Ocellated Skink-for Haraprasan

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Ocellated Skink-for Haraprasan
Photo Information
Copyright: Bayram Gocmen (boreocypriensis) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3337 W: 139 N: 3764] (9894)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-04-14
Categories: Reptiles
Camera: Olympus C-5060WZ
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Bayram's dedications, Haraprasan's Favs, Cyprus Herpetofauna, Dedications at TrekNature Part Three, Reptiles - Skinks 1 [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2008-04-17 11:52
Viewed: 765
Points: 76
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Chalcides ocellatus (Ocellated Skink) [in Turk. Benekli Kertenkele; in Cyp. Turk. “Bizaska”]

Dear Friends, today I would like to dedicate this beautifull skink capture to one of my beloved and heartfelt friends in TN, Haraprasan Nayak (haraprasan),
Greetings from Cyprus Haraprasan, I wish you all the best my friend!

This skink is a rather stout, thick-necked glossy species with a total length up to 20 cm (even 30 cm in N Africa). Limbs were well-developed and fingers were not reduced. Eyes are of moderate size with well-developed movable eyelids: a transparent disc in lower eyelid. Rostral plate is in contact with nostrils which positoned over the suture between rostral and 1st labial plates; ear opening more or less distinct and triangular in shape. It is situated behind the commissure of the mouth. An average of 28-32 rows (ranging from 24 to 40) of smooth or slightly ridged scales around the midbody. Original tail is nearly equal to body length, however many animals posses a regenerated tail, which is usually shorter. The dorsum is light brown or gray, overlaid by blackish dark spots with white centers, i.e. “ocelli”, arranged in irregular cross-bands. This ocellated pattern is absent in some specimens and also in juveniles. The belly is immaculate, dirty white.

Ocellated skink is a diurnal, secretive terrestrial species. Typically it is found in sandy-pebbly places near beaches, grassy-scrubby slopes in lowlands and hides in crevices of stone walls or in holes in the ground; may also burrow swiftly in sand. It utilizes short and relatively weak limbs during slow motion, but also uses the agile, snake like movements of its body during more speedy locomotion. Food comprises a wide spectrum of invertebrates, depending on seasonal availability and habitat. A viviparous species, females give birth usually to 2-10 juveniles, occasionally more.

Its range includes N Africa, some Mediterranean islands, including Cyprus and W Asia (S Turkey -along with the coastal strip to Kusadasi, Izmir-, Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Jordan, Iraq, Iran, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Oman, United Arab Emirates) with a vertical distribution to 1200 m. Numerious subspecies were described in its wide distribution area. However, it is represented with the nominate subspecies, Chalcides ocellatus ocellatus in Cyprus and adjacent mainland countries and encountered in Messoaria plateau frequently in Northern Cyprus. The local name “Bizaska” (“stripped”) is usually used for both Banded Skink (Trachylepis vitata) and Ocellated Skink (Chalcides ocellatus).

Bayram
gerbilratz, nglen, uleko, kaytan, gracious, zulfu, jaycee, sandpiper2, aes_thor, xTauruSx, montivipera, Jamesp, vanderschelden, haraprasan, Gert-Paassen, bahadir, nkasot, JPlumb, mariki, gannu, goldyrs, marhowie, matatur, JORAPAVI, gpeler, jpdenk, degani, SelenE, yasemin, cypturk has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To vanderschelden: Hi Annickboreocypriensis 1 04-18 10:19
To gannu: Hiboreocypriensis 1 04-18 10:13
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Critiques [Translate]

Hi Bayram, just love this skink, colours, details and composition is excellent. Your notes full of useful and interesting facts...excellent work my friend!! regards h

  • Great 
  • Juyona Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 2073 W: 6 N: 1848] (12714)
  • [2008-04-17 12:00]

Hola Bayram,
buena captura e interesante lizard.
excelente foco y color...
estupendo regalo para Haraprasan.
saludos

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1864 W: 2 N: 4738] (18250)
  • [2008-04-17 12:12]

Hi Bayram. What a fine looking Skink . It has good markings which you have captured well with your sharp focusing and good colours. a nice dedication to our friend . well done TFS.
Nick,,

