darter

darter or anhinga (ănhĭng`gə), common name for a very slender, black water bird very closely related to the cormorant. It frequents the wooded borders of freshwater lakes, rivers, and swamps in tropical and warm temperate regions—in America, from the SE United States to Cuba and Argentina; in Africa, S of the Sahara desert; in Asia, in the southern regions; and also in Australia and New Guinea. Darters (Anhinga anhinga) eat fish, crustaceans, reptiles, and insects, attacking their prey with rapierlike thrusts of their sharp beaks, whence the name darter. Another common name, snake-bird, describes the darter's habit of swimming with its body submerged and only the snakelike head and long, curved neck exposed. In the S United States darters are called water turkeys, for no apparent reason. They nest in small colonies with ibises and herons, building bulky nests lined with leaves. The helpless young are fed by regurgitation. Darters are strong fliers and migrate annually. They are classified in the phylum Chordata, subphylum Vertebrata, class Aves, order Pelecaniformes, family Anhingidae.

---

darter

Any of about 100 species of small, slender freshwater fishes (family Percidae), native to eastern North America. Darters live near the bottom of clear streams, darting quickly about when disturbed or when feeding on small aquatic animals such as insects and worms. They have two dorsal fins and often are brightly coloured. Most species are 2–3 in. (5–7 cm) long, but some grow to 9 in. (23 cm). Some species lay their eggs and abandon them; the males of other species establish a nest and guard the eggs until hatched. See also snail darter.