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Aesculapian Snake


Aesculapian Snake
Photo Information
Copyright: Bayram Gocmen (boreocypriensis) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5100 W: 178 N: 12477] (34071)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2009-07-23
Categories: Reptiles
Camera: Nikon D-80, AF-S VR Micro-Nikkor 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED, @ ISO 200, SIGMA 62MM EX DG MC UV Filter
Exposure: f/6.3, 1/640 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Turkish Herpetofauna-II [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2009-09-24 0:41
Viewed: 305
Points: 68
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Zamenis longissimus (=Elaphe longissima) (Aesculapian snake) [in Turk. Eskülap Yılanı] (Female)

Dear Friends, especially who leaved their kind critiques/comments on the previous posting “dedicated to nature”, thanks a lot for your heartfelt words!.
Today another portrait capture of this elegant snake, the international medical symbol, from the vicinity of Gökgöl Caves (#2) (Zonguldak province).

TFL and Have a nice day!
Cheers,

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

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

The Aesculapian snake is a relatively slender snake that can reach 2.25 m in total length, but is more usually around 1.4–1.6 m. Adult Aesculapian snakes are a fairly plain brown, yellowish or olive colour and the anterior third of the body is often distinctly lighter. Various white spots and vague longitudinal stripes may also be present. Juveniles are much more boldly marked and somewhat resemble grass snakes, Natrix natrix. It is found from sea level to 2,000 m in a variety of habitats, including deciduous woodland, scrub, marshy areas, traditional farming landscapes and around human dwellings. These snakes seem to prefer humid regions and are often associated with river valleys. They are excellent climbers and it is becoming apparent that they utilise the interior and the canopy of woodlands far more than previously thought. Aesculapian snakes are powerful constrictors and prey on small rodents, making them economically beneficial to farmers, as well as on birds and lizards.

Although a diurnal species it is secretive and seldom seen. Mating Aesculapian snakes perform an elegant “dance” with their front ends raised in an S-shape and the bodies and tails intertwined, the behaviour that is represented on the international medical symbol. An average of 5-11 eggs are laid in some form of decomposing vegetation, such as heaps of leaf litter, compost and manure or humus-filled holes in trees, and many females may utilise the same site if it is particularly favourable for incubation. Juveniles vary from 12-37 cm in length and are fully self-sufficient upon hatching. Aesculapian snakes have numerous predators, especially when young, including many mammals and birds, but do not appear to have many direct competitors among other snakes.

This elegant snake has a wide distribution, occurring in 26 countries, including Turkey, in geographical Europe with just one separate population, around Lake Urmia in northern Iran. In Turkey, there is an isolated population occurs on the northern slopes of Ağrı Dağı (Mount Ararat) in eastern Turkey. Aesculapian snakes are also found in northeast Turkey where they form part of the population along the eastern shores of the Black Sea, extending into Georgia and southern Russia, which is itself separate from the main European distribution. This species is also found in northwest Turkey, where it is connected to the main European distribution via the Greek and Bulgarian populations.

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.
4. Arnold, N.E. (1978). A Field Guide to the Reptiles and Amphibians of Britain and Europe.Collins, London, UK, 288 pp.
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ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To anemone: slmboreocypriensis 2 09-24 13:51
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Critiques [Translate]

I am seeing this snake first time. thank you for sharing. Perfect lighting blended with natural feeling.

Bayram hocam günaydın. yine muhteşem bir portre.
Bakış açınız tüm plak-pul detaylarını çok iyi gösteriyor.
Emeğinize sağlık.
Nazım

Ciao Bayram, fantastic portrait against superb blurry BG, wonderful details and splendid sharpness, very well done my friend, ciao Silvio

Hello MF Bayram,
what fantastic impressive portrait, very good sharpness and splendid natural colours, i like this marvellous close composition.
TFS
Best regards
Maurizio

Bayram Günaydın,
Dünkü karenin devamı niteliğinde olan bu portre çalışması kafa ayrıntılarını daha belirgin göstermesi açısından oldukça yerinde bir paylaşım olmuş.Kafadaki dokular çok ilginç,eski bir kalenin ya da köprünün düzgün yerleştirilmiş muazzam taşlarını andırıyor.Netlik ve poz çok hoş dostum.Emeklerine sağlık.
Spas û pîroz dikim.
Bi slavên germ.

Dûrzan

hello MF Bayram
impressive close up,the detail and his beauty is exceptional
great photo
TFS thanks for sharing
Nasos

  • Great 
  • bedri Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 53 W: 0 N: 73] (500)
  • [2009-09-24 2:17]

Enfes, ellerinize sağlık Baram hocam. Detaylar dokular anormal güzellikte, çok çok güzel olmuş, tebrikler..
Selamlar saygılar..

Another superb shot, Big Bro!
Very well presented!
Bravo!
Goldy

  • Great 
  • joska Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 411 W: 0 N: 1023] (5522)
  • [2009-09-24 4:48]

Hello Bayram!

Another very good macro of this 'elegant' snake, congratulation!

  • Great 
  • siggi Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1380 W: 56 N: 4759] (16364)
  • [2009-09-24 5:49]

Hello MF Bayram,
Your snake photos are outstanding. I really like the pose, eye contact, and details shown. Very nice exposure and great colors.
Best regards Siggi

Ciao Bayram. Perfect portrait in ecellent details and particolar light. Nice dephting compo.

