Chamaeleo chamaeleon-for Mustafa

<< Previous Next >>
Chamaeleo chamaeleon-for Mustafa
Photo Information
Copyright: Bayram Gocmen (boreocypriensis) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3337 W: 139 N: 3772] (9906)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2005-07
Categories: Reptiles
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Reptiles - Chameleons 1, Cyprus Herpetofauna, Chameleons, Syrian Herpetofauna, Bayram's dedications [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2008-02-06 0:38
Viewed: 823
Favorites: 1 [view]
Points: 48
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Chamaeleo chamaeleon (Mediterranean Chameleon)

A quite different and unmistakable species with a laterally flattened body and characteristic slow movements. Total length up to 24-30 cm. The head narrow and high, in adults in the form of a bony helmet. A vertebral ridge formed by 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. The eyes fairly big and bulbous, with fused eyelids leaving a small opening for pupil. The eyes can move independently, or together for stereo vision. Tail strongly prehensile. 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.

It 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. A 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.

The information in here was quoted from our joint book with Prof. Atatur:
Atatür, M. K and 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."(ISBN 975-483-486-5)[A PDF-Printable Version is present in my web site].

The male specimen on the pomegranate tree was photographed in the garden of my family old house (before 1963) from Prastio (Paphos= Baf), when we visit the Southern Cyprus in July 2005. Mediterranean Chameleon is called as “Hamolyo” in local peoples of Cyprus.

Today, I would like to dedicate this photo to my friend and colleague, Dr. Mustafa SÖZEN (spalaxtr) who is also one of the expert mammalogists in Turkey.
nkasot, kebapci, bahadir, xTauruSx, zulfu, haraprasan, matatur, rousettus, Ena, cicindela, degani, meyerd, montivipera, yasemin, cypturk has marked this note useful
Only registered TrekNature members may rate photo notes.
Add Critique [Critiquing Guidelines] 
Only registered TrekNature members may write critiques.
Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To Bufo: Hello Jacopboreocypriensis 1 02-12 14:20
To meyerd: hello Dietrichboreocypriensis 1 02-09 13:53
To degani: hello Francoboreocypriensis 1 02-08 01:47
To cicindela: hello Radomirboreocypriensis 1 02-07 12:22
My Ratingjaycee 1 02-06 17:42
To rousettus: :)boreocypriensis 2 02-06 09:17
To joey: Hello Joeboreocypriensis 1 02-06 08:32
To Ena: Hello Enaboreocypriensis 1 02-06 08:29
To jaycee: helloboreocypriensis 1 02-06 08:27
To matatur: helloboreocypriensis 1 02-06 08:21
To haraprasan: Hello Haraprasanboreocypriensis 1 02-06 08:12
To kebapci: :)boreocypriensis 2 02-06 02:45
To sandpiper2: Halo Chrisboreocypriensis 1 02-06 02:12
To Jamesp: Hello Jamesboreocypriensis 1 02-06 02:10
To zulfu: hahahaboreocypriensis 1 02-06 02:07
To xTauruSx: heheboreocypriensis 1 02-06 02:05
To inked: Hello Gethinboreocypriensis 1 02-06 02:04
To spalaxtr: Selam Mustafaboreocypriensis 1 02-06 01:59
To bahadir: ciaoboreocypriensis 1 02-06 01:56
To mariki: Hello Marieboreocypriensis 1 02-06 01:16
To nkasot: :)boreocypriensis 1 02-06 01:03
To Argus: Hello Friend Ivanboreocypriensis 1 02-06 00:53
You must be logged in to start a discussion.

Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2416 W: 132 N: 6653] (20877)
  • [2008-02-06 0:43]
  • [2] [+]

Hello Bayram,
My neighbour for today!
Great capture of a Mediterranean Chameleon with fine technical qualities and an excellent pose on a tree branch. Would love to see this in Cyprus and thanks for sharing this superb image.
Nice dedication to our friend Mustafa! I'm sure he will appreciate it.
Well done my friend,
Ivan

  • Great 
  • nkasot Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Note Writer [C: 354 W: 0 N: 38] (183)
  • [2008-02-06 0:54]
  • [4] [+]

hocam Kıbrıs'ı fethetmişsiniz süper fotoğraf valla. tebrik ederim.

Hello Bayram,

Beautiful picture of this chameleon. Good composition, POV and DOF. Very nice detail.
Very well done,
Cheers,
Mariki

Paphos is a productive area in terms of biodiversity. I am sad that you are not a resident there anymore. Could get the same species in the north also?

