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Anatolian/Turkish Worm Lizard -1st in TN


Anatolian/Turkish Worm Lizard -1st in TN
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: 2008-05-11
Categories: Reptiles
Camera: Olympus C-5060WZ
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Turkish Herpetofauna, RARE or SIGNIFICANT contributions to TN 3 [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2008-06-16 0:39
Viewed: 1008
Favorites: 4 [view]
Points: 78
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Blanus strauchi (Anatolian/Turkish Worm Lizard, Strauch’s Amphisbaenian) [in Turk. Kör Kertenkele]

[Click here to see its head and neck details]

Worm lizards (family Amphisbaenidae) are a group of about 160 much specialised snake-like reptiles, belonging to 16 genera that in nearly all cases are completely limbless. But some retain internal vestiges of the pectoral and pelvic girdles. Worm lizards spend most of their time underground and are only occasionally encountered on the surface. The skull is heavy and modified for burrowing and the skin is very loose. Many elongate reptiles with small limbs or none at all have one lung very reduced in size or absent (like a snake!); usually this is the left one but in Worm lizards it is the right. In general, amphisbaenians show little or no sexual dimorphism in body size. They are also elongate, slender, fossorial reptiles with scales arranged in annular rings. In some species, a small eye is visible under a translucent head scale, but in others the eye is not visible at all. Worm lizards exhibit a variety of head shapes (keelheaded, round-headed, shovel-headed) and a generally cylindrical body shape. In some species the snout is conical and in others it is blunt. They have no external ear openings (like a snake!). The tail is always short but may exhibit a variety of shapes, including rounded and blunt-tipped, pointed, or dorsoventrally flattened. Most amphisbaenid species are capable of autotomizing the tail, but none can regenerate a new tail (like a snake!). All worm lizards have pleurodont dentition (tooths are settled on teeth-bridge laterally), with varying numbers of teeth occurring on the tooth-bearing elements of the skull. Many species are pallid in appearance, presumably related to their subterranean existence. However, some species exhibit striking patterns of coloration, including dark checkerboard patterns on light backgrounds. Still others are a solid brown, yellow, or grey dorsally, with a paler underside. Amphisbaenids exhibit a huge size range, from tiny worm-like species of 10 cm maximum length to some of the largest known amphisbaenians of more than 80 cm maximum length in some species; most species fall within the range of 25–40 cm. Most species feed on invertebrates, especially ants and termites. The majority lay eggs.

They occur in the west and east Mediterranean area, Arabia, tropical and southern Africa, central and South America and the West Indies. Blanus cinereus (Iberian Worm Lizard - It is distributed in much of Spain and Portugal except the north and also Morocco and Algeria) and B. strauchi (Anatolian/Turkish Worm Lizard - It is distributed mainly in Anatolia including the Aegean islands of Greece and also N. Iraq, Syria and Lebanon) are the only two amphisbaenian occurring in Europe. These two species are fairly similar and unlikely to be confused with it in the field, since the two live a great distance from one another. However Anatolian Worm Lizard lacks the skin fold found in Iberian Worm Lizard where the head meets the body, its head is somewhat wedge-shaped and its snout overhangs the lower jaw.

Anatolian Worm Lizard is a limbless lizard with a total length up to 19-20 cm. The head covered with symetrical plates. At first sight, looks like a rather plump earthworm. Head small and pointed with tiny eyes beneath the skin, visible as black spots from the outside. The body and short tail with a pointed end are covered with square or rectangular shaped soft scales arranged in rings (annuli). The number of these scales around the mid-body is changed between 32-42. There is a longitudinal groove on each flank. The body is often bluish brown or sometimes reddish grey.

It is rarely seen on surface of ground, although may come up occasionally, particularly in heavy rain, at evening or at night. Otherwise entirely subterranean. Spends a lot of time in burrows and is usually found when turning stones and logs, when ground is being dug or ploughed, and when plants are uprooted. Often occurs in rather moist places, both in soils with a lot of humus and in ones that are predominantly sandy. Occurs up to 1,400 m in Turkey. Eats ants, insect larvae and other arthropods which it often appears to locate by the sound of their movements. Part of the tail can be shed but does not regenerate. When threatened by a predator, may twist tightly round twigs or other objects. Females usually lay one or two elongate eggs.

In Turkey, Anatolian/Turkish Worm Lizard is known from the southern parts of W Anatolia, S and SE Anatolia and represented with three subspecies [based on the number of the precloacal pores, the contact situation-absent, narrow or wide- between the second supralabial and prefrontal shields, the number of body annuli along the ventral line and the number of segments per midbody annulus]:

(a) B. s. strauchi - lives in W Anatolia of Turkey and some of adjacent islands of Greece (such as Rhodos and Kos)
(b) B. s. bedriagae - lives in the vicinities of Kınık (Xanthos) and Fethiye at SW Anatolia.
(c) B. s. aporus - lives in the Mediterranean area of east of Antalya and SE Anatolia. This race is also found in N. Iraq, Syria and Lebanon.

Bayram

Etymology: The name of “Amphisbaen” come after their muscular ability to move backwards and forwards. [amphi: on both sides, i.e. front and back side + baen (Gr.)]: move].

References:

1. Göçmen, B. (Unpub. results). The results of herpetological trips.
2. Budak, A. & Göçmen, B. (2005). Herpetology. Ege Üniversitesi Fen Fakültesi Kitaplar Serisi, No. 194, Ege Üniversitesi Basimevi, Bornova-Izmir, 226 pp. [2nd Edition, 2008].
3. Alexander, A. A. (1966). Taxonomy And variation of Blanus strauchi (Amphisbaenia, Reptilia). Copeia, 2: 205-224.
4. Göçmen, B., Disi, A. M. & Yildiz, M. Z. (2008). On the occurrence of Blanus strauchi aporus Werner, 1898 and Chalcides guentheri Boulenger, 1887 in the Mediterranean Ecozone of Syria. Zoology in the Middle East, 43: 69-74.
5. Grzimek, B., (2003). Grzimek’s Animal Life Encyclopedia, Second Edition Volume 7 Reptiles Schlager Group Inc. 571 pp.
eng55, ramthakur, xTauruSx, Juyona, gracious, nkasot, bahadir, zulfu, SelenE, Argus, strahos, ammodytes, uleko, haraprasan, mayuresh, Silvio2006, jaycee, maurydv, Gert-Paassen, mariki, rousettus, nglen, CeltickRanger, goldyrs, Luis52, sandpiper2, jpdenk, yasemin, gannu, MartinL, montivipera, cypturk, cicindela has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • zulfu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 527 W: 0 N: 95] (585)
  • [2008-06-16 0:48]

Perfect macro shot of this rarely seen lizard Bayram hocam with excellent details and usual detailed notes on the group and the species. Many thanks for sharing this.
Regards,

Mehmet

bayram hocam yine yaptınız yapacağınızı. O kladar sarı çiccek sonrası böyle bir süprizi beklemiştim zaten. Nefis bir çekim ve müthiş notlar.
Elinize sağlık.
Bahadır

Hocam tek kelime ifade yeter sanırım. herşeyiyle mükemmel.
Elkinize emeğinize sağlık. Kıbrıs'tan selamlar.
Nazım

Merhaba Dr.Bayram,
Selam!!
my congrat on this first image in TN, and much appreciated for your excellent work and effort!
excellent composition in good sharpness, vivid colour and superb details
well done and good notes
Tony

Hola Bay,
fabulosa macro,
detalles y excelente pov,
buen foco.
saludos
buena semana

Super hocam. Bundan iyisi Şam'da kayısı derler bu nefis makroya:) elinize sağlık. Sanırım yarın da baş detayı göreceğiz. Selamlar.
Deniz

Hi Bayram

A wonderful capture, both as a photograph and as a descrption of the species. Great detail and exposure.

