Anhinga melanogaster

(Vieillot, 1816)

Vernacular names
English : Oriental darter
French : Anhinga d’Asie

Classification
Class : Aves
Order : Pelecaniformes
Family : Anhingidae
Notes : No subspecies known.

Identification
Body length reaching 97 cm for a weight of 1.8 kg and a wingspan of 1.20 m. Very long and thin yellow bill. Brown neck and head, whitish chin. Rest of plumage black with silvery white feathers on back and upper wings.

Range and habitat
The species occurs in southern Asia, from Pakistan, India and Sri Lanka to south China, south to Indonesia, east to Philippines and Sumbawa. Lives near slow moving rivers, lakes and mangroves, with emergent trees.

Conservation
IUCN RED LIST : NEAR THREATENED
CITES : Not Listed
Status : The species used to be common in the wild but has been declining in most of its range because of overhunting, pollution and habitat loss.
Ex-Situ Programs : None known

Observation
Saigon Zoo (Vietnam), Dai Nam Zoo (Vietnam), Bali Bird Park (Indonesia)

 

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