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Chamaeleo chamaeleon - for Goldy


Chamaeleo chamaeleon - for Goldy
Photo Information
Copyright: Bayram Gocmen (boreocypriensis) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3991 W: 153 N: 4799] (12716)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 1998-06
Categories: Reptiles
Camera: Nikon F2
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Cyprus Herpetofauna, Turkish Herpetofauna, Dedications at TrekNature Part Three, Chameleons, Chameleons, Bayram's dedications [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2008-03-29 4:13
Viewed: 1049
Favorites: 1 [view]
Points: 60
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Chamaeleo chamaeleon (Mediterranean Chameleon) [in Turk. Bukalemun, in Cyp. Turk. “Hamolyo” or “Burnukapan”]

A medium-sized reaching a maximum total length of about 30 cm. It is quite different and unmistakable species with a laterally flattened body and characteristic slow movements. The head narrow and high, in adults in the form of a bony helmet: it wears well-pronounced lateral and parietal crests, the later exceeding the level of the neck and forming a postero-dorsally pointed casque. The eyes are fairly big and bulbous, with fused eyelids leaving a small opening for pupil. The eyes can move independently or together for stereo vision. Laterally compressed body is covered by homogenous granular scales. There is a dordal (vertebral) and ventral crest consisting of enlarged scales. The toes are arranged as two opposed to three (reversing in front and hind feet) so that feet are modified to gripping rather than walking. Tail is strongly prehensile and almost of the same length as SVL.

It can change colour rather quickly, the ground colouration may be overlaid by darker or lighter maculations, spots and/or lateral stripes. A medial abdominal yellowish line, extending posteriorly to anus, does not change colour. The females are bigger and heavier-bodied than the males, which have also a relatively higher casque, better pronounced dorsal and ventral crests and a swollen tail base.

Chameleon is strongly arboreal, moves slowly but easily among twigs and branches by means of its grasping feet and prehensile tail; catching various insect preys with a sticky extensible tongue. The eyesight is a dominant sense. It feeds predominantly on arthropods, accepting exceptionaly also small reptiles, as well as fruits, leaves and flowers. It is an oviparous species. The matting takes plase in summer, female deposits 20 or more eggs into burrows dug in soil.

Known range of the species extends from N Africa and Spain to W Asia; including Turkey and Cyprus with a vertical distribution to 700 m. It is stated that the Cyprus race of this species belongs to C. chamaeleon recticrista. Animals from Turkey and Grecee, suggest that eastern Mediterrenean specimens attain larger dimensions than western ones (Portugal, Spain). Furthermore, there seem to be slight hemipenial differences between the two groups. Thus, the population of Cyprus belongs to the eastern Mediterranean form, i.e., C. chamaeleon recticrista.

And today, I would like dedicate this photo to our heartfelt friend (my beloved “Bro”), Goldy GS (goldyrs) from Bhimtal, India for his kind interest my herpetological captures and in thanks for his lovely dedication to me with an endemic species for India, Gharial (Gavialis gangeticus).

Thank you Bro Goldy for the lovely dedication once more. Cheers,


Bayram

Ps. I have posted a capture of a male chamaleon from Paphos (S. Cyprus) before, whereas this one is of a female specimen from Tepebasi (Kyrenia, N. Cyprus) and scanned from a diapositive.

References:
1. Atatür, M. K & Göçmen, B. (2001). Amphibians and Reptiles of Northern Cyprus (1st Edition), Ege Üniversitesi, Fen Fakültesi Kitaplar Serisi, No. 170, Ege Üniversitesi Basimevi, Bornova-Izmir, 63 pp.
2. Budak, A. & Göçmen, B. (2005). Herpetology. Ege Üniversitesi Fen Fakültesi Kitaplar Serisi, No. 194, Ege Üniversitesi Basimevi, Bornova-Izmir, 226 pp. [2nd Edition, 2008].
haraprasan, montivipera, goldyrs, nkasot, mariki, bahadir, xTauruSx, jaycee, zulfu, gerbilratz, spalaxtr, maurydv, gracious, rousettus, kmr13777, degani, CeltickRanger, yasemin, cypturk has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To rousettus: Selamboreocypriensis 1 03-29 18:48
To spalaxtr: Selam Mustafaboreocypriensis 1 03-29 14:42
To goldyrs: Hi Bro Goldyboreocypriensis 1 03-29 05:19
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Critiques [Translate]

Hi Bayram,
A nice capture of this beautiful chameleon. A very good composition with excellent details. Nice dedication. Thanks a lot for sharing.