James

Hello Bayram,
Superb photo in excellent clear colours and excellent sharpness. You've got such a wonderful species in Turkey. POV and composition are great.
Kind regards,
Peter

Hello Bayram,
First of all, thanks for bringing into light this not frequently seen creature on TN.
The picture is phenomenally sharp and the colours and details on the snake-like lizard are brilliantly recorded.
Secondly, your erudite note on the species is very interesting and educative.
Thanks and regards.
Ram

  • Great 
  • eng55 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 353 W: 3 N: 376] (1127)
  • [2008-06-16 2:39]
  • [+]

Merhaba Bayram Bey,
Sayenizde artık kurbağalara,kertenkelelere,soluncanlara daha dikkatli daha bilinçli bakacağım.Yalnış anlaşılmasın diye onlara bakınca sizi hatırlayacağım demek istemiyorum:).Ama birçok üyenin bu fotografları çekip size ithaf etmesini de gözardı edemeyiz.Bu sitede hakikaten özel bir yeriniz var.Fotografınız her zamanki gibi net,detaylı ve keskin,notlarınız douyurucu.Tebrik ediyorum,ellerinize sağlık!

  • Great 
  • SelenE Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2348 W: 61 N: 3801] (12188)
  • [2008-06-16 3:17]

Merhaba Bayram Bey,
Detayli ve guzel bir cekim olmus. Yine cok ilginc bir tur. Emeginize saglik
Selamlar

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2606 W: 133 N: 7480] (23317)
  • [2008-06-16 3:20]
  • [+]

Hello my friend,
Congratualtions in posting this fine image of the Turkish Worm Lizard as a first on TN!

Seeing the whole body of this Turkish Worm Lizard makes me think and pose the question of whether the worm segment-like scale pattern is an adaption to a subterranean life and if this is so, does it have the ability to expend and contract like an earthworm when moving through the earth? Am I right in guessing that it has this ability, but only the skin does this and to a very limited extent?
If you have the time it would be nice to know. Otherwise this is a fine portrait of this worm lizard in all respects.
Thanks, Bayram.
Cheers,
Ivan

hello Bayram, nice and detailed shot of this rare seen reptile.
tfs
Ilias

Selamlar Hocam, aslında bugün çiçeklerin sonunun geldiğini tahmin etmiştim ama Bahadır da bekliyormuş:D Elinize sağlık Hocam, çok güzel bir çekim olmuş.
Saygılarımla...
Filiz

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2465 W: 168 N: 7448] (23526)
  • [2008-06-16 3:37]

Hello Bayram,
Excellent capture of this rare Worm Lizard. All in focus and fine colours showing all segments very clearly. Interesting to read your note too!
Many thanks and regards, Ulla

Hi Bayram,
Is this really a lizard OH my! I can't believe it. A nice looking fella. Very well composed shot with sharp details. Thanks a lot for sharing.

Hello Friend,
What a wonderful shot with intresting note,superb lighting and nice composition,fine colour and great sharpness.
very well done,
TFS.

Hello Bayram,
Not in a million years i would imagine that this is a lizard. The picture is very well composed and very sharp, great POV and luminosity... Well done

Everton

Hi Little Brother,

I really thought this was a snake at first glance. Interesting looking lizard captured perfectly. Exceptionally fine details of the lizard skin and beautiful colors. Great lighting on this one.

Jane

Congratulazioni per questa 1st splendida cattura posta su TN, eccellenti POV e composizione, straordinaria definizione dei dettagli. Grazie e complimenti. Ciao Maurizio

Hello Bayram,

This specie never been seen before, looks he are escapeded out a scifi movie.
Good from sharpness and exellent details.
Congratulations with the Turkisch footballteam, was a real surprise for me!

