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*Caucasian Salamander* - 1st on TN


*Caucasian Salamander* - 1st on TN
Photo Information
Copyright: Bayram Gocmen (boreocypriensis) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5097 W: 178 N: 12453] (34003)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2009-07-27
Categories: Amphibians
Camera: Nikon D-80, AF-S VR Micro-Nikkor 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED, @ ISO 400, SIGMA 62MM EX DG MC UV Filter
Exposure: f/6.3, 1/200 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Turkish Herpetofauna-II, Amphibians - Salamanders & Newts 1, RARE or SIGNIFICANT contributions to TN 4 [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2009-08-02 1:51
Viewed: 589
Favorites: 2 [view]
Points: 68
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Mertensiella caucasica (Caucasian Salamander) [in Turk. Kafkas Semenderi] (Male)

Today a another first on TN having a vulnerable conservation status in IUCN Red list from Black Sea Region (Kaçkar Mounts, Ayder high plateu, approx 1800m asl). That was nice that we also found this beautiful species out of the known distribution area too during our expedition to the region.

TFL and Have a nice Sunday!
Cheers,

©Bayram GÖÇMEN, Ege University, Faculty of Science. All Rights Reserved.

*****************************

This beauty is restricted to north-east Turkey (the cities of Giresun, Rize, Trabzon, Artvin, Kars, Bayburt, and Gumushane) and western parts of Georgia. It is present at altitudes of sea level-1,800m asl.

Costal (rib) grooves well-developed, 11-12 on each side of the body. Body elongated and slender. Tail usually longer than body with head. Adults are able to autotomize and regenerate the tail. Coloration black, dark-brown or brown-orange with oval yellow dorsal and lateral spots arranged in two more or less regular rows. Belly brownish. The extent of the yellow spot development is subject to variation. In contrast to females, the males possess a spike-shaped protuberance (called as Hedonic Protuberance) on the dorsal surface of the tail base and nuptial pads on the forelegs which are best developed during the breeding season.

In Turkey, the species lives mainly in the beech, coniferous, and mixed forests, in the subalpine belt and in alpine meadows. The salamander tends to avoid large streams and lives mainly near the 2nd through 4th order tributaries of rivers, usually no more than 1-1.5 m in width and about 20-30 cm in depth in spring. Such brooks flow in dense shade and their banks are covered with dense arboreal and herbaceous vegetation. Summer water temperatures are about 12ºC, and increase from a brook's source to its mouth. Postmetamorphic salamanders live in very wet conditions on stream banks in places with seepages, under stones, logs, snags, and roots. They also occur in the forest at long distances from the water, up to 200-300 m. The larvae are more frequent in the headwaters of streams, probably because salamanders reproduce there. Sometimes the larvae drift downstream and occur in shallow swampy puddles. Breeding occurs in the late spring - summer. Mating occurs on land or in water. The spike on the male's tailbase probably has no special role in courtship and amplexus. The interval from copulation to egg deposition varies from 3 days to 2 months. The only clutch found in nature contained 92 eggs and was deposited on leaves –which we also observed during our trip- and other submerged plants in a small hole in a stream bottom. Probably, newly hatched larvae stay in their hatching places before the next spring and then appear in streams. The development from fertilized egg to completed metamorphosis seems to take about 2 to 4 years. Metamorphosis evidently occurs throughout the summer. Larvae prey on stream invertebrates, Gammaridae, and larval insects. Adults eat mainly terrestrial invertebrates: Oniscidae, Arachnoidea and insects (Coleoptera, larval Diptera, etc.).

During our trip, we observed some general habitat alteration and loss stemning from road broadenning activities. These modifications or deforestation, or logging related activities may affect seriously the declining of the population here (around Kackar Mts.).

