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Telescopus fallax (Cat-eyed Snake)


Telescopus fallax (Cat-eyed Snake)
Photo Information
Copyright: Bayram Gocmen (boreocypriensis) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3412 W: 148 N: 4221] (11104)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-04
Categories: Reptiles
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Cyprus Herpetofauna, Snakes - Serpientes - Serpents, RARE or SIGNIFICANT contributions to TN 3 [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2008-02-19 0:31
Viewed: 1058
Favorites: 1 [view]
Points: 38
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Telescopus fallax (Cat-eyed Snake)

A slender necked and broad headed snake with a total length up to 70-80 cm. Eyes small, with vertical pupils. A single preocular; 2 postoculars, rarely I or 3; 8 supralabials, sometimes 7 or 9. 19, rarely 21 rows of smooth dorsal scales at mid-body. The dorsum is gray brown with black maculations, which become faded towards the posterior of body. A dark temporal stripe present. A row of maculations also on flanks. The venter is yellowish-white, with dun-coloured marblings.

It prefers stony areas, sunny rocky slopes, sandy places with bushy plant cover adjacent to roads and ruins. Feeds on lizards and small mammals. Forages at dawn and dusk, killing its prey with venom, then swallowing. It has fangs at back of upper jaw (ophistoglyphous), so not dangerous to man. A female lays 7-8 eggs.

It is widespread in Cyprus, SW Asia, Balkan countries, Turkey and Aegean islands; with a vertical distribution to 1600 m. One of the most frequently encountered snake species in Northern Cyprus and represented with an endemic subspecies, T. f. cyprianus. It has typically 21 dorsal scales at midbody and there are no regular blotches on the tail apart from the other known races of the T. fallax. Therefore, it is very quite different and according to me it should be recognized as full species as T. cyprianus.

A portrait of the species was previously given in TN.
nkasot, mariki, bahadir, xTauruSx, matatur, inked, zulfu, uleko, jaycee, kjpweb, Silvio2006, myosotis_tr, jpdenk, degani, rousettus, montivipera, yasemin, cypturk has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To degani: Hello Francoboreocypriensis 1 02-20 15:14
To jpdenk: Hi Johnboreocypriensis 1 02-20 08:48
To myosotis_tr: selamboreocypriensis 1 02-19 21:49
To Silvio2006: ciao Silvioboreocypriensis 1 02-19 13:21
To gerbilratz: Hello Howardboreocypriensis 1 02-19 13:20
To kjpweb: Hello Klausboreocypriensis 1 02-19 11:21
To jaycee: Hi Janeboreocypriensis 1 02-19 10:46
To uleko: Hi Ullaboreocypriensis 1 02-19 10:44
To zulfu: Teşekkürlerboreocypriensis 1 02-19 02:52
To inked: Hello Gethinboreocypriensis 1 02-19 02:52
To matatur: Selam Hocaboreocypriensis 1 02-19 02:51
To xTauruSx: sğlboreocypriensis 1 02-19 02:50
To bahadir: tşklerboreocypriensis 1 02-19 02:50
To mariki: Hello Marieboreocypriensis 1 02-19 02:49
To nkasot: sağolboreocypriensis 1 02-19 02:48
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Critiques [Translate]

Selam Hocam. Mükemmel bir görüntü. Hayvan adeta size saldıracak gibi duruyor. Elinize sağlık.
Nazım

Selam Hocam nefis bir görüntü. Göz teması harika. Elinize sağlık.
Bahadır

Hocam tek kelime ile mükemmel bir görüntü. Eminim hayvan üzerinize fırlamıştır. Öyle duruyor. Elinize sağlık.
Deniz

Hola Bayram,
That is a very nice and dynamic capture of this beautiful subsp. my friend, it looks like a necklace on our glorious "woodwork", but I couldn't say I liked the unbecoming BG, forgot to put some stones there eh?
Mehmet

  • Great 
  • inked Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 125 W: 0 N: 216] (638)
  • [2008-02-19 1:41]
  • [+]

hi Bayram,
another great snake shot from you today. i really like the pose on this one, almost as if it's about to strike at you, or something. great focus and color, nicely captured and presented. tfs
Gethin

  • Great 
  • zulfu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 479 W: 0 N: 70] (491)
  • [2008-02-19 2:02]
  • [+]

Selam Hocam, sıradışı bir görüntü. Nefis. Hayvan tam vurma pozisyonunda. Elinize sağlık.
Mehmet

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2378 W: 164 N: 7139] (22556)
  • [2008-02-19 9:36]
  • [+]

Hello Bayram,
This snake looks ready to attack! Excellent capture showing interesting details and fine colours. I expect you'd find this in South Cyprus too, or?
Many thanks and regards, Ulla

Hi Bayram,

The positioning of this snake is marvelous! You give us a wonderful view of his cute face and eyes. The colors and marking of the skin are beautiful. My son just came in and I said, "Isn't this beautiful?" His reply was, "Since when do you like snakes?" My answer was, "Since Bayram."

Jane

Good one again! Fine detail and great pose. Great job! Cheers, Klaus

Yet another fine reptile, beautiful POV and great details....wonderful work and excellent knowledge of your subject.

Bayram Hocam;
ellerinize sağlık çok güzel bir çekim.
ayrıca notta çok iyi emeğinize sağlık.
iyi akşamlar
veysel

Hello Bayram,

Very nice composition and POV. Good sharpness. Nice natural colours.
Cheers,

Mariki

Hi Bayram,

Another excellent image from you, caught the animal at just the right time, very nice!

Thanks,
John

Hi Bayram, great portrait of splendid snake, superb sharpness and wonderful details, great colors, very well done, ciao Silvio

hi again Bayram,
spectacula image of this snake that seems to be in the moment of the attac, great picture, bravo
ciao
franco

Ne güzel bir poz bu. Tam da saldırı halinde. Nefis bir çekim. Eline sağlık hacı. Selamlar.

Aman Bayram bu tam sana dogru saldiracak gibi. cok etkileyici bir resim. Eline saglik. Leyla

Merhaba Hocam,
Gerçekten mükemmel bir kare! İyi bakmadığım fotoğraflarınızın arasında ne güzellikler varmış meğer. Elinize sağlık.
Saygılar
Naşit

Great shot of the Cat-eyed Snake - it looks so real!! Super colours and details... tfs uncle... cypturk

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