Selam Hocam,
Hoş bir bukalemun karesi olmuş, elinize sağlık. Slayt taraması ama fazla kayıp olmamış gibi görünüyor. Bukalemunlar çok ilginç sürüngenler gerçekten. Görünce sanki gerçek değil de oyuncakmış gibi geliyor. Paylaşım için teşekkürler.
Naşit

  • Great 
  • mariki Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 989 W: 65 N: 2013] (8401)
  • [2008-03-29 5:03]
  • [2]

Hello Bayram,

Superb picture of this chameleon. Beautiful composition. Good POV, DOF and sharpness. Very nice light and natural colours.
Cheers,
Mariki

  • Great 
  • nkasot Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Note Writer [C: 403 W: 0 N: 38] (189)
  • [2008-03-29 5:05]
  • [2]

Merhaba Hocam, harika bir çekim ve herşeyi ile iyi kompose edilmiş. Sanırım bu çekim Prof. Dr. Mustafa KURU hocamızın "Omurgalı Hayvanlar" kitabının kapağını da süslüyor. Ne kadar paylaşımcı olduğunuzun bir kanıtı olsa gerek. Elinize sağlık. Teşekkürler.
Kıbrıs'tan selamlar.
Nazım

I am overwhelmed, Bro!I never expected any dedication, especially from someone so esteemed and loved for their work, as you!
Thank you so much for the dedication!And this chameleon is so different from the ones we have in India.You've shot it very well, showing very fine details!
Thank you, Bro!
Warm regards,
Goldy

Merhaba Hocam, nefis renkler mükemmel bir çekim. Bundan daha güzelinin olabileceğini tasavvur dahi edemiyorum. Öyle ki değerli bir esere, sizin de Omurgalı Kitabınız olmasına rağmen, herpetolog olmayan çok değerli bir başka Hocamızın Kitap kapağı dahi olmuş. Eğitim ve öğretime verdiğiniz katkıları her şekilde zaten biliyoruz. Bunun için ayrıca teşekkürler. Saygılar,
Bahadır

  • Great 
  • SkyF Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2390 W: 194 N: 1991] (8113)
  • [2008-03-29 6:36]

Hi Bayram,
very nice catch, very sharp and detailed image. The POV is nice, but it would have been great to see more of its face. You made that up with bringing out the great details and the wonderful textures in this interesting chameleon.
FS..Sky

Hocam nefis renkler ve harika bir kompozisyon. Önceki Bukalemuna göre biraz kibar duruşundan da bir dişi olduğu anlaşılıyor. Ayrıca kamuflaja uygun bir desen ver renklenme gelişmiş. Gözlerin koni şeklinde göz kapakları üzerinde geriye doğru dönebileceğini de gösteren güzel bir çekim. Elinize sağlık. Teşekkürler.
Deniz

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1786 W: 8 N: 4638] (14987)
  • [2008-03-29 8:54]

Hi Bayram,

It's nice to see you!! I have only seen chamaleons in picture and this is a wonderful one. A great pose on the branch with the pretty green leaves showing him off so well. Excellent details and colors. That tail is so cute.

Jane

  • Great 
  • zulfu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 527 W: 0 N: 95] (585)
  • [2008-03-29 9:19]
  • [2]

Ben de bu kareyi bir yerden anımsadım derken yazılanları okudum ki haklıymışım. Omurgalı kitabında görmüştüm. Burda görmek ayrıca güzel olmuş sayın hocam. Elkinize sağlık. Teşekkürler.
Mehmet

Hello Bayram,

Very nice capture, you framed him very well, great POV
and colors.. Well done

Everton

Hi Bayram, fascinating Chamaeleo with perfect focus, splendid colors and fantastic details, superb sharpness, very well done, ciao Silvio

Hi Bayram. really good to see a chameleon on the site. This one has really good colouration and fine details. Great composition and excellent POV. regards h

