Oriental Darter:
It was seen that Oriental Darters (Anhinga melanogaster) are getting affected by garbage dumping in Bengaluru’s lake.
- Oriental Darter is also known as the snakebird or Indian darter.
- It is a tropical water bird with a long, slender neck and a sharp, spear-like beak that it uses to impale fish.
- It has a very long, slender, snakelike neck and a long, pointed bill.
- Its neck has strongly developed muscles about a kink in the neck at the 8th and 9th vertebrae that allows it to be flexed and darted forward with rapid force to stab fish underwater.
- It is a water bird of tropical South Asia and Southeast Asia.
- It is found mainly in freshwater lakes and streams.
- They usually forage singly, with the entire body submerged. It darts its neck to impale fish and then brings them out of water.
- Diet: It is an omnivorous species.
- Conservation Status:
- IUCN Red List: Near Threatened
