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Cyprus Lizard-for all my TN friends


Cyprus Lizard-for all my TN friends
Photo Information
Copyright: Bayram Gocmen (boreocypriensis) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 4073 W: 153 N: 4818] (12768)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-04-13
Categories: Reptiles
Camera: Olympus C-5060WZ
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Bayram's dedications, Cyprus Herpetofauna, Dedications at TrekNature Part Three, Reptiles - Lizards, Chuckwallas, Agamas & Tegus 3 [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2008-04-16 1:13
Viewed: 849
Points: 60
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Phoenicolacerta troodica (Troodos/Cyprus Lizard)

Dear my “heartfelt and beloved” friends, I dedicate this capture to my all “beloved and heartfelt” friends in TN!
Greetings from Cyprus,

This species is known only from Cyprus Island as an endemic species with a vertical distribution to 1200 m. (Troodos Mountain, Southern Cyprus). However, it is also a coastal species in Northern Cyprus.

A diurnal active lizard with a total length around 12-20 cm. Rostral plate in contact with external nares; 2 postnasal plates; 5 supralabial plates in front of subocular plate; supraciliary granules above the eye usually in a complete row (97%); a large masseteric scale in temporal region; 51-68 rows of indistinct keeled dorsal scales at mid-trunk; ventral plates in 6 longitudinal rows; femoral pores between 19-24. In median gular region, scale numbers are 25 in average. The dorsum is gray, greenish-brown with dark spots or maculations. Flanks with a longitudinal dark stripe (temporal band), above which greenish-white round spots are present. Parallel subtemporal bands extend below the temporal bands down to the base of hind legs at least, or to the mid level of the tail. The venter is yellowish-white or light green, lateral parts with blue spots. Chin, throat and venter brick red in breeding season.

It inhabits sandy slopes, arid and vegetated areas, cultivated fields, loose garden walls, rocky and stony damp places; sometimes arboreal. Feeds on insects. A female lays 2-6 eggs.

Closely related species, Phoenicolacerta laevis (Syrian or Hatay Lizard) is distributed in Turkey, Syria, Lebanon and Israel. In both the lateral colour pattern of the body and the fairly dark-coloured window of large scales in the lower eyelid, the Cyprus specimens closely resemble P. kulzeri (Kulzer’s Rock Lizard or Petra Lizard) known from Syria, Lebanon, Israel and Jordan. However, they are also similar to Anatolian P. laevis specimens in general colouration, for example a strong orange-red colour on the ventral side during breeding season. P. troodica also differs from P. kulzeri in ventral colouration and in some pholidosis characteristics, e.g., absent or small-sized massetericum in temporal region. Habitats of the Petra Lizard and Troodos Lizard are different from each other. While the Petra Lizard is an arid form, the Cyprus form likes a relatively moist habitat, which is similar to the habitat of Hatay Lizard. Phoenicolacerta troodica differs from P. laevis in the following morphological characteristics: in P. laevis, median gularia (gular scale numbers in a medial longitudinal row) number is less (average 20), gular scales larger; the subtemporal “lines” below the temporal bands extend down to the mid-trunk level and also, supraciliary granules usually not in a complete row. Regarding blood-serum proteins, we found qualitative differences in both albumin and globulin proteins between the Hatay and Cyprus Lizard, which confirmed that the Cyprus and Hatay Lizard populations are clearly distinct species. Actually the Cyprus Lizard is accepted as P. troodica rather than the subspecies of P. laevis as previously suggested by us.

The male specimen on the decayed trunk was photographed in the subforest (610 m asl) of Esentepe, Kyrenia.

Bayram
nkasot, zulfu, SelenE, bahadir, haraprasan, xTauruSx, mariki, degani, vanderschelden, marhowie, goldyrs, Gert-Paassen, jaycee, spalaxtr, gerbilratz, matatur, kaytan, Silvio2006, rousettus, CeltickRanger, gannu, jpdenk, Luis52, montivipera, yasemin, cypturk has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

Kıbrıs'tayken Kıbrıs'a endemik bir tür!
Hem de bir sürüngen! Tam size göre hocam.
Elinize sağlık. Kompozisyon da çok güzel.
Nazım

  • Great 
  • zulfu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 528 W: 0 N: 95] (585)
  • [2008-04-16 2:36]

Nefis bir Kıbrıs Kertenkelesi karesi. Renkler ve kompozisyon mükemmel. Elinize sağlık.
Mehmet

  • Great 
  • SelenE Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2352 W: 61 N: 3814] (12240)
  • [2008-04-16 2:38]

Merhaba Bayram Bey,
Zor bir isikta guzel bir cekim yapmissiniz, tonlamalar cok guzel olmus. Elinize saglik
Selamlar

Hocam o sıkı bitki örtülü orman altında bu görüntüyü alırken yanınızda olmak ayrı bir haz. O ortamdan bu görüntüyü alsanız alsanız ancak siz alırdınız zaten. Elinize sağlık.
Bahadır

Hi Bayram,
A nice capture of this beautiful Cyprus lizard. Very good composition and DOF. Excellent details and a very good POV with natural environment. Thanks a lot for sharing.

Ooo Hocam. Zor arazi koşullarında böylesi güzel bir kare neredeyse imkansızken, renklerdeki güzellik ve neredeyse tüm pul detayları bariz bir şekilde görülebiliyor. Elinize sağlık.
Oldukça fantastik bir enstantane aynı zamanda.
Teşekkürler.
Deniz

Not: Kıbrıs'taki diğer arkadaşlara da selamlar.

