anhingas

Anhingas are a genus of birds belonging to the family Anhingidae. There are four extant species, commonly found in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide. These birds are often referred to as "snakebirds" due to their habit of swimming with only their necks visible above the water, resembling a snake.

Anhingas are water birds, typically found in shallow freshwater lakes, rivers, swamps, and estuaries. They are excellent swimmers and divers, using their webbed feet to propel themselves through the water. Unlike many other water birds, anhingas do not have oil glands to make their feathers waterproof. Instead, they deliberately soak their plumage, which allows them to dive and swim with less buoyancy. After diving, they will often perch with their wings spread to dry their feathers.

Their diet primarily consists of fish, but they also consume amphibians, crustaceans, and insects. Anhingas hunt by spearing their prey with their sharp, pointed beak. They swallow their catch whole, often headfirst.

Anhingas are monogamous and typically nest in colonies, often alongside other water birds. The nest is usually a platform of sticks built in trees or shrubs overhanging water. Both parents share in incubating the eggs and caring for the young. The chicks are altricial, meaning they are born helpless and require significant parental care.