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. Baran, I. & Atatür, M. K. (1998). Turkish Herpetofauna (Amphibians & Reptiles). Ministry of Environment, Ankara. 214 pp.
PeterZ, Argus, maurydv, nkasot, goatman04, thor68, meyerd, cirano, cypturk, KRALKOBRA, flashpoint, Miss_Piggy, goldyrs, cicindela, nglen, eqshannon, CatherineD, jaycee, SMYRNA, albert, jpdenk, Noisette, yasemin, xTauruSx, zulfu, bahadir, Hormon_Manyer, Gert-Paassen, montivipera, anemone has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • PeterZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2395 W: 94 N: 5542] (17634)
  • [2009-08-02 1:56]

Hello Bayram,
Very nice to see you back.
What a wonderful species. Beautiful photo in great sharpness, natural colours and excellent composition.
Hope to see a lot more from your expedition.
Kind regards,
Peter

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3821 W: 190 N: 11376] (35063)
  • [2009-08-02 2:06]

Congratulations Bayram Dostum!
Not only a first on TN but an excellent portayal of this Caucasian Salamander!
Nicely set up on the suitably coloured rock for us to see with with sharpness colours and lighting, when normally it would be hidden in the water of small dark woodland streams or in the forest leaf litter!
Thanks for sharing this beauty and my best wishes to you.
Ivan

Hello MF Bayram,
congratulations for this first on TN, a fantastic and very interesting picture of this Caucasian Salamander, superb sharpness and splendid bright colours, POV and composition are excellent.
TFS
Best regards
Maurizio

amazing capture, nice to meet here again, Ori

Hocam merhabalar,

Elinize sağlık çok net ve parlak bir çalışma. :) Benim sınav da açıklandı bu arada. Bir aksilik çıkmazsa Eylül'de öğretmenim. :)

Sevgiler...

Bayram hocam öncelikle geri gelmenize ve yeniden resimlerinizi gördüğüme sevindim. Ender bulunan bu güzelliği bize de gösterdiğiniz için teşekkürler. Sayenizde Türkiye Herpetofaunası dillerde. Emeğinize sağlık.
Kıbrız'tan selamlar.
Nazım

Salam Bayram,

A great shot for 1st on TN with beautiful colors, sharpness & fine details. Well done & TFS.

Great to have you back MF!

Salam & Regards

Umar

  • Great 
  • foozi Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1339 W: 0 N: 2575] (9085)
  • [2009-08-02 3:46]

Merhaba MF Bayram,
wow...another wonderful discovery and such a precious of this treasure, the lizard.
Well taken and well presented in excellent colours and habitat.
Congratulations!

Regards, Foozi

interesting and great capture of the nice salamander! :-) i always like the mix of black and yellow on them. sharpness and
details are perfect. looks like you had a successfull expedition. excellent presentation & best wishes, thor.

Bayram merhaba,
Harika bir güzellik bu.Biraz netlik problemi olsa da renklerin güzelliği göz alıcı.Eline, emeğine sağlık, bu ilginç türün TN'deki ilk fotosuyla tanıştırdığın için ayrıca teşekkür.Selamlar...

Dayi hosgeldin. umarim hersey guzel gecti. Kertenkeleye benzeyen bu semenderi cok guzel tanitmisssin. Renkler, detaylar, hersey cok guzel.
Merih

  • Great 
  • efsus Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 436 W: 10 N: 738] (3210)
  • [2009-08-02 5:41]

Merhaba Bayram
Öncelikle hoşgeldin. TN de ilk olduğu kadar aynı zamanda harika bir çalışmayla dönmüşsün. Emeğine sağlık. Yeni karelerde görüşmek üzere. Hoşçakal.

Hüseyin

hello MF Bayram!
another news entry from you .. excellent macro of this Caucasian salamander,shown by natural pose and pleasing details....

greetings from Italy sERGIO

Hallo Bayram
Wow what a striking reptile with just as striking colours. It almost looks as if this guy fell into a tank filled with oil. The details captured here are really outstanding, not only is the texture and patterns well seen, but one can also see the rib cage through the skin. I also like the webbed paws and the big black almost pop out eyes. A remarkable posting that cannot go unnoticed. It was a real pleasure to stop by this unusual exquisiteness. Thanks for sharing. Best regards.
Anna

  • Great 
  • zetu Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 649 W: 15 N: 1607] (6263)
  • [2009-08-02 8:40]

Hello Bayram
Another excellent capture from you taken with great details and natural colors
Regards
Razvan

My dear Big Bro!
What a lovely surprise to see you back in action here!
This is an amazing shot! I think the best part about this shot is the beautiful shiny skin you've brought out so well!
BRavo!
Goldy

Congratulations Bayram!!! Great findings and very good quality picture! This species is new for me :)
Lovely exposition and very good light/sharpness/DOF. Nothing to add :)
Greetings from Lodz,
Radek

ps. Soon I hope to observe some more Amphibia and Reptile species for me as I am going to Turkey in few days :>

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2912 W: 34 N: 8640] (32202)
  • [2009-08-02 9:54]

Hi bayram. Good to see you home safe and sound. Congrats on this first on TN with the Caucasian Salamander . You have been able to take a first class close up with fine detail and natural colours. We can see all of the body markings from your top POV. Well done TFS.
Nick..

