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"Sidewinding" for Haraprasan


Photo Information
Copyright: Bayram Gocmen (boreocypriensis) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 4129 W: 156 N: 5418] (14462)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-04-05
Categories: Reptiles
Camera: Olympus C-5060WZ
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Haraprasan's Favs, Bayram's dedications, Turkish Herpetofauna-II, Dedications at Trek Nature part Four [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2008-07-14 0:34
Viewed: 770
Favorites: 2 [view]
Points: 58
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Macrovipera lebetina obtusa (Blunt-nosed/ Levantine Viper) [in Turk. Koca Engerek] (A Subadult Female) #6

Dear Friends, today another shot of the subadult female which I uploaded yesterday but now in motion to show its one of four locomotion patterns known from snakes and other limbless reptiles, named as “Sidewinding”. Of course, this shot was taken while this beauty was escaping from me:).

Today, I would like to dedicate this dangerous beauty’s shot to my beloved, heartfelt and also a great photographer in TN, Haraprasan Nayak (haraprasan) who has uploaded his 300th posting two days ago, a great milestone in TN, for his valuable contributions to TN. Congratulations My dear friend ! I wish you all the best and more 300’s with together!

Cheers,

Bayram

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

Snakes and other limbless reptiles ordinarily move by one of four locomotion patterns.

In ”Lateral undulation”, the trunk moves continuously relative to the substrate (“slithering”). Propulsive forces are transmitted by the sides of the trunk as the body slides past sites where resistance forces are exerted. These sites are generally irregularities in the substrate against which the muscles of the body push to move the animal forward. In this process a series of undulant curves pass from front to rear while posteriorly facing surfaces of the body contact and push against the irregularities of the surface on which movement occurs. The propulsive forces are generated entirely by the axial muscles and are perpendicular to the contact surfaces, so friction is not used. Progression requires at least three posteriorly directed force vectors (contact points) to be stable.

All three of the other modes of locomotion are different from lateral undulation in having propulsive forces that act horizontally in the direction of movement and are transmitted across zones in which the trunk makes static contact with the substrate.

In ”Concertina locomotion”, progression is accomplished with stationary body parts as an anchor to push or pull the rest of the body forward. The friction associated with static contact is used as a reaction force to allow forward progression. Forward movement involves alternate anchoring, folding, anchoring, and extension of the body as the muscles act somewhat like an accordion between the zones of static contact. Because acceleration alternates with deceleration, this type of movement is comparatively slow and energetically costly.

”Sidewinding” is a method of locomotion used for progression on relatively flat, low-friction surfaces such as desert sands or mud flats. In this movement, sections of the body are lifted, moved forward, then set down in such a manner that the body is usually in static contact with the ground at two points. Once the neck of a snake contacts the ground at the forward point, the body is essentially “rolled out” on the substrate, producing a series of separate, parallel tracks oriented at an angle to the direction of travel. A variation of sidewinding, termed saltation, occurs when the body is straightened so strongly and rapidly that it lifts completely off the substrate. This mode of locomotion and slide pushing, whereby posterior contact zones of undulating snakes slide backward relative to the ground, are associated with rapid escape movements.

The fourth principal mode of limbless locomotion involves laterally symmetric use of muscles associated with the ribs and the flexible skin. Termed ”Rectilinear locomotion”, this mode involves alternate placement of ventral scales in static contact with the ground followed by active stretching to extend the ventral wall (like an inchworm) and produce straight-line progression. The anterior surface of the snake progresses at a more-or-less constant velocity and conserves momentum because the mass of the animal continues to move.

Movements of limbless reptiles such as snakes can entail a mixture of the modes of locomotion, each of which may be influenced by the size of the snake, nature of the substrate, temperature, or stimulus for movement. Both lateral undulation and sidewinding are more rapid modes of progression than are concertina or rectilinear modes of movement. In faster-moving snakes, such as whipsnakes and racers, the locomotor muscles are elongated to span many vertebrae and create long arcs during undulating movements. Yet these muscles are lightweight owing to elongation primarily of tendons rather than of the active muscle mass. In contrast, snakes that constrict their prey, such as boas and pythons, have heavier, shorter muscle units that produce great strength of constriction but slower locomotion.

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. Grzimek, B., (2003). Grzimek’s Animal Life Encyclopedia, Second Edition Volume 7 Reptiles Schlager Group Inc. 571 pp.
ammodytes, zulfu, nkasot, cataclysta, cypturk, spalaxtr, red45, haraprasan, montivipera, maurydv, bahadir, sandpiper2, xTauruSx, mayuresh, jaycee, vanderschelden, eng55, rousettus, yasemin, goldyrs, uleko has marked this note useful
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ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To eng55: :)boreocypriensis 1 07-14 10:38
To montivipera: :Pboreocypriensis 1 07-14 03:08
To SueThomson: Hi Sueboreocypriensis 1 07-14 02:24
To cataclysta: Hi Krzysztofboreocypriensis 1 07-14 00:50
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • zulfu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 572 W: 0 N: 100] (609)
  • [2008-07-14 0:43]

Great action shot and very informative notes, also nice dedication to Haraprasan hocam. TFS. Regards,
Mehmet

Hi Bayram
Another great reptile with a detail note. Good diagonal composition and nice field guide POV. Your TN, internet fieild guide is getting bigger and bigger ;-)
I like it very much
TFS
Krzysztof

Gerçekten sert zeminde yanal dalgalanma hareketini göstermek için bundan dah güzel bir kare düşünemiyorum hocam. Elinize sağlık. Esasen yumuşak zeminde bu türde ayrıca bir de sidewinding hareketi görülüyor. Zemine göre farklı hareket kombinasyonları olabileceğini zaten belirtmişsiniz. Elinize sağlık.
Nazım

Superb action shot of this female levantine viper with great notes... tfs. kind regards... cypturk

Sevgili Bayram merhaba,
Sayende engereklere epey aşina olduk ve gözümüze daha sevimli gelmeye başladılar. Bir efiş sözü görmüştüm "ne kadar tanırsan o kadar seversin" diyordu. Sayende pek çok sürüngenimizi daha iyi tanır ve daha çok sever olduk. Katkıların ve paylaşımların için tekrar teşekürler dostum.
Selamlar
Mustafa

  • Great 
  • red45 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2814 W: 75 N: 7958] (26909)
  • [2008-07-14 1:27]

Hello Bayram!

You're very brave :-) Another good shot of poisonous viper. Good dorsal POV with well visible details on reptile's body. Excellent and very interesting note. As always perfect post.

Hi Friend Bayram,
Thank you very much. So this was the surprise. It is just lovely. Beautiful capture of this poisonous viper's movement shot. Very well timed. Superb details and a lovely composition. Thanks a lot for sharing.

Hi Bayram
Thanks for sharing this viper. Your notes explain the movement well and were interesting to read.
Cheers
Sue

Merhaba Hocam,
Fotoğraflarınızın hepsinde bir amaç var, her birinde farklı bir şey gösteriyorsunuz. Bu karede de engereğin hareketini çok üzel sergilemişsiniz. Elinize ve emeğinize sağlık.
Saygılarımla,
Naşit.

Splendido momento di cattura, eccellente composizione diagonale con la sinuosità del movimento, ottima nitidezza, belli i colori e l'ambientazione naturale. Grazie e complimenti. Ciao Maurizio

Her zmanki gibi anlamlı bir kare ve eğitici notlar sayın hocam. Sayenizde gerçekten insanlar artık daha duyarlı oluyor. Teşekkürler.
Bahadır

Hi Bayram

Good shot of your lady escaping you :)
Good POV, diagonal composition and sharpness
Fantastic note as always

Chris

Excelete encuadre y naturalidad en el color Bayram. Dinamismo por la pose del reptil y realismoen la toma.

Abrazo

Hocam elinize sağlık harika eğitici bir kare. Teşekkürler.
Deniz

Canm Kardesim, Bu biraz kusbakisi ve dogal ortamda goruntulemissin ki boylece hareket, kivrim ve uzerindeki paten daha fazla dikkat cekiyor...Bence her zamanki gibi mukemmel olmus, en azindan agzini gormedigim icin korkunc gelmiyor o kadar bana...Saglicakla kal..Sevgiler..Leyla

Hello Bayram,
superb action shot of viper with informative note,nice composition and pov,
well done,
tfs

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1871 W: 8 N: 4868] (15759)
  • [2008-07-14 9:21]

Hi Bayram,

I can't believe the things I learn from you. The Arizona baseball team (Diamondbacks) have a minor leage team here in Tucson called the Sidewinders. I never knew where that name came from until now! If you keep posting these pictures I'm going to end up liking Vipers. Love the way he is running away from you. Great shot and a nice dedication to Haraprasan.

Hello Bayram,
Interesting in depth contribution, Bayram.
Nice dedication to Haraprasan.
Well done
TFS
Annick

Hi Bayram, full sized snake... an amazing creature, the colours blend in so well with the ground, must be difficult to spot...excellent notes as well... regards and best wishes, h.

  • Great 
  • eng55 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 428 W: 3 N: 437] (1355)
  • [2008-07-14 10:26]
  • [+]

Merhaba Bayram Bey,
Tamaminin kadraja girdigi guzel bir kare.Acelesi var gibi gozukiyor:)Selamlar,ellerinize saglik!

Hi Bayram, great dedication to our friend Haraprasan, splendid snake with fantastic details colors and excellent sharpness, very well done, ciao Silvio

bu kelimeyi, el-akardiyon ve yana dolanma, hep Abidin hocam aklıma gelir. bundan sonra senin bu kare de hatırlayacaklarım arasında olacak. olayı oldukça güzel yansıtmışsın. hem özel bir türle. eline sağlık hacı, güzel ve bilgi verici notların da her zamanki gibi pek güzel. selamlar.

  • Great 
  • lousat Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1089 W: 6 N: 3022] (11192)
  • [2008-07-14 16:12]

Hi,just marking,no time,thanks for share,Luciano

  • Great 
  • Jamesp Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1296 W: 0 N: 5061] (15084)
  • [2008-07-14 22:22]

Hi Bayram

Great shot showing this snake in action. Very good detail and exposure.

TFS

James

Excellent shot, my dear brother!
Very well done!
Goldy

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2544 W: 170 N: 7738] (24487)
  • [2008-07-15 6:32]

Hello Bayram,
Very fine capture of this sidewinding Viper. Excellent sharpness and colours and I really like the composition.
TFS and regards, Ulla

  • Great 
  • joey Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1834 W: 243 N: 6032] (21484)
  • [2008-07-15 8:15]

Hello Geckoman!
Excellent POV and composition.
Great lighting too.
The DOF is a bit shallow but is not a big problem.

Well done, Bayram!

Joe

merhaba Hocam, engereklere o gun bakma fırsatım olmadı maalesef:( Gebze nın ılkel sartlarında:D engerek olur da ben beğenmem mı:P
bu arada kotu haber; gebze de hıc bısey kalmamış. gecen salı Denizli Barajı na gıttım. gecen yıl her yer kertenkele kaynıyodu, bu sene helıkopter boceğinden baska bısey yok:( sadece bı tane P. taurica olduğunu düşündğüm bı kertenkele yakaladım, o da ufacıktı zaten kaçmış:D belkı İstanbul dan bulurum bı Anguis:) ama önce ben cekcem:D:D neyse
görüşmek uzere
filiz

  • Great 
  • Nilson Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 354 W: 0 N: 297] (2254)
  • [2008-08-15 16:37]

Hi Bayram
This is a good capture of a wonderful reptile, excellent colors and details, good sharpness and composition.
Well done
Nilson

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