The Australasian Darter – Anhinga novaehollandiae – is our single member of the Anhinga genus, which has just four species.
All of its members are commonly known as “snake birds”.
You could consider their “snake” as a spearhead, with a brain-powered, spring-loaded, feathered shaft.
The shaft’s spring-loading is via their neck’s unique hinge mechanism, at the 8th & 9th vertebrae.
Darters are spearfishers; underwater, a Darter stalks a fish, then impales it.
All photos show the same female individual, over just a few minutes.
Click here for much more information, and many images.
You may enjoy this earlier post, which shows the genus’s Oriental member, in mortal combat.