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Dolichophis jugularis - for Dejan


Dolichophis jugularis - for Dejan
Photo Information
Copyright: Bayram Gocmen (boreocypriensis) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3408 W: 148 N: 4196] (11036)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-09
Categories: Reptiles
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Cyprus Herpetofauna, Snakes - Serpientes - Serpents, Bayram's dedications [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2008-02-11 0:27
Viewed: 791
Favorites: 1 [view]
Points: 58
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Cyprus Black Whip Snake & Cannibalism - for Dejan

Black Whip Snake, Dolichophis jugularis, up to maximum 2.5 -even 3 m in Cyprus -total length, black when adult but grey peppered black and white when young (up to approx. 1 m), is an active diurnal snake with its ferocious, “relatively docile” behaviour. It is widespread in Cyprus, Turkey, Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, Jordan and Israel with a vertical distribution up to 1400 m. and represented with three subspecies in known distribution area:

1) C. j. jugularis, with red throat, in Anatolia and northern Syria,
2) C. j. asianus, with black and white throat, in southern Syria, Lebanon, Jordan and Mediterranean Israel, and
3) C. j. cypriacus, with mostly black venter, anteriorly speckled with some red, which is an endemic subspecies of the island of Cyprus.

It lives in dry, open places, rocky river banks, rocky-stony slopes, fields and swamps; can also be seen in gardens, vineyards and cemeteries. It shelters under stones and in rodent galleries. It is known to feed mainly on rodents (especially mice and rats) and lizards; sometimes even on other snakes. Since it consumes crop-harming rodents, it was used in agricultural pest control in Cyprus.

Cannibalism, intraspecific predation, is an important and widespread process and may be a major factor influencing population structure, life history, competition for mates and resources, and behavior. Actual field reports on cannibalism in colubrid snake species are scarce. During field work in the Mediterreanean ecozone of Yeşilyurt (=Pendeya)-Güzelyurt, Northern Cyprus, in the middle of September 2007, we observed and photographed a -“fourth”- case of cannibalistic behavior (see photo) between two juvenilles in a natural habitat (citrus grove). The two were biting each other behind the head, and although they responded to our presence they did not separate and continued to bite each other.
Since our observations and findings on this topic are now in publication, sadly I can not give more additional explanation. when it published I will add a link here that you can see and read its PDF file with additional interesting photos on the cannibalism! Sorry friends! I hope you will understand this situation. Thanks…

And today, I would like to dedicate this close up capture to our friend in TN, Dejan Kulijer (dejo) who is also a biologist from Sarajevo, Bosnia & Herzegovina.
Ena, cataclysta, mariki, elefantino, Jamesp, horia, spalaxtr, kebapci, JORAPAVI, xTauruSx, nkasot, zulfu, matatur, bahadir, dejo, uleko, inked, jpdenk, degani, meyerd, rousettus, yasemin, montivipera, cypturk has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To cypturk: Hi Cousinboreocypriensis 1 06-15 16:43
To meyerd: hello Dietrichboreocypriensis 1 02-14 12:08
To degani: hello Francoboreocypriensis 1 02-12 22:36
To jignasi: ciao Ignasiboreocypriensis 1 02-12 10:13
To inked: hello Gethinboreocypriensis 1 02-12 07:22
To Ena: Hello Enaboreocypriensis 3 02-11 23:09
To uleko: hello Ullaboreocypriensis 1 02-11 13:45
To jaycee: Hello Janeboreocypriensis 1 02-11 13:42
To dejo: hello Dejanboreocypriensis 1 02-11 13:36
To vanderschelden: hello Annickboreocypriensis 1 02-11 13:35
To bahadir: sğlboreocypriensis 1 02-11 13:25
To matatur: selam Hocamboreocypriensis 1 02-11 13:24
To zulfu: sğlboreocypriensis 1 02-11 13:22
To haraprasan: Hello Haraprasanboreocypriensis 1 02-11 13:21
To stomsoncy: slmalar Sami Beyboreocypriensis 1 02-11 13:20
To nkasot: sğlboreocypriensis 1 02-11 13:19
To xTauruSx: sğlboreocypriensis 1 02-11 13:18
To JORAPAVI: Hello Joséboreocypriensis 1 02-11 13:17
To kebapci: slm Ümitboreocypriensis 1 02-11 13:16
To spalaxtr: slm Mustafaboreocypriensis 1 02-11 13:13
To horia: Hello Horiaboreocypriensis 1 02-11 13:10
To Jamesp: Hello Jamesboreocypriensis 1 02-11 13:09
To fragman: shalom Oriboreocypriensis 1 02-11 13:08
To elefantino: Hello Andreaboreocypriensis 1 02-11 13:08
To mariki: hello Marikiboreocypriensis 1 02-11 13:07
To cataclysta: Hello Krzysztofboreocypriensis 1 02-11 13:06
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Critiques [Translate]

Hi Bayram
These time not only good photo but also very informative and interesting presentation. Great moment interesting observation and good note
I like it very much
Krzysztof
PS I am waiting for the pdf file :-)

Hello Bayram,

Very nice picture. Great composition. Good POV and DOF. Very nice natural colours. Very interesting note, I look foward to read the pubication.
Cheers,
Mariki

What a shot! RArely seen such a kind of action shot!
TFS
Andrea

amazing pic, TFS Ori

Hi Bayram

Nice deidcation :) Excellent capture - one to dream of. Great view of both snakes and very well framed. The exposure is also spot-on.

