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A Subadult Levantine Viper for ANNICK


A Subadult Levantine Viper for ANNICK
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: 2008-04-05
Categories: Reptiles
Camera: Olympus C-5060WZ
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Turkish Herpetofauna-II, Dedications at Trek Nature part Four, Bayram's dedications [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2008-07-12 1:33
Viewed: 732
Favorites: 2 [view]
Points: 56
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Macrovipera lebetina obtusa (Blunt-nosed/ Levantine Viper) [in Turk. Koca Engerek] (A Subadult Female) #4

Dear Friends, after the total appearances from the dorsolateral and frontal sides of a magnificent baby viper, today I decided to upload another shot of this viper species but now a subadult female in motion from dorsal side and different location.

I would like to dedicate this shot of this dangerous beauty to one of our beloved, heartfelt and also great photographer friends in TN, Annick Vanderschelden (vanderschelden) who has uploaded 700th posting two days ago, a great work, for his valuable contributions to TN. Congratulations My friend! I hope you can like this “cute” subadult Levantine viper:)! I wish you all the best my friend and thanks for all!

Cheers,

Bayram

Ps. The total body length of this subadult female viper is aprrox. 50 cm.

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

It is a large, mainly nocturnal, stout-bodied viper with a maximum length about 1.80 m [click here to see an adult individual]. The head is large, with blunt nose, triangular, clearly distinct from neck. The eyes are large, with a vertical pupil and yellowish to brownish iris. The tail is relatively short, especially in females. The head covered with only small, strongly keeled scales (no plates!). The body scales are also strongly keeled ordered into 23-27 rows at midbody (25-27 in M. l. obtusa). Ventral and subcaudal plate numbers is varied between 126-181 and 33-58 respectively. These numbers are also showed a sexual dimorphism: 127-177 ventrals in males, 152-181 in females, 33-51 (males)/29-58 (females) paired subcaudal plates plus one conical scale at the tail tip. The dorsum is gray or brownish-grey, with dark, sometimes indistinct (especially in M. l. lebetina from Cyprus), often blackish to brownish large maculations, which are sometimes two pieced, and their edges surrounded with dun-colored bands, their middles brick red. Head uniform above, with a sometimes indistinct band running from the eye to the mouth angle. There is a row of dark maculations on flanks. Belly is whitish to grayish brown, with dark gray spots.

This species is a ground-dweller, diurnal in colder periods, nocturnal in the hottest periods. Often it is encountered on roads during the night time in summer. It is seen frequently in flat meadows or pastures without trees and rocky places, ruins, cultivated fields and gardens. It feeds mainly on rodents, other small mammals, birds, lizards and occasionally even other snakes. It is rather shy, but ready to bite if cornered. When disturbed, it starts the typical body coils are arranged in a double crescent, with the concave side including “S”-curved neck and ready-to-strike head turned towards the enemy. Due to the effectiveness and large volume of the venom, it is the most dangerous snake of Turkey (with the subspecies of obtusa which I photographed here). In Turkey, the abundances of all viper species (around 15 species belonging to the three different genera: Montivipera, Vipera and Macrovipera) are extremely low. Therefore, it is evident that all vipers are endangered and needs protection.

Blunt-nosed viper is distributed in the Near and Middle East from Levantine coast to Kazakhstan and Pakistan, with a relict occurrence in N. Africa (Tunisia and Algeria with the subspecies of M. l. transmediterranea) with a vertical distribution of 0-2000m asl. This polymorphic species is represented 4 currently recognized subspecies: nominotypic (Cyprus), obtusa (Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Turkey, east to west Pakistan and Afganistan-In Turkey it is found in E Mediterranean Region, E and SE Anatolia), M. l. transmediterranea (Tunisia and Algeria) and M. l. turanica (Kazakhstan, N Iran and Afghanistan).

Ps. In addition to mentioned above information the Cypriotic and Anatolian Blunt-Nosed Vipers were distinctly different in terms of the number of Supraoculars, the number of scales arranged in a ring around the eyes (circumoculars) and the number of ventral plates. the nominate subspecies (restricted to Cyprus) is distinguished from M. l. obtusa, by a lower number of ventral plates and a smaller body size.

