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Rhynchocalamus melanocephalus


Rhynchocalamus melanocephalus
Photo Information
Copyright: Bayram Gocmen (boreocypriensis) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3989 W: 153 N: 4799] (12714)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-04
Categories: Reptiles
Camera: Nikon Coolpix 5400
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Syrian Herpetofauna, Turkish Herpetofauna, Snakes - Serpientes - Serpents, RARE or SIGNIFICANT contributions to TN 3 [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2008-03-18 0:40
Viewed: 780
Points: 56
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Rhynchocalamus melanocephalus (Black-Headed Dwarf Snake) [in Turk. Toprak Yılanı] (A portrait)

It is relatively small, rare, slender-bodied, aglyphous (non-venomous) snake with a maximum length of 46 cm. The body almost constantly thick from the neck to tail base [see its whole capture], the small head is not distinct from neck. The dorsal scales are smooth, ordered into generally 15 (rarely 14) rows at midbody. It can be distinguished from related genera representatives by a larger rostral shield that extends backwards between the internasal plates and by a very wide -as being as nearly equal to its length- frontal shield]. There are 180-229 ventral plates on the belly. Anal plate was divided. Also it has 53-68 paired subcaudal plates plus one conical scale at the tail tip. The eyes are small, with a round pupil. The nostril is situated generally in an undivided (rarely divided as seen in my capture) elongate nasal plate. The body is uniformly pinkish gray, yellowish brown to orange above, lighter below with no spotting. However, the head and neck coloration is varied according to the subspecies. Two subspecies are recognised:

1) R. m. melanocephalus: It occurs in Turkey (only in Hatay province), Syria, Israel, Lebanon and Jordan. The head and neck is glossy black above and below, except of the rostral and upper labial scales.

2) R. m. satunini: It ranges from the southern Anatolia (including the provinces Adana, Malatya, Mardin) east to Iran and to the Caspian Sea region. There are two black blotches on top of head and also a bigger black blotch, forming a wide transversal band, on nape of neck.

The biology of this species is fairly unknown. It is a fossorial snake and inhabits arid and rocky-stony steppes. It is oviparous. It feeds predominantly on small insects, occasionally consumes small lizards.

Bayram
zulfu, bahadir, Gert-Paassen, xTauruSx, mariki, sandpiper2, montivipera, nkasot, goldyrs, haraprasan, jaycee, gerbilratz, nglen, Argus, rousettus, kmr13777, meyerd, jpdenk, kaytan, yasemin, cypturk has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To Silvio2006: Hello Silvioboreocypriensis 1 03-19 14:12
To jpdenk: Hello Johnboreocypriensis 1 03-19 09:19
To meyerd: Hello Dietrichboreocypriensis 1 03-19 09:13
To Jamesp: Hello Jamesboreocypriensis 1 03-19 00:41
To kmr13777: Hello Kirtiboreocypriensis 1 03-19 00:40
To Argus: Hello my dear Friend Ivanboreocypriensis 1 03-18 14:30
To Nilson: Ola Nilsonboreocypriensis 1 03-18 13:54
To nglen: Hello Nickboreocypriensis 1 03-18 13:46
To gerbilratz: Hello Friend Howardboreocypriensis 1 03-18 13:45
To jaycee: Hello My Heartfelt Friend Janeboreocypriensis 1 03-18 13:44
To haraprasan: Hello My Dear Friend Haraprasanboreocypriensis 1 03-18 13:42
To joey: Hi My dear friend, OwlMan JOE :-)boreocypriensis 1 03-18 13:38
To nkasot: Sağol Nazımboreocypriensis 1 03-18 13:37
To goldyrs: Hello Bro Goldyboreocypriensis 1 03-18 13:36
To Mana: Hello Sumonboreocypriensis 1 03-18 13:35
To EOSF1: Hello Marioboreocypriensis 1 03-18 13:34
To SkyF: Hello Skyboreocypriensis 1 03-18 13:34
To montivipera: Selam Naşitboreocypriensis 1 03-18 13:33
To sandpiper2: Hello Friend Chrisboreocypriensis 1 03-18 13:32
To mariki: Hello My Dear Friend Marieboreocypriensis 1 03-18 13:31
To xTauruSx: Hi Denizboreocypriensis 1 03-18 13:31
To Gert-Paassen: Hello Gertboreocypriensis 1 03-18 13:30
To maurydv: Ciao Maurizioboreocypriensis 1 03-18 13:29
To bahadir: Teşekkürlerboreocypriensis 1 03-18 13:28
To zulfu: Teşekkürboreocypriensis 1 03-18 13:28
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • zulfu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 527 W: 0 N: 95] (585)
  • [2008-03-18 0:52]
  • [2] [+]

Günaydın Hocam nefis bir baş detayı, her herpetoloğun hayali hem de en ender olan türün. Değerli bir belge bence. Elinize sağlık.
Mehmet

Tek kelime yeter sanırım hocam: "mükemmel". Renkler detaylar. En güzeli de burun ucunun tipik özelliği, kütlüğü neden Rhynchocalamus dendiği harika resmedilmiş. Elinize sağlık. Teşekkürler.
Bahadır

Bellissimo primo piano, buoni composizione, POV e i dettagli delle squame, molto belli i colori e il riflesso dell'occhio. Grazie e complimenti. Ciao Maurizio

hi Bayram,

look a close up!