Gert

Hi Bro,
I couldnt believe this was a lizard at first sight..It looks like a snake at first glance when i read your information It taught me that this worm like creature is actually a lizard.Its really shocking!
Very nice pic.The colour and nature of the picture is amazing.
Well done once again...
All the best
Leyla

  • Great 
  • mariki Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 988 W: 65 N: 2008] (8377)
  • [2008-06-16 12:58]

Hello Bayram,

Excellent picture of this lizard. Excellent sharpness. The texture of its skin is amazing. Excellent light and natural colours.
Cheers,
Mariki

pek bir güzel olmuş hoca, eline sağlık. nefis detayları güzel odaklamayla sunmuşsun. renkleri, kadrajı ve çerçevesi de çok iyi olmuş. eline sağlık, selamlar.

Selam dayi..Nebicim kertenkele..yilana ve solucana benzer... rengi de parlak ama inan bana garovilli daha sevimli duruyor...Ogrencilerin icin guzel bir calisma ve bilgiler mukemmel...Ellerine saglik..Iyi calismalar, Merih

hello Bayram

excellent shot of this Worm Lizard with a very fine POV from above,
great sharpness and details of both the subject and the earth,

TFS

Asbed

Superb shot, my dearest brother!
And a very good note!

  • Great 
  • Luis52 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1022 W: 5 N: 2802] (10144)
  • [2008-06-16 19:30]

Hola Bayram.
la imagen de alta calidad, La nota escrita de gran valor educativo. Como lo es Tu estilo lleno de gratas soprpresas y bellas fotos Bayram.
Saludos
Luis52.

Ciao Bayram, strange lizard like a snake, fine details and splendid sharpness, very well done, ciao Silvio

  • Great 
  • joey Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1691 W: 242 N: 5580] (19801)
  • [2008-06-17 2:37]

Superb capture, Geckoman!!
The composition is top-class and the POV is great!
Very sharp showing all the detail with great clarity.
Excellent soft light and natural colours.
Great focusing on the head though the DOF is very slightly too shallow, this only an incredibly small problem though :-)
I love the spiky thing too :-)

Very good profile capture of this weird but wonderful lizard!
Congratulations on posting the first of this species on TN too!! :-))

Well done my friend!

Joe

Hi Bayram

Great to see this interesting worm snake. We have sankes that behave in a similar manner here, but I've only seen dead ones. Isn't it amazing that they have evolved to act like giant worms.
Great composition and super note.

Chris

Hi Bayram,

An excellent shot of this very strange little creature, and an outstanding note. I believe there is one North American species, found in Florida too.

Thanks,
John

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1991 W: 5 N: 5540] (20950)
  • [2008-06-17 9:59]

Hi Bayram. Now this is what i call a worm. You have once again captured a fine close up with very good detail and natural colours. good use of the light .with intersting notes well done TfS.
Nick..

nice portrait, tFS Ori

Nice shot. Sharply focussed and good lighting. The pattern of te body is very clearly visible.

  • Great 
  • gannu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 921 W: 4 N: 2302] (10736)
  • [2008-06-17 23:29]

Hello bayram, Your note is always too long and with excellent points. Lovely perfect macro shot. Well done. Ganesh

Bayram,

A wonderful capture and a wonderful, informative note. Your picture shows the details very well. Actually, both the note and picture combined seem straight out of a book - you knowledge of those creatures is amazing. Thanks for spending your time to provide such excellent notes along with your great shots. Superb work all around my Friend. TFS.

Best Regards,

Martin

Merhaba Hocam,
Diğer fotoğraflarınıza bakarken cevabınızı gördüm, çok hızlısınız :) Evet, girmeyeli güzel kareler gelmiş.
Gene ender bir türü çok güzel bir şekilde tanıttınız, notlar harika. Emeğinize sağlık.

Ankara'dan selamlar,
Naşit

And welcome once more time! :)
The collection of your reptiles are simply great, all the time I can find here something new and interesting. After your pictures of worm-like snake - this time a lizard looking like that. Thanks to your photos I can learn a lot about biodiversity of reptiles and amphibians and for that: MANY THANKS!!!
All the best from cloudy Lodz!
Radomir

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