James

  • Great 
  • horia Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2044 W: 212 N: 3655] (12162)
  • [2008-02-11 1:48]
  • [+]

Hi Bayram

Another stunning shot from you! Wow!
I've read about such behavior of snakes, but i never saw such an explicit photo...a true capture!!! I'm sure this will go into your paper :)
The timing and POV here are terrific and they show these two biting each other superbly! Very good details and colors, too.
Very nice work...i will be looking here again for the time you'll post the *.pdf.

Bravo and TFS
Horia

Üff Bayran bu ne yahu, kim kimi yiyecek. Enfes bir kare, çok değerli bir belge. Milyonda bir yaklanacak bir kare. Kutluyorum, Selamlar
Mustafa

En sonunda biri diğerini yedi mi onu söyleseydiniz bari. Cinzel dürtülerin bu tip sırma işlerinde etkisi olabilir mi, genel olarak yani?

Hola Bayram,
Excelente captura, impresionantes los detalles que nos muestras con gran nitidez y acompañados de una completa nota informativa. Saludos
José Ramón

Hocam selamlar. Mükemmel bir olay ve harika bir çekim. Elinize sağlık.
Deniz

BU görüntü karşısında söylenebilecek tek kelime "mükemmel". Elinize sağlık hocam.

Bugüne kadar koyduğun fotoğrafların içinde en güzeli(en ilginci) bu olmuştur.O anı yakalamanın çok kolay olmadığını tahmin edebilirim.Bizimle paylaştığın için teşekkürler

Hi Bayram,
A dangerous but beautiful knot. Very well composed with nice timing and great details. A nice dedication for Dejan. Thanks a lot for sharing.

  • Great 
  • zulfu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 476 W: 0 N: 70] (491)
  • [2008-02-11 7:20]
  • [+]

Hocam mükemmel bir kare ancak ben diğer fotoğrafları da bildiğim için, buna "birşey değil bu" derim:). Elinize sağlık.

A good field capture for a change Bayram, those close relative juveniles obviously do not like each other! Well, this is also present in nature. Good ventage point and relatively good focus, TFS for it my friend.
Mehmet

Çok güzel çekim hocam. Elinize sağlık. Bahadır

Hello Bayram,
I doubt if this is a love bite. Cannibalism: you can say there is some kind of reciprocity involved, I guess;-). I'm not a biologist, don't take my opinion for granted.
Extraordinary moment you captured here, Bayram.
Well done
TFS
Annick

  • Great 
  • dejo Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 354 W: 51 N: 475] (2048)
  • [2008-02-11 7:44]
  • [+]

Hello Bayram!
WOW!!! Fantastic scene captured! And You dedicated this picture to me :) Thank you very much my friend, for this and all great pictures You share with us!
This is fantastic capture, beautiful point of view and great composition!
Very good and informative note, as always!

Best regards,
Dejan

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2375 W: 164 N: 7131] (22536)
  • [2008-02-11 10:48]
  • [+]

Hello Bayram,
Very impressive capture of these two Whipsnakes in combat. I like the POV and the sharp details. Well composed too. We'll have to look out for snakes next time we stumble around in the scrub on Cyprus looking for orchids and birds!!
TFS and regards, Ulla

  • Great 
  • inked Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 125 W: 0 N: 216] (638)
  • [2008-02-12 2:50]
  • [+]

hi Bayram,
great shot of these snakes biting each other at the same time! fascinating! nature never fails to amaze me. fantastic stuff, thanks for sharing! i'll keep my eye out for the pdf. cheers
Gethin

Hi Bayram,

What an amazing shot - must be the first of its kind on TN. It is amazing to see these two snakes biting each other. You captured a great moment. Good natural colors and good details. I love the diagonal composition.

Jane

Buen documento y preciosa composición Bayram.

Saludos: J. Ignasi

hi Bayram,
very nice and well done image, a little cruent the action of these snakes but very interesting also for the note, great job as always for you
ciao
franco

  • Great 
  • Ena Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 359 W: 61 N: 568] (2327)
  • [2008-02-13 3:21]
  • [+]

Selam Bajram,
Interesting shot!
Good details
TFS
Ena

Hi Bayram,

here we are introduced by you to unknown phenomena in biology, wonderful. The picture leaves no doubt, both snakes are biting each other mutually. Great work, Bayram!
I appreciate your extensive notes a lot. Thanks for all.
Best regards
Dietrich

wowww. hem de doğal ortamda bir kannibalizm örneği. Nefis bir belge hoca. Eline sağlık.

AMAN BAYRAM BUNU SIMDI GORDUM. DUYMUSTUM BUNU. YAYINLANMADIMI HALA BU CALISMA? MUTHIS BIR BELGE VE CALISMA BENCE. ELINE SAGLIK.
LEYLA

Hi Hocam,
Splendid capture of cannibalism! Also a very valuable document. So I think we will see this photo in one of your recent papers about cannibalism among Dolicophis jugularis. So we will understand with your paper if it is random, or more than random :) TFS.
Regards
Nasit

That snake an amazing..Perfect shot very good detail and composition...Good work..Very impressive...Kind regards. Merih

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