Darters stand out among waterbirds for their striking silhouettes, specialized hunting style, and global distribution across warm freshwater habitats. They belong to the family Anhingidae, which includes four extant species: the Anhinga (Anhinga anhinga) of the Americas, the African Darter (Anhinga rufa), the Oriental Darter (Anhinga melanogaster), and the Australasian Darter (Anhinga novaehollandiae).

They are often referred to as "snakebirds" due to their long, slender necks that resemble a snake when they swim with their bodies submerged.

Darters are expert swimmers and divers, using their sharp, pointed bills to spear fish and other aquatic prey.