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Project Noah Nature School
Anhinga anhinga
It is a cormorant-like bird with an average body length of 85 cm (33 in), a wingspan of 117 cm (46 in), and a mass of 1.35 kg (48 oz). It is a dark-plumaged piscivore with a very long neck, and often swims with only the neck above water. When swimming in this style the name Snakebird is apparent, since only the colored neck appears above water the bird looks like a snake ready to strike.
Anhinga species are found all over the world in warm shallow waters.
Spotted this snakebird spreading its wings as we driftly slowly in a canoe down the Cuiaba river in the Pantanal. The second photo shows how the bird got its name. They often swim with only the neck above water. When swimming in this style the name Snakebird is apparent, since only the colored neck appears above water the bird looks like a snake ready to strike.
Spotted on Jan 13, 2011
Submitted on May 13, 2011
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