species of large, superficially cormorant-like semi-aquatic bird. This species is characterised by its exceptionally long neck, with poorly-differentiated head. An unusual articulation between the 8th and 9th cervical vertebrae gives the neck a noticeable kink, but also provides a powerful forward thrust enabling the bird to “harpoon” fish underwater with the long, dagger-like bill. The bill also possesses serrated cutting edges. The wings are long and the tail is very long with 12 stiff retrices, the outer webs of the central feathers being corrugated. The legs are short, set well-back on the body and are totipalmate - all toes are webbed, including the hallux. Anhingas have a single carotid artery. Take-off is clumsy but they are graceful once airborne, soaring on thermals with a distinctive cross-shaped silhouette. Anhingas have a similar feather structure to cormorants which allows water to penetrate quickly and reduces buoyancy for diving - it is also partially responsible for the reason that they sit low on the water when floating on the surface, with only the neck visible. They are colonial breeders, often in the company of other waterbirds. They undergo a partial moult prior to breeding and a complete moult after breeding resulting in a brief period of flightlessness.
REFERENCES
Campbell B & Lack E 1985 - A Dictionary of Birds - T & AD Poyser.
Johnsgard PA 1993 - Cormorants, Darters and Pelicans of the World - Smithsonian University Press.
Orta J 1992 - Anhingidae Handbook of the Birds of the World Volume 1 - Lynx Ediciones.