As fascinating as they come...This one looks like an ad for insurance..Geiko:-) or some such..Very nice and well done in your usual professional methods!
Bob

Hello Bayram,
Nice to see that you come back with interesting and rare species. The composition and details are perfect, including a detailled note as usual. Thanks a lot and best regards,
Catherine

Hi Brother.
Nice to see your amazing photos here again with a wonderful information and a great knowledge..Congratulation of your first Caucasian salamander picture in here on TN...Very interesting look and excellent composition...Well done brother...
I am sorry to hear you are not well but you will get well soon...Look after yourself and take care...
Best wishes from all of us....
Leyla.

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2493 W: 11 N: 6885] (21912)
  • [2009-08-02 16:51]

Hi LBB,

What a pleasant surprise to see a post from you! And Congratulations for yet another first on TN. A fascinating Salamander with wonderful colors, details and markings. He shows up perfectly against the natural background. Will be waiting to see what else you have discovered.

Jane

Kanki byu da çok güzel. Emeğine sağlık. hayırlı işler.
Gökhan

Hello Bayram
Well come back, it seems that your trip to the Black Sea was successful. Congratulations for the first posting of this beautiful species.Very nice photo with stunning details and colours
TFS
Albert

Hi Bayram,

Excellent sharpness and detail, nice color and exposure too, very nice! The salamander looks like it is not in the best of health though, as it's very skinny, or is that normal for this species? This looks quite similar to the Spotted Salamander, Ambystoma maculatum, that occurs here.

Sad to see that they're declining, seems to be happening everywhere nowadays. Nice to see you posting again!

Thanks,
John

Merhaba Bayram
nice to see a shot from you again and a first one on TN, congratulations !
this caucasian Salamander is very well presented, nice composition with superb sharp details, excellent colors and lighting
Have a good night
Jacqueline

hello Bayram
Super good sharpness and very good details with beautiful colours
interesting salamander
greeting lou

Kaburalar ve olukları çok güzel sayılıyor Hocam. Türün özellikleri bu pozla çok daha belirgin.
Elinize sağlık. Deniz

  • Great 
  • zulfu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1063 W: 0 N: 162] (868)
  • [2009-08-05 7:23]

Anatomik özelliklerini bile göstermişsiniz:) emeğinize sağlık Hocam.
Saygılar,
Mehmet

Yine süper bir semender. Bizim Kaçkar güzeli buymuş meğer:)
Emeğinize ve elinize sağlık.
Bahadır

Merhaba Bayram hocam,

It's so good to see You again. I was on vacation with my family, and when coming back, You were on Your herpetological trip.

I'm glad You found this interesting specie out of its known distribution area and posted as a first on TN. I hope You won't be angry if I say Salamandra salamandra, which we all know, is much nicer... :) But as a photo, Your image's excellent, a great portrait of an animal I've never heard before.

Just a question: You know I love Your beauties (amphibians and reptiles) very much, but would it be worth for You to once come (if there's any possibility at all) to a herpetological trip to Hungary? Although I'm afraid I wouldn't be serious help to You, maybe as a guide, but scientifically nothing at all. But something like this would be awesome and I'm sure I may learn a lot from You - I really should like to photograph amphibians and reptiles on such high level as You do.

Tfs, congrats, friendly regards, László

One again, iam visit your pictures.

This one I never been seen before.

Well done.

Gert

Merhaba Hocam,
Karadeniz turunun ürünleri yavaş yavaş çıkıyor :)
Çok güzel bir kare olmuş, elinize sağlık.
Saygılarımla

Bu poz da çok güzel olmuş hocam. Kaburgaları dahi belli:)
Aç kalmış galiba:) Elinize sağlık.
Saygılarımla,
Özgür

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