Very sharp with beautiful colors.Beautiful snake.
Good composition.

regards Gert

Hi Hocam this is really perfect macro showing us all details of the head of this beautiful rare snake. All diagnostic features are prominent. Splendid composition. TFS. Regards,
Deniz

Hello Bayram,

Very nice close-up of this snake. Good POV and sharpness. Good light and very nice natural colours.
Cheers,
Mariki

Hi Bayram

Another great and interesting Syrian capture.

Good portrait, great exposure and sharpness.

chris

Selamlar Hocam,
Mehmet Hocanın da dediği gibi ender bir türün çok güzel bir fotoğrafı. Baştaki detaylar rahatlıkla görülebiliyor, elinize sağlık. Siz de olmasanız böyle nadir türleri görme şansımız olmayacak :) Zaten kobrayı da gördüm ya bu erken yaşımda artık ölsem de gam yemem, ilk gördüğümde nasıl ağzımın sularının aktığını hatırlarsınız :D
Paylaşım için teşekkürler

Naşit

  • Great 
  • SkyF Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2390 W: 194 N: 1991] (8113)
  • [2008-03-18 4:25]
  • [+]

Hello Bayram,
excellent head shot on this snake, the details and textures are remarkable. Nice and sharp and the reflection in the eye is great.
Very well done.,
Sky

  • Great 
  • EOSF1 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1330 W: 107 N: 4802] (21322)
  • [2008-03-18 5:14]
  • [+]

Great macro, Bayram! Lovely composition, great details and very good exposure, a great shot, thanks!

Mario

Hocam Kıbrıs'tan selamlar. Herzaman olduğu gibi nefis bir kare, muhteşem netlikte bir makro. Hayvana dair tüm özellikler görülüyor. Elinize sağlık. Teşekkürler. Selamlar.
Nazım

  • Great 
  • Mana Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1714 W: 24 N: 4988] (16346)
  • [2008-03-18 6:19]
  • [+]

Hi Bayram,
Wonderful shot of this sleek looking snake with such amazing shaprness on its scales and such nice colours. That big eye looks gorgeous and so scary. Great lighting and exposure and I like your chosen POV to portray it. Very nicely composed. Kudos.
TFS.
Sumon

Wow! Bro!
This one is really awesome!I love the details and the sharpness!
Very well done!
Thanks & regards,
Goldy

  • Great 
  • joey Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1691 W: 242 N: 5580] (19801)
  • [2008-03-18 8:11]
  • [+]

Good afternoon Geckoman!
What a fine capture of this Black-Headed Dwarf Snake!
Great detail in the scales and wood.
Excellent shallow DOF that picks out the snakes head and isolates it from everything else with a wall of blur :-)
Bright light and an even exposure.
Great work Bayram!
Cheers,
Joe! aka. Owlman

Hi Bayram,
Sorry friend I was very much tensed and busy as you know what happened. I have missed a lot during the period. Hope I will be able to catchup. Excellent portrait of this beautiful snake. Very good details and composition. Thanks a lot for sharing.

Hi Bayram,

Oh, I really like this snake! What a wonderful eye he has. And his colors are marvelous. Great close-up of his head in fine detail.

Jane

excellent close up of the snake...the patterns and shapes of the scales is well focused and the colours very clear and clean..fine work!!

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1991 W: 5 N: 5540] (20950)
  • [2008-03-18 13:24]
  • [+]

Hi Bayram. Once again a good capture of the snake. very good detail on the head and scales. with natural looking colours. well done TFS. good notes too.
Nick..

Ola Bayram
Linda foto desta bela cora, a nitidez ficou muito boa e o contraste tambem. A claridade é muito boa e as cores são agradaveis.
Parabens
Nilson

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2606 W: 133 N: 7480] (23317)
  • [2008-03-18 14:15]
  • [+]

Hello bayram,
Excellent close-up of the head of a Black-headed Dwarf Snake. The details are sharp and the scales interesting to study.
Thanks for sharing this one my friend,
Best wishes, Ivan

Ender bir türün harika bir makrosu. Tüm detaylar mevcut. Renkler de çok güzel çıkmış. Eline sağlık hoca. Selamlar.

Hi Bayram,
DOF, Colors and detail are awesome. One can feel the texture of the snake's skin in the picture.

TFS
Kirti

  • Great 
  • Jamesp Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1252 W: 0 N: 4842] (14380)
  • [2008-03-18 23:48]
  • [+]

Hi Bayram

A great shot - good composition and POV with wonderful colour and detail. Well observed and captured.

James

Hi Bayram,
this snake is (again) completely unknown to me, the colubrid R. melanocephalus. And how beautiful it is! Excellent photogaphy once more helps to appreciate the splendor of the snake. You kindled my curiosity, so I found publications on the subject: there seem to be several species of the genus around.
Best regards
Dietrich

Hi Bayram,

Nice portrait of this snake, good composition. I'm curious, what feature of the snake's snout is responsible for the genus name Rhynchocalamus? I can't see anything too unusual about its snout, other than it's slightly pointed, a little bit reminiscent of the snout on our Hognose Snakes in the genus Heterodon here in the Americas.

Thanks,
John

Hi Bayram, great portrait with fantastic details , wonderful focus and excellent sharpness, very well done, ciao Silvio

ne kadar guzel yuzlu bir yilan bayram. cok iyi goruntulemissin. tum pullari belli. eline saglik. Leyla

Great close-up with wonderful details and sharpnes... tfs.. cypturk

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