Roberto

hello Bayram
great sharpness composition with very good details and beautiful colours
greeting lou

hello Bayram

another excellent close-up portrait shot of a snake,
fine POV, i love the way it is framed on the image,
superb focus great sharpness and details, excellent eye contact,

TFS

Asbed

Dayi harika cekmissin muhtesem gorunuyor. Emegine saglik.
Selamlar.
Merih

Bayram.. bu ne guzellik boyle.. gercekten cok hos duruyor..
sayende yilanlari bile sevmeye basladim.. eline saglik..
Hepimizden selamlar...
Leyla.

Merhaba Bayram,

An outstanding macro with beautiful coloration, sharpness & details. Very nicely done with skillful efforts & TFS.

Salam & Best wishes.

Umar

Hello Bayram,

What a nice close-up of this great snake: the official international medical symbol! I like your pov and excellent composition having the head of the snake put diagonally to the frame adding dynamism to the picture. Nice light and great eye contact ;-)

Cheers,

Michel

Merhabalar hocam..
Yine harika bir makro.. Etkileyici ayrıntılar profesyonelliğinizi konuşturmuşsunuz yine.. Elinize emeğinize sağlık..
Saygılarımla.
Özgür

  • Great 
  • roges Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 613 W: 0 N: 546] (3180)
  • [2009-09-24 10:10]

Merhaba Bayram,
A capture beautiful and dangerous! A "portrait" beautiful.
Have a nice evening,
Adrian

Kanka büyük fotoğrafçısın.. yılanı bile bu kadar güzel çekmek ve göstermek ancak senin gibi işine tutkuyla sarılmış biri tarafından yapılabilir. Emeğine sağlık.
Gökhan

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2916 W: 34 N: 8651] (32250)
  • [2009-09-24 10:22]

Hi Bayram. Congrats on the 30,000 Pt. sorry i missed it yesterday my friend. This is a first class close up of the Snake. You have taken it from a different POV looking down on the Aesculapian. Yoou have taken it with fine detail and such natural colours. well done TFS.
Nick..

  • Great 
  • KOMSIS Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 238 W: 0 N: 588] (2001)
  • [2009-09-24 10:28]

Bayram bey selamlar,
Başarılı bir yılan portresi ...
parlayan yılanın pulları, net detayları ile renkler mükemmel kalitede bir makro fotograf.
Emeğinize sağlık,
Seyfi

Sayın hocam harika bir vesikalık olmuş.
ellerinize sağlık.
En güzel dileklerimle hoşcakalın.

Merhaba Bayram Hocam, bugun ınternet aldım artık tum fotoğraflarınıza yorum yazıcam. cok mutluyum :D bol bol anlatırım artık guzel YORUMLARIMI:D dunkı fıstığın farklı ve guzel bır pozu. kıyamam ama nasıl da boynunu bukmuş. peşlerınden koşmayı aramayı ozledım :( ama artık anı oldular galıba:(:(( sız cok sanslısınız. bu arada tekrar tesekkur ederım.
sevgılerımle
filiz

Merhaba Bayram hocam. sıradışı güzellikte bir makro olmuş.
Emeğinize sağlık.
Deniz

Hocam bakış açınız çok hoş olmuş. Özellikle baş folidozisini tamamen ortaya koyuyor.
Emeğinize ve elinize sağlık.
Bahadır

Merhaba Bayram MF,

Powerful macro capture of the snake with great details! The sharpness and POV are perfect. Nice Bg supports the picture immensely. The picture has superb focusing and the clarity is exceptionally well done.

best regards,
Paras

  • Great 
  • zulfu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1065 W: 0 N: 162] (870)
  • [2009-09-24 15:33]

İyi geceler hocam. Eskülaptan süper bir makro daha.
Emeğinize sağlık.
Mehmet
Not:makaleyi e-mailinize az önce attım.

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2493 W: 11 N: 6885] (21912)
  • [2009-09-24 16:18]

Hi LBB,

It's soooo good seeing your snake pictures again! A very clever composition with the snake dropping into the picture. A beautiful lady with the slender neck and brilliant eye. The colors and details of the skin are superb and the background is perfect.

Jane

Hello Bayram,

Another beautiful picture of a snake from you. Very sharp and beautiful colors.

Tino.

Merhaba Bayram
very great snake portrait with beautiful POV, sharp details, superb colors
wonderful contrast with the nice BG
Have a good night
Jacqueline

  • Great 
  • valy67 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1880 W: 59 N: 2915] (8733)
  • [2009-09-25 22:38]

Hello Bayram !
Ah, this beauty again ! I really love snakes, but I do not have any where I live, so I can only see them on pictures, so it's nice for me to see pictures like this one. I really like the big black eyes of this species. His pose os fantastic, as well as the white BG which allows the snake to stand out perfectly. Excellent details and nice textures on the scales. Very well done !
Valérie.

Merhaba Bayram hocam,

Çok güzel bir yılan türü bu. Baş kısmının detaylı makrosu çok başarılı olmuş. Yılan fotolarınızı özlemişiz üstadım. Elinize emeğinize sağlık.

Saygı ve selamlarımla
Mehmet

Bayram,
It is always with great pleasure that I visit your pages; am always learning soooooo much from you.
Have now learnt, thanks to you, how to colour code my notes on TN.
I admire your total dedication to the well written notes. So concise yet so informative. EXCELLENT.
Re: Photography.... ALWAYS THE BEST!!!
Mario with regards from Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

Merhaba Hocam,
Bu kare de bir önceki gibi çok güzel, elinize sağlık.
Saygılarımla, naşit

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