References:
1. Göçmen, B. (Unpub. results). The results of herpetological trips.
2. Göçmen, B., Arikan, H., Mermer, A., Langerwerf, B. & Bahar, H. (2006). Morphological, Hemipenial and Venom Electrophoresis Comparisons of Levantine Viper, Macrovipera lebetina (Linnaeus, 1758) from Cyprus and Southern Anatolia. Turkish Journal of Zoology, 30 (2): 225-234.
3. Göçmen, B., Arikan, H., Özbel, Y., Mermer, A. & Çiçek, K. (2006). Clinical, physiological and serological observations on human folowing Macrovipera lebetina lebetina envenomating. Türkiye Parazitoloji Dergisi (Acta Parasitologica Turcica), 30 (2): 158-162.
4. Budak, A. & Göçmen, B. (2005). Herpetology. Ege Üniversitesi Fen Fakültesi Kitaplar Serisi, No. 194, Ege Üniversitesi Basimevi, Bornova-Izmir, 226 pp. [2nd Edition, 2008].
5. Disi, A. M., Modry, D., Necas, P. & Rifai, L. (2001). Amphibians and Reptiles of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. Edition Chimaira, 408 pp.
6. Baran, I. & Atatür, M. K. (1998). Turkish Herpetofauna (Amphibians & Reptiles). Ministry of Environment, Ankara. 214 pp.
7. Arikan, H., Göçmen, B., Mermer, A. & Bahar, H. (2005). An electrophoretic
comparison of the venoms of a colubrid and various viperid snakes from Turkey and
Cyprus, with some taxonomic and phylogenetic implications. Zootaxa, 1038: 1-10.
8. Arikan, H., G., Göçmen, B., Kumlutas, Y., Alpagut-Keskin, N., Ilgaz, Ç. & Yildiz, M. Z. (2008). Electrophoretic characterisation of the venom samples obtained from various Anatolian snakes (Serpentes: Colubridae, Viperidae, Elapidae). North-Western Journal of Zoology, 4 (1): 16-28.
zulfu, nkasot, iris, cypturk, bahadir, xTauruSx, Argus, mayuresh, gerbilratz, haraprasan, Juyona, marhowie, jaycee, yasemin, NinaM, rousettus, gracious, uleko, vanderschelden, spalaxtr, montivipera, eng55 has marked this note useful
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ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To eng55: :))))))))boreocypriensis 1 07-14 10:42
To montivipera: Sağol Naşitboreocypriensis 1 07-14 03:06
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • zulfu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 527 W: 0 N: 95] (585)
  • [2008-07-12 1:53]

Koca engereğin dorsal renklenme ve desenini, pul detaylarıyla birlikte gösteren güzel bir makro çekim olmuş hocam. Elinize sağlık.
Mehmet

Her zamanki gibi mükemmel ve detay veren bir çalışma. Ellerinize sağlık Bayram Hocam.
Nazım

  • Great 
  • iris Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 389 W: 40 N: 730] (2302)
  • [2008-07-12 2:05]

Good Lord!Bayram,

Is this a sub-adult, what would an adult look like then!!!!

Quite a fine dedication for Annick...for the kind of big and grand captured that he shares with all of us in TN.
One can quite sense the movement and motion as its head is lifted a wee bit and fine details of the texture of its body and scales.

Thanks ever for sharing this grand capture and the well researched notes too.

Cheers

Another great viper capture, it really proves that you love this reptile group. Very good sharpness and details on its back, and of course interesting and educational note-as always. tfs... kind regards... cypturk

Tam sırt taraftan desen ve rnklenme harika görünüyor Bayram hocam. Elinize sağlık.
Bahadır

Another perfect capture of an Levantine viper in partially motion. Great dedication to a great photographer in TN hocam. TFS.
Regards,
Deniz

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2606 W: 133 N: 7480] (23317)
  • [2008-07-12 3:28]

Hello Bayram,
Superb portrait of a subadult Levantine Viper. The frame-filling composition of the whole viper is great taken from a dorsal POV. The sharpness allows us to see it clearly despite its camouflage against the same coloured soil BG.
A fine contribution my friend and an excellent dedication to our friend Annick for his massive contribution to TN.
Cheers,
Ivan

Hello Bayram,
very nice capture of viper,superb details with great sharpness,
your note is always intresting and informative,
well done,
tfs

Hello Bayram, stