Rhynchocalamus melanocephalus

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Rhynchocalamus melanocephalus
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: 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: 2008-03-13 0:33
Viewed: 730
Favorites: 1 [view]
Points: 55
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Rhynchocalamus melanocephalus (Black-Headed Dwarf Snake) [in Turk. Toprak Yılanı]

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, 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 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 [I will upload a portrait capture later to show these features]. 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 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 and 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
nkasot, zulfu, SelenE, uleko, cicindela, bahadir, xTauruSx, goldyrs, smitha, jaycee, Gert-Paassen, gerbilratz, degani, rousettus, Silvio2006, jpdenk, montivipera, yasemin, cypturk has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To fragman: Shalom Oriboreocypriensis 1 03-15 06:34
To jpdenk: Hello Johnboreocypriensis 1 03-14 15:46
To Silvio2006: Ciao Silvioboreocypriensis 1 03-13 23:55
To rousettus: Sağol Hocaboreocypriensis 1 03-13 16:51
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To maurydv: Hi Maurizioboreocypriensis 1 03-13 14:11
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To Gert-Paassen: Hi Gertboreocypriensis 1 03-13 09:53
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Critiques [Translate]

Günaydın Hocam. Nadir bir türün enfes bir görünümü. Elinize sağlık. Çok güzel olmuş.
Nazım

  • Great 
  • zulfu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 441 W: 0 N: 68] (472)
  • [2008-03-13 0:47]
  • [+]

Oldukça değerli, güzel ve ender görülen Toprak yılanın nefis bir görüntüsü. Elinize sağlık. Teşekkürler.
Mehmet

Hi Bayram

A great shot - excellent POV with outstanding detail and exposure. Well observed and captured.

James

Merhaba Bayram Bey,
Sayenizde hic bilmedigim hayvanlari taniyorum. Bu yilana da daha once hic rastlamamistim. Paylasim ve bilgiler icin tesekkurler
Selamlar

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2416 W: 132 N: 6653] (20877)
  • [2008-03-13 1:48]
  • [+]

Hello Bayram,
What an attractive snake the Black-headed Dwarf Snake is! You present him in an excllent way nicely coiled to show the features with good sharpness and from a fine POV.
Thanks for sharing this interesting beauty my friend,
Ivan

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2297 W: 163 N: 6694] (21146)
  • [2008-03-13 2:27]
  • [+]

Hello Bayram,
Excellent capture of this smooth and slender snake with a striking black head! Great sharpness and beautiful colours. Thanks for showing this interesting and rare species.
Best wishes, Ulla

Merhaba hocam. Harika bir fotoğraf. Uysal ve küçük yılanlar arasında çok az insanın (herpetologların dahil) karşılaşabileceği bir yılan bu. Fırsatını bulmuşken iyiki görüntülemişsiniz. Elinize sağlık.
Bahadır

Amazing close-up shot of this rare and beautiful, docile dwarf snake my supervisor. Thanks for sharing this beauty. Regards,
Deniz

  • Great 
  • joey Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1555 W: 233 N: 5091] (17959)
  • [2008-03-13 3:40]
  • [+]

Hello Bayram,
super shot of this Black-Headed Dwarf Snake!
Very good detail in the scales and excellent sharpness.
Nice composition as well.
Even lighting and natural colours.
Well done once again my friend.
Thanks,
Joe

Hi Bayram

Great to see this interesting small snake from Syria.
Well composed with good sharpness; nice warm tones.

Chris

Bro,
This is a very different snake..I've never seen it.Very beautiful.
I love the notes as well.
Thanks & Cheers!
Goldy

Hi Bayram,

I love the look of this snake! The tan body with the black and white head are beautiful. Nature comes up with the best color combinations. Superb details of the snake skin and the head with the little eye. I saw a baby gecko yesterday - probably less than 2 inches long. I wanted to get a shot of it for you but it was too fast for me.

Jane

never seen, or known about this snake..totally new to me...great picture showing both details and contrast...beautiful..and great notes...h

Hi Bayram,

Exellent dof, good of sharpness and beautiful colors.
So from above is good for the details but want it for myself
right before the snake upon eye high.
Regards Gert

Ola Bayram
Linda fot deste reptil, a nitidez saiu muito boa e a imagem esta limpa, a composição do fundo deixou a foto bem interessante.
Parabens
Nilson

Hello Bayram,
I'm sure this is not a skink, Bayram:-)
Doesn't look small. Very strange through that black head.
I wonder if the info in the photographer's note is existing data or is also partially your data?
Well done
TFS
Annick

Hello Bayram,

Very nice shot of this snake. Good POV and DOF. Good sharpness too. Nice exposure and colours.
Cheers,
Mariki

Hello Bayram,
Fantastic photo of this Black-headed Dwarf Snake. Very beautiful light and natural colours and great sharpness. Good composition.
Regards,
Peter

Ottima ed accurata presentazione, buoni POV e DOF, molto belli i colori. Grazie e complimenti. Ciao Maurizio

hi Bayram,
this is a very elegant animal with the black had and you have shot it very well, interesting note as always my friend, bravo
kind regards
franco

Hoca bu da nefis. Hem de çok ender bir yılanın. Herkese nasip olmaz. Eline sağlık. Selamlar.

Ciao Bayram, beautiful snake with black head, wonderful details and great sharpness, splendid focus, very well done, ciao Silvio

Hello Bayram,

A beautiful little snake, and a fine photo of it.

Thanks,
John

Hello Bayram!
Sorry for delay with writting a detailed comment :)
I was absent some days on TN and once again I can see that many interesting pictures with amazing creatures were overlooked by me these days. This snake is a perfect example.
The colouration of this reptile are especially impressive as for me. Black head and totaly different the rest of body! It is also nice to read aout its biology, even if not too much are know about it.
Friendly yours,
Radomir

great pic! TFS Ori

Ne kadar guzel bu yilan durusu da nefis. eline saglik. Leyla

Merhaba Hocam,
Nadir yılanımızı çok güzel fotoğraflamışsınız, elinize sağlık.
Saygılar
Naşit

Beautiful image of this cute and elegant dwarf snake, very good work uncle... kind regards... cypturk

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