Hello Bayram,

Nice picture of this lizard. Good composition and sharpness. Good natural background.
Cheers,
Mariki

Hi my friend,
you give us another beautiful reptile in this nice picture, really a great work Bayram, have a good time in Cyprus
kind regards
franco

Very good capture, Bayram.
Beautiful sunlight and thus colors. The latter are really matching. Subtle and peaceful due to the monochromatic colors.
Very good (as always) in depth note, Professor.
Well done
TFS
Annick

Good diagonal composition, details, and DOF Bayram.
I think the woods textures and details add well also.
I like the BG in shadow, with the lizard coming out into the sunlight FG :)
Well done,
Howard

An awesome shot from you, my Brother...
Very well done.
And thaks for dedicating it to all of us...
Cheers!
Goldy

Hi Bayram,

A splendid shot of this reptile.
Good of sharpness and detail.

regards Gert

  • Great 
  • bahar Silver Star Critiquer [C: 30 W: 0 N: 6] (46)
  • [2008-04-16 8:41]

Merhabalar hocam
Elinize sağlık, güzel çekim olmuş.
İyi çalışmalar
Bahar

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1791 W: 8 N: 4653] (15039)
  • [2008-04-16 9:00]

Hi Bayram,

It's wonderful to see a post from Cyprus! What an unusual looking lizard - and needless to say an excellent shot. The trunk makes a wonderful background showing the lizard off very well.

Jane

Bayram merhaba,
Kıbrısta boş durmuyosun anlaşılan, güzel fotoğrafların geliyor. Bu güzel türü Kıbrısta görmüştük sanırım. Fotolarımı bi tarayayım, hiç olmzsa türünü de yazmış olurum. Eline sağlık, Selamlar

Mustafa

Hi Bayram, you have returned...with an excellent lizard. Good colours and a fine composition. It looks so natural and well focused. very nice, tfs regards h,

  • Great 
  • PeterZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1215 W: 68 N: 2524] (8319)
  • [2008-04-16 11:09]

Hello Bayram,
Very beautiful natural colours in this photo. Also in the environment. Good composition and sharpness.
Regards,
Peter

Hola Bayram,
Beautiful specimen expertly caught among the under-forest litter, and again on a fine piece of "woodwork"! Thank you for the general dedication my friend, best of luck to you on your native island.
Mehmet

  • Great 
  • SkyF Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2390 W: 194 N: 1991] (8113)
  • [2008-04-16 12:12]

Hello ayram,
not the easiest lighting you had to deal with on this shot, but I must say you managed it very we;;.
The details are wonderful sharp and the colors came out very nice.
Very nice diagonal composition to show off this little lizard.
tFS..Sky

  • Great 
  • joey Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1697 W: 242 N: 5609] (19923)
  • [2008-04-16 13:17]

What a lovely image of this little Lizard, Geckoman!!
Looks like you're spotting lots of herptiles over there!
Razor-sharp image of this fellow with great detail.
You've handled the dappled lighting expertly.
Very good composition too.
Thankyou for this photo my friend.
Hope to see more from you soon and good luck with the rest of the trip!
Well done!!

Joe

Hi Bayram, thanks for this splendid Lizard and interesting note, perfect focus and wonderful sharpness, very well done my friend, ciao Silvio

[ilk yazdığım ulaşmadan silindi]
öncelikle kendi adıma teşekkür ediyorum, bu güzel ithaflı fotoğraf için. güzel çekim olmuş. Mustafa ile Kıbrısta gördüğümüz türlerden. fotoğraf iyi de haberler kötü, kuraklık çok erken başlamış, küresel ısınma belirtileri bu yıl daha da fazla olacak gibi. özellikle Türkiye'deki yöneticiler ve çiftçiler akıllarını başlarına bu konuda da almalılar, salma "vahşi" sulamadan acilen vazgeçilmeli, DSİ her yere baraj yapıp, toprağı tuzlanmayla öldürmekten vazgeçmeli. neyse... eline sağlık, yavruvatana anavatandan kucakdolusu selamlar.

hello Bayram

great shot of this Cyprus Lizard in movement,
this thing (the movement) adds dynamism to the image,
fine POV and framing, a superb DOF, great contrast
with great sharpness and details, TFS

Asbed

  • Great 
  • gannu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 929 W: 4 N: 2322] (10812)
  • [2008-04-17 5:26]

Hello bayaram,
You managed to find this creature matching to the sorroundings. Excellent compo.WEll done Ganesh

Hello Bayram,

An excellent note and very nice shot of this little lizard.

Thanks,
John

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2470 W: 168 N: 7478] (23630)
  • [2008-04-17 9:31]

Helo Bayram,
Very fine view of this Cyprus lizard captured in the wild. Excellent sharp details and fine colours and I like the decayed wood as a background. Beautiful light too and a fine composition!
Many thanks and regards, Ulla

  • Great 
  • Luis52 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1022 W: 5 N: 2802] (10144)
  • [2008-04-17 10:43]

Hi Bayram.
Great work on the photo of this Lizard. Some times very hard to catch in a good image. I like the colors and the fine pose over this dry wood. The sun light make on it is an extra point.
Many thanks for Your dedication to TN.
Take care My good Friend.
Luis52.

Selamlar Hocam,
Arazilerin sonuçlarını daha siz dönmeden görmeye başladık. Hoş bir ışık kopmoziysonuyla çok güzel bir kare olmuş, elinize sağlık.
Saygılar
Naşit

What a fantastic and artistic capture of this Cypriot endemic species Brother. All details are visible! TFS. Cheers,
Leyla

Superb shot of a Cyprus lizard from the TR N Cyprus. Technically excellent in all respects and a fine and POV in a lovely diagonal composition... tfs... cypturk

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