Trachylepis vittata (Banded Skink)

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Trachylepis vittata (Banded Skink)
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: 2001-03-28
Categories: Reptiles
Camera: Nikon F2
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Theme(s): Cyprus Herpetofauna, Syrian Herpetofauna, Turkish Herpetofauna, Reptiles - Skinks 1 [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2008-03-12 0:31
Viewed: 512
Points: 50
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Trachylepis vittata (Banded/Bridled Skink) [in Turk. Şeritli Kertenkele, in Cyp. Turk. "Bizaska"]

Banded skink is a diurnal, robust skink with a total length up to 20 cm (-females are usually slightly bigger than males-), or slightly longer, with well-developed relatively long extremities. However, it has a more slender body than the closely related species, T. aurata (Golden Skink) which is found sympatrically in some areas (such as W & S. Anatolia). Lower eyelid has a transparent scale. Dorsal scales are nearly equal in size. Nostril within a single plate; nuchal scales keeled; usually 32, rarely 31, 33 or 34 rows of tricarinate body scales around mid-trunk. Although the dorsal scales distinctly tricarinate, general appearance is smooth. The original tail is nearly one and half as long as the body, regenerated tails stay often shorter. It is extremely variable in both colour and pattern. The dorsum usually changes from olive green to brown, with three longitudinal lighter coloured bands (See the today posting), the vertebral band wider than the laterals. Also a light coloured longitudinal stripe on each flank. There may be dark rough maculations between the bands. Some or all of the bands and stripes may be lacking (I will post a new capture later for this appearance), dorsum homogenously coloured without a pattern. The belly is yellowish-white or light green, without maculations. The juveniles possess a distinct striped pattern (see the WS version).

This species is active mainly early in the morning. It is difficult to approach, if disturbed, it hides very quickly. It lives in bushy-scrubby and rocky places of open areas or forests, hiding among the roots of bushes or under stones. Autotomy of the tail is well developed. It feeds on insects and other small invertebrates. Itraspecific predation (i.e., cannibalism) has also been reported. It is a ovoviviparous species, a female gives birth to 5-10 young in summer months.

It is known from N Africa (Algeria to Egypt), Turkey (W, S, and partly C Anataolia) and E Mediterranean countries (Israel, W Jordan, Lebanon, W. Syria, N Iraq & W Iran), including N and S Cyprus plus Rhodes; with a vertical distribution to 1000 m. Occurs everywhere in N Cyprus.

Ps. Both two captures were scanned from diapositives

Bayram
Jamesp, bahadir, gerbilratz, nkasot, Argus, zulfu, Gert-Paassen, xTauruSx, sandpiper2, goldyrs, ellis49, jaycee, mariki, matatur, fiyo, rousettus, mlines, yasemin, montivipera, cypturk has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To joey: Hello OwlMan:-)boreocypriensis 1 03-17 14:14
To mlines: Hi Murrayboreocypriensis 1 03-14 01:34
To rousettus: Teşekkürboreocypriensis 1 03-13 16:52
To vanderschelden: Hi Annick:-)boreocypriensis 3 03-13 12:34
To fiyo: Teşekkürboreocypriensis 1 03-12 23:51
To matatur: Teşşekürboreocypriensis 1 03-12 13:52
To maurydv: Ciao Maurizioboreocypriensis 1 03-12 13:51
To mariki: Hello Marieboreocypriensis 1 03-12 13:50
To Nilson: Ola Nilsonboreocypriensis 1 03-12 13:50
To jaycee: Hello Friend Janeboreocypriensis 1 03-12 13:49
To ellis49: Hi Gertboreocypriensis 1 03-12 07:53
To goldyrs: Hi Broboreocypriensis 1 03-12 07:52
To sandpiper2: Hi Chrisboreocypriensis 1 03-12 04:15
To xTauruSx: sağolboreocypriensis 1 03-12 02:05
To Gert-Paassen: Hi Gertboreocypriensis 1 03-12 02:02
To Silvio2006: Ciao Silvioboreocypriensis 1 03-12 02:01
To zulfu: :)boreocypriensis 1 03-12 01:37
To Argus: Hi Ivanboreocypriensis 1 03-12 01:32
To nkasot: Teşekkürboreocypriensis 1 03-12 01:06
To gerbilratz: Hi Howardboreocypriensis 1 03-12 00:59
To bahadir: Teşekkürlerboreocypriensis 1 03-12 00:58
To Jamesp: Hi Jamesboreocypriensis 1 03-12 00:54
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Critiques [Translate]

Hello Bayram

A lovely capture of this skink. Excellent POV with good colour and detail and as usual. excellent note.

