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What!!!


What!!!
Photo Information
Copyright: Babak hendizadeh (timonejoon) Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 202 W: 45 N: 222] (758)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2005-09-18
Categories: Reptiles
Camera: Canon 350D / Digital Rebel XT, Sigma 70-300mm F4-5.6 II APO Macro Super, Sigma UV
Exposure: f/20.0, 1/400 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Turkish Herpetofauna, Camouflage [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2008-03-09 8:33
Viewed: 684
Favorites: 1 [view]
Points: 18
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Hi Everyone

This is the old shot from my archive. I took it in Takhte Soleyman area. It is probably from the Laudakia family which is a genus of Agamid lizards found in Asia and Europe. I also think it is a Roughtail Rock Agama . But I just guess it. If anyone knows exactly what this reptile is please help me.


Agamids or lizards of the family Agamidae include more than 300 species in Africa, Asia, Australia, and a few in Southern Europe. Phylogenetically they may be sister to the Iguanidae, characterized by predominantly acrodont dentition. Agamids usually have well-developed, strong legs. Their tails cannot be shed and regenerated like those of Geckoes, though a certain amount of regeneration is observed in some. Many agamid species are capable of limited change of their colours. Ecologically they range from hot deserts to tropical rainforests.

There have been very few studies of the Agamidae with the first comprehensive assessment by Moody (1980) followed by a more inclusive assessment by Frost and Etheridge (1989). Subsequent studies were based mitochondrial DNA loci with Macey et al. (2000) and Honda et al. (2000) and Joger (1991)(using allozymes) sampling across the Agamidae. Few other studies focused on clades within the family, but the Agamidae have not been as well investigated as the Iguanidae.

Among the Agamidae, six clades or lineages are generally recognized including the Leiolepidinae (Leiolepis), Uromasticinae (Uromastyx), Amphibolurinae (Australian and New Guinean), Hydrosaurinae (Hydrosaurus), Draconinae (South and Southeast Asian), and Agaminae (African and Arabian). The chameleons of the sister family Chamaeleonidae are sometimes discussed as sub-family Chamaeleoninae and sub-family Agaminae (referring to Agamidae, not the Agaminae mentioned above).
(From Wiki)
vanderschelden, boreocypriensis, Adanac, matatur, bahadir, Necipp has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • Adanac Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1036 W: 1 N: 3970] (13358)
  • [2008-03-09 11:02]

Hello Babak,
Great image displaying natures camoflage. Nice composition, pose and details in this great image, thank you Babak. Also thank you for the great workshop on my photo, great work.
Rick

nice portrait! TFS and greetings Ori

Hello Babak
it must be a Laudikia stellio. In 2006, I saw this species commonly in Iran.
your shot very nice. nicely composed and focused. TFS, well done
Ahmet

Hi Babak,
Yesterday I did not write any comments on ID because I want to be sure in some feautes. But now I am sure. Your capture is excelent firsly. And thank you for this beauty. This is a well-featured specimen of Laudakia caucasica (Caucasian Agama, Northern Rock Agama). Its tail divided into distinct segments, each composed of two whorls of keeled-scales. There is a patch of enlarged scales on the middle of flank that this characteristic of the species. The another characteristic feature is on the scales of gular region (but I could not see details from your capture). These scales are smooth (keeled in L. stellio known from Turkey and Near East). There is considerable individual variation in color pattern in these lizards. Regarding the Caucasian Agama, occupies almost the entire N Iranian Plateau in suitable habitats. It has not been recorded on the W & S slopes of Zagros Mountains. In Turkey, it is limited to a small area in the NE bordering the Armenian and Iranian frontiers. The westernmost limits east of Kars, Turkey, where the topography changes abruptly from rich grassland throug steep, eroded, rocky hillsides down to open stone valleys. It does not overlap the distribution of L. stellio. It occurs in Transcaucasia west to Suramask Ridge, and the mountainous part of Dagestan. East of Caspian Sea, it is a mountain species in S Turkmenistan, S Uzbekistan, and S Tajikistan. It occupies the mountainous regions of N Iran (Alborzi Kopet Dagh), extending south in inner Zagros regions at least as far as Kohrud in Esfahan Province. In northern Afganistan it occupies the area north of the Central Massif and extends south in NEE Afghanistan to Paghman. It extends into the southern Central Asian republics.
I hope these information is usefull for all users of TN:).
TFS and Best Regards,
Bayram

Thank you for this beautiful Laudakia specimen perfectly camouflaged in its natural element Babak, both the exposure and the focus is spot on my friend, good job indeed!
Mehmet

Hi Babak, what a beautifuıl Caucasian agama. TFS. regards, Bahadır

It is a species from Laudakia caucasica species complex! Note the flat head... With the camouflage environment, it is awonderful capture it think

Hello Babak, a fine pose captured, well composed, excellent pov & it's great that it's in its natural surrounds showing how well it is camouflaged with the rocks behind. Tfs Rgds Necip

  • Great 
  • arfer Gold Star Critiquer [C: 2731 W: 0 N: 0] (0)
  • [2008-03-16 18:22]

Hello Babak

This could be right out of the book "How not to be seen".
Great demonstration of camouflage ,the colours are vivid and natural.
The pose is funny because it almost looks like the way a human might act.
Excellent POV.
TFS

Rob

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