Selam Hocam çok güzel bir bukalemun resmi olmuş. Elinize sağlık.
Baha

Sevgili Bayram çok teşekkürler, hediyene bayıldım. Bu hayvan benim hemşerim sayılır. Küçükken Manavgat'ta bir kaç defa görmüştüm. Bu sefer kamufle olmayı unutmuş ve belirgin bir şekilde ortaya çıkmış bukalemun. Senin fotoğraf sandığı epey dolu görünüyor. Her gün yeni ve güzel bir türle çıkıyorsun ortaya. Eline sağlık. Paylaşımın ve güzel hediyen için tekrar telekkürler.
Selamlar.
Mustafa

  • Great 
  • inked Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 125 W: 0 N: 214] (634)
  • [2008-02-06 1:48]
  • [+]

hi Bayram,
what an unreal looking lizard.. fantastic capture. well composed and great focus. love the pose with those weird mitten like hands and tail wrapped around the tree. nice pic to have dedicated. great job and thanks for sharing.
Gethin

Mükemmel bir bir görüntü! Bukalemunun tüm özellikleri ortada! Kamuflaj ön bacaklardan başlamış, hissediliyor. Elinize sağlık hocam.
Deniz

  • Great 
  • zulfu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 441 W: 0 N: 68] (472)
  • [2008-02-06 1:56]
  • [3] [+]

çok güzel bir resim. elinize sağlık birde arazide canlısını görmek nasip olsa tam süper olacak :))

Hi Bayram

A interesting posting - great detail and even exposure. Your shot shows this species very well - all the main features.

A couple of years ago I went to Madagascar, which as you know has more chameleon species than anywhere else - I think I saw about 8 - 10? species.

James

Hi Bayram

I didn't know they had these guys on Cyprus.
Great sharpness and DOF and I like grey colour on this specimen

Chris

Hi Bayram,
A lovely capture of this beautiful chameleon. Excellent details and a very good composition. Non the less a very good dedication. Thanks a lot for sharing.

Holaa and "thank you" Bayram, for uploading a shot of one of my favourite reptiles today. This is a little "contra lumiere" capture, but still, your exposure was good enough to provide us with great detail of the chameleon's flank pattern and coloration. TFS my friend.
Mehmet

Hi Bayram,

Just marking the spot - be back later.

Jane

  • Great 
  • joey Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1555 W: 233 N: 5091] (17959)
  • [2008-02-06 7:56]
  • [+]

This guy has quite a blunt nose for a Chameleon!
I have to say that I have never heard of this species before so thanks for sharing this and widening my knowledge on Chameleons :-)
Very sharp with incredible detail and superb clarity.
Nice colours and good lighting.
Looks like he's got some problem with his camouflage machanism ;-)
Well done Bayram.
Thanks,
Joe

Hacı ne yaptın ya:) benim arkadaşıma ede ede bu kalemunu hediye ettin:)) hemen kızma takıldım biraz. güzel çekim, hele doğal ortamlarında olunca daha da güzel oluyor. eline sağlık.
türler ilgili notların her zamanki gibi güzel hazırlanmış. yıllar sonra tekrar babaocağına gidip görebilmen de pek güzel, sanırım epey duygusal anlar yaşamışındır.
selamlar.

Hello again!
Also this time you presented an interesting species. I do not remember it from earlier posts on TN.
Nice dedication to Mustafa Sozen :)
Friendly yours,
Radomir

  • Great 
  • Ena Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 360 W: 60 N: 569] (2319)
  • [2008-02-07 1:49]
  • [+]

Selam Bayram,
Beautiful animal!
Nice POV!
TFS
Ena

hi Bayram,
I live in the mediterranean area but never saw such a beautiful animal, you have taken a very nice picture of it, very interesting not too, many compliments
ciao
franco

Hi Bayram,
excellent, this picture of a Chamaeleon. You can study all details the strange paired toes, the eye. But the absolute top is the note that accompanies the picture. I learn about your parents former home, about your publications, your colleague Mustafa (good idea to dedicate the picture to him!). Its a privilege to look at your gallery on TN! Thank you very much for your presentation.
My best regards Bayram,
Dietrich

  • Great 
  • Bufo Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 436 W: 72 N: 1007] (4233)
  • [2008-02-12 13:01]
  • [+]

Hello Bayram,
wonderful capture of this chameleon. It is amazing how many camouflage colours this animal can get. Next May I will be going to Andalucia, Southern spain with my family. I hope to see the chameleon there in the ever diminiscing habitat :-(
Regards, Jacob

Merhaba Hocam,
Doğal ortamında güzel bir bukalemun çekimi olmuş. Paylaşım ve bilgiler için teşekkürler.
Saygılar
Naşit

Ne guzel hamolyo bu:) kucukken cok gorurduk. Her tarafi net nefis bir kare. Eline saglik.
Leyla

Bu cok guzel dayi. kucukken cok oynardik bunlarla. harika cekmissin. eline saglik. notlar gene cok egitici... selamlar.. cypturk

Calibration Check
















0123456789ABCDEF