James

Günaydın Hocam. Her iki fotoğraf da hem çok güzel hem de doğal ortamında. Slayt tarama olmalarına rağmen rezolüsyondan kayıp nerdeyse hiç olmamış. WS deki juvenil çok güzel. Elinize sağlık.
Bahadır

Hello Bayram...a skink, I love skinks...great picture of this one...lovely markings...great information...

Nefis bir Şeritli kertenkele örneği hocam. WS deki genç örnek de öyle.Elinize sağlık.
Nazım

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2416 W: 132 N: 6653] (20877)
  • [2008-03-12 1:24]
  • [+]

Hello Bayram,
Nice scan of a fine capture of a Banded Skink, another beauty from Cyprus! Excellent pose and POV and pleasing composition with the skink contrsting well against the dark gritty BG.
Thanks for sharing this beauty,
Best wishes, Ivan

  • Great 
  • zulfu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 441 W: 0 N: 68] (472)
  • [2008-03-12 1:35]
  • [+]

Karelerin her ikisi de güzel hocam. Ama ben WS'deki genç formu daha çok beğendim. Yani etkileyici olmuş. Teşekkürler.
Mehmet

Ciao Bayram, thanks a lot for all those strange creatures, this one too I never see before, as usual for you splendid details and superb sharpness, very well done, ciao Silvio

Hello Bayram,

Good capture of the Skink.
Natural colors with good sharpness.
Very good note's

Regards Gert

Hocam yine nefis kareler ve mükemmel hazırlanmış bilgiler. Elinize sağlık.
Deniz

Hi Bayram

Good shot of this skink and well converted from slide to digital. the markings are interesting and remind me of several species of Australian Ctenotus that live in similar habitats to your skink.

Chris

Bro,
Excellent POV with good colours and detail and as usual. excellent note.Very well done!
Thanks!
Regards,
Goldy

Hi Bayram,
you did a well with the scanning,
the picture is fine with good sharpness and fine details, nice colours and contrast.
I like the POV too.
Well done.

Hello Bayram,
Ha, it is a lizard. No, Bayram says it is a skink:-)
TFS
Annick

Hi Bayram,

This Skink is so different from the pair you showed us yesterday! They all seem to have such wonderful colors. The skin of this one is beautiful and you show it in fine detail. Nice to see it in this natural setting.

Jane

Ola Bayram
Bonita foto deste lagarto. A composição e nitidez ficaram boas. A apresentação ficou bem agradavel.
Parabens
Nilson

Da una vecchia fotografia una nuova immagine per gli amici di TN, ottima composizione e molto bella l'ambintazione naturale. Grazie e complimenti. Ciao Maurizio

A good representation of this Banded Skink in natural colors Bayram, unfortunately some of the salient texture/coloration characteristics of its skin are lost partly due to the scanning process and partly due to the glare. Still, obviously a beautiful specimen.
Cheers,
Mehmet

  • Great 
  • fiyo Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 969 W: 5 N: 2191] (8022)
  • [2008-03-12 22:17]
  • [+]

Merhaba Bayram bey,
siz sadece Tr.açısından değil, aynı zamanda bu alemin tümü açısından, en nadide bireylerini mükemmel fotoğrafla belgelemişsiniz. Tebrikler, elinize sağlık.

Hello Bayram,

Nice sharp capture of this skink. Good composition. Good light and colours. Very educative note as usual.
Cheers,
Mariki

Hoca nefis bir poz. WS deki daha harika. Özellikler yerli yerinde. Eline sağlık. Selamlar.

Hi Bayram, I like the skink and the excellent notes you provide. It has a very natural background which suits the TN mode. We have small ones here on the path which enjoy sunbathing. TFS. Murray.

  • Great 
  • joey Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1555 W: 233 N: 5091] (17959)
  • [2008-03-17 8:23]
  • [+]

Hello GeckoMan!!
I must have missed this one, sorry! :-)
I love the silky smooth body of this Skink and the way the sun reflects softly off its back.
Nice striped markings and pretty coppery colouring.
Sharp with great detail.
Nice composition.
Well done my friend!
Thanks,
OwlMan!

Bu da siskocuk:)ne guzel poz vermis sana. hersey net. eline saglik. Leyla

Merhaba Hocam,
Bu güzel Scincid türümüzü doğal ortamında çok güzel görüntülemişsiniz, elinize sağlık.
Saygılar
Naşit

Bu da cok guzel, vucudu kivrimli kivrimli. yilan gibi parlak. eline saglik. saygilar... cypturk

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