Bayram güzel bir tür. Fotoğrafın da çok güzel olmuş. Ama bu vatandaş niyr kamufle olmamış ki?
Selamlar
Mustafa

Splendida immagine, bellissima composizione, ottimi POV e dettagli, ottima esposizione in condizioni difficili, belli i colori, mi piace moltissimo lo sfondo con chiari e scuri violacei. Grazie e complimenti. Ciao Maurizio

  • Great 
  • joey Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1692 W: 242 N: 5589] (19849)
  • [2008-03-29 15:05]

Very nice shot of this Chameleon! I didn't know you got them in Cyprus! I wish we'd get them here :-)
Excellent light and colours.
Razor-sharp with a lot of detail.
Goldy will love this!
Well done Geckoman!

Joe

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1991 W: 5 N: 5557] (20998)
  • [2008-03-29 15:06]

Hi Bayram. I just love the colours sometimes in the skin . this one has some great markings which you have captured so well with fine detail. i like the way the hang on to the tress, a nice POV. well done Interesting notes.

Nick..

  • Great 
  • Nilson Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 349 W: 0 N: 293] (2220)
  • [2008-03-29 15:43]

Exelente foto muito interessante este animal ficou com uma qualidade ótima esta bela imagem parabéns.
Nilson

Merhaba Bayram,
Selam!
Nice photo for a nice dedication!
Well captured of the Chameleon in a good closeness!
good sharpness and lots of details
TFS
greeting
Tony

yenidünya [şimdi öğrendim ki Italyan yasemini]yaprakları sanırım, Zooloji Kürsüsü veya senin odan aklıma gelince hep bu fotoğraf gelir gözümün önüne. ilk gördüğümde de çok sevmiştim bu fotoğrafı. slayttan taranmasına rağmen, güzelliğinden birşey kaybetmemiş. eline sağlık Bayram abi. iyi geceler.

Hi Bayram,
Great shot with a very interesting BG. Excellent POV and composition. Very nice xposure.

TFS,
Kirti

  • Great 
  • EOSF1 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1330 W: 107 N: 4804] (21334)
  • [2008-03-30 9:14]

Hello Bayram, another great shot with a very good subject, great details and nice composition. The overall quality is very high, thanks!

Mario

  • Great 
  • bahar Silver Star Critiquer [C: 30 W: 0 N: 6] (46)
  • [2008-03-31 1:53]

Merhabalar,
Güzel bir kare yakalamışsınız. Elinize sağlık.
Paylaşım için teşekkürler.
Bahar

  • Great 
  • Mana Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1714 W: 24 N: 4988] (16346)
  • [2008-04-01 9:01]

Hi Bayram,
Wonderful shot of this Chameleon with nice colours and markings on its body. Nice pose captured and though it is in the shade the image is nicely illuminated. I have also posted a few shots of the chameleon species found in India (Indian Chameleon, Chamaeleo zeylanicus). They really are such docile and interesting characters. Excellent POV here to portray it and very nicely composed. Kudos.
TFS.
Sumon

Hola Bayram, cada vez que veo tu galería me pregunto como puedes encontrar tanto reptil jejeje. Desde luego tiene gran mérito a mi entender toda tu colección. Buen encuadre y colores en esta toma, aunque la profundidad conseguida podría mejorarse; hay que aprovechar el momento y todo el material es bueno.
Un abrazo: J. Ignasi

Hi Bayram,
great picture of very nice "camaleonte", this is the name in my language.
As always you give us a beautiful image with a great explanation, bravo dear friend
kind regards
franco

hello Bayram

excellent shot of this Chameleon, with fine POV and framing,
lovely greens colours of the leafs and great details of the subject, TFS

Asbed

Hi bayram
great shot good colours perfect sharpness and also good pov
tfs Toba

BU FOTOGRAFINI BEN DE HATIRLIYORUM. HAMOLYOLAR HEP BOYLE MI. AYAKLARI YANI. NELER OGRENIYORUM SENDEN VALLAHI. SAGOL. ELINE SAGLIK.
LEYLA

Excellent close up of this chamaleon... very nice composition
and great sharpness.. Well done uncle... cypturk

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