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How long can anhingas remain underwater?
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Pelecaniform
European white pelicans (Pelecanus onocrotalus) in flight.
Anhingas are well-adapted for underwater swimming and often remain submerged for as long as two minutes while waiting to stab passing fish. While typical dives are shorter, a record of nearly seven minutes has been observed in a captive bird.1
These birds are able to submerge from the surface without the need for an aerial dive because their large contour feathers are wettable, trapping little air and keeping their buoyancy low. Because they lack the extensive pneumatization found in more aerial species, they possess a higher specific gravity, which allows them to remain underwater while motionless.2