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2295 W: 163 N: 6692] (21138)
  • [2008-04-17 12:16]

Hello Bayram,
What an interesting and unusual looking Skink. Beautiful colours and patterns and a solid body with small limbs! Excellent capture showing it very sharply against the background. A fine composition too.
Many thanks and best wishes, Ulla

  • Great 
  • PeterZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1085 W: 58 N: 2140] (7179)
  • [2008-04-17 12:18]

Hello Bayram,
Good photo of an unusual animal, the Skink. Nice sharpness, colours and composition.
Regards,
Peter

Merhaba Bayram,
Selam!!
very good closeup on this Skink!
image is in perfect sharpness, natural colour and superb details with a good notes and a nice dedication
greeting
Tony

  • Great 
  • zulfu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 441 W: 0 N: 68] (472)
  • [2008-04-17 12:58]

Bayram Hocam her zamanki gibi mükemmel bir makro!
Zor ışık koşulları altında önemli ve nefis detay veren bir çekim.
Skinkin tüm pul-plak detayları ortada!
Elinize sağlık.

Mehmet

nice portrait, TFS and greetings Ori

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1675 W: 8 N: 4021] (13255)
  • [2008-04-17 13:07]

Hi Bayram,

What a wonderful skink you present to Haraprasan. There is no doubt he will love it - I know I do. It is a beautiful golden color with lovely markings which you show in fine detail. It's almost a shame for him to be there in the dirt.

Jane

  • Great 
  • SkyF Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2447 W: 207 N: 2035] (8113)
  • [2008-04-17 13:10]

Hello Bayram,
at first I thought it is a snake, but I was wrong.
On closer look one discovers the feet of this Skink. Learning a lot through your pictures.
Very nice details and great sharpness.
TFS..Sky

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2413 W: 132 N: 6649] (20861)
  • [2008-04-17 13:14]
  • [2]

Hello Bayram,
A great portait!
Superb shot of an Ocelleted Skink from the E. coast of Cyprus. Technically excellent in all respects and a fine and POV in a lovely diagonal composition.
Beautifully done my friend and thanks for sharing it! Nice tribute to our friend Haraprasan.
Best wishes, Ivan

On Saturday Ulla and I will take week's break from TN but we'll be back!

Hi!
Excellent sharpness and colours. Interesting animal in natural habitat. Good work, all the best in future!
Adrian

Merhaba Hocam,
Bu güzel örneğin harika netlikte bir karesi olmuş, teşekkürler!
Saygılar
Naşit

Selam Hocam, benekli kertenkeleyi çok güzel görüntülemişsiniz. Elinize sağlık. Burda herşey yolunda merak etmeyiniz.
Arkadaşlara selamlar.
Deniz

Ciao Bayram,
molto bello questo esemplare di C. ocellatus.
mi piace molto la sua posizione, con il corpo piegato a S.
Ottima luce e nitidezza perfetta, come al solito.
Cari saluti,
Marcello

  • Great 
  • Jamesp Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1223 W: 0 N: 4446] (13284)
  • [2008-04-17 14:46]

Hi Bayram

Lovely shot - very good composition - the sinous form, plus excellent detail and exposure.

James

Hello Bayram,
If I decide to travel to Cyprus, Bayram, what are my chances to spot all these lizards:-)?
This one is a real beauty.
TFS
Annick

Hi Bayram,

Already an beautiful reptile.
good of details and also good for determination trough all the details.


Have an fine stay in cyprus.

Regards Gert
regards Gert

Mükemmel bir kare hocam. Nefis görüntülemişsiniz. Elinize sağlık.
Bahadır

Herzamnki gibi nefis birçekim olmuş hocam. Elinize, emeğinize sağlık.
Nazım

  • Great 
  • JPlumb Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 654 W: 159 N: 889] (2827)
  • [2008-04-17 23:58]

Hi Bayram, this is a great shot of this Ocellated Skink. You have captured great colour and decent detail on this guy. I like this colour. Most I've seen are darker. This one blends in with the dirt very well. I like how he has taken this irregular shape to present a better pose in the composition. Very nice.

Thanks, John

Hi Bayram,
WOW! what a beautiful looking skink. You sure are master of spotting the reptiles. I really like this dedication to me. Lovely patterns in the body. Excellent composition, POV and sharpness. Thank you very much my friend for this lovely dedication.

Hello Bayram,

An excellent shot of this skink. Very good POV, DOF and sharpness. Very nice natural colours. Superb pic!
Cheers,
Mariki

  • Great 
  • gannu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 729 W: 4 N: 1811] (8606)
  • [2008-04-18 3:14]
  • [+]

Hello bayram,
Lovely and did you not scared? Nice sorroundings and great clarity. Ganesh

Awesome shot, dear bro....
Very well done!
Cheers!
Goldy

Hello Bayram.
Another interesting specie of reptile you bring us..Man, I wish I had your inventory :)
Excellent notes again also.
Very good detail, color, and light.
Well done,
Howard

Hi my dear friend Bayram, splendid focus on this strange creature, I never see before, thanks, fine details and wonderful sharpness, very well done, ciao Silvio

Hola Bayram,
Tipik benekleriyle benekli güzel ifade edilmiş, uygun bakış açısı da tamamının net olarak saptanmasına imkan vermiş. Pozlandırma da uygun olunca ortaya tanıtıcı bir tablo çıkmış - hem de zor arazi şartlarında! Eee, daha ne olsun dostum?
Mehmet

Merhaba Bayram Bey,
Çok güzel net bir yakın çekim. Her nekadar bu yaratıklardan korksamda fotoğrafı çok beğendim. Ellerinize sağlık. İyi bir hafta sonu geçirmeniz dileğiyle. Kıbrıstan selamlar...
Gamze:)

  • Great 
  • joey Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1555 W: 233 N: 5087] (17953)
  • [2008-04-18 12:39]

Wow! That is a very beautiful Skink!
The patterns on its back are really pretty!
Excellent composition and a great POV.
Sharp with lots of detail.
Nice warm lighting too.
Lovely dedication to Haraprasan!
Well done Geckoman!!

Owlman or Joe :-)

  • Great 
  • Nilson Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 342 W: 0 N: 263] (2095)
  • [2008-04-18 13:16]

Ola Bayram
Interessante reptil, suas cores são bem camuflados de acordo com o solo, a nitidez esta otima e a luminosidade da foto tambem, a composição ficou muito boa, quando olhei de primeira pensei que fosse uma cobra mas depois reparei bem vi que era um lagarto, que se camuflou direitinho.
Parabens
Nilson

Hola Bayram,
Extraordinaria la colección que nos muestras, todas con gran calidad en las imágenes, acompañadas de una buena información, gracias por compartirlas. Saludos
José Ramón

Hello Bayram,

Another beautiful animal, and a very nice image of it, shows its markings very clearly.

Thanks,
John

  • Great 
  • degani Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 184 W: 0 N: 255] (2018)
  • [2008-04-20 11:28]

Hi dear friend, you give us another beautiful and interesting little animal, the picture is very nice and the note very kind and interesting, as always for you, bravo Bayram
kind regards
franco

  • Great 
  • SelenE Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2336 W: 59 N: 4112] (13398)
  • [2008-04-20 12:54]

Merhaba Bayram Bey,
Cok ilginc bir kertenkele turu. Detaylariyla guzel bir cekim. Elinize saglik
Selamlar

  • Great 
  • Mana Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1687 W: 20 N: 4738] (15476)
  • [2008-04-20 18:37]

Hi Bayram,
Wonderful shot of this great looking Ocellated Skink. Very impressive sharpness, colours, light and exposure levels. I like your chosen top POV to portray it and the fine marking on its body. Very nicely composed. Kudos.
TFS.
Sumon

NE KADAR GUZEL LEKELI BIR KERTENKELE. RENGI DE TATLI. NE KADAR NET CEKION BUNLARI SENDEN COK SEY OGRENECEM BEN. BU YAZ BASINDA DURACAM OGRET DIYE. ELINE SAGLIK.
LEYLA

What a lovely image of this cute skinc uncle! Razor-sharp image of this fellow with great detail... tfs... kind regards.. cypturk

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