American Anhinga

 The American anhinga is a water bird that is found along the Gulf Coast, Mexico, Central America and much of South America. Their name "Anhinga" means "snake bird" in the Brazilian Tupi language. This is an apt name because anhinga swim low in the water. Often it is only their head and neck showing above the water which can look like a snake. The reason that they swim this way is because they do not produce oils that help waterproof their feathers the way that most other water fowl do. As they swim their feathers become water logged which makes them less buoyant so they sink further down into the water. This lack of buoyancy does help them dive further under the water when hunting. the anhinga's primary food is fish which it usually spears through the side with its long pointed beak. Eventually anhinga's need to dry their feathers. They do this by sitting in the sun with their wings outstretched.