Down The Hatch #1

Yes, that is how they eat all the time!

Just stumbled across this interesting capture again! That must be some hungry bird! Still, it seems difficult to me that the bird can deal with this large fish! So the bird was actually able to fit (swallowed alive?!) that whole thing down its long/skinny throat completely somehow?? I have never witnessed an event like this before. I feel somewhat perplexed over how it actually happens, wouldn't the fish stand a chance of escaping or even damaging (it’s sharp fins, wriggling, biting, etc.) the bird's throat/stomach if eaten in that condition?! It’s hard for me to imagine that the resistant fish (wouldn't the prey also go into a desperate "survival mode" once it realized that it hit the stomach?) doesn't turn around inside the elastic gullet and how the bird can keep down/digest such an object with no issues? I don't have much knowledge about these events and am mostly curious, I appreciate any feedback/explanation. Sorry for all of the questions, have a good week ;)

Thank you! No, I don't know what kind of fish the Anhinga is eating. I know only that they swim underwater looking of for fish. When a fish is captured, the Anhinga sticks its head out of the water and proceeds to swallow the fish whole.

Amazing capture! That looks like a big/spiky fish (do you know what kind?) staring down its captor's long/skinny throat here! So does the bird really manage to win the battle and gulp that whole thing okay? Does the fish put up a good fight, if eaten does the unlucky prey get swallowed wriggling all the way down as well?!

Alice, thanks for the feature!

Thanks, Kathy!

Wow! Perfect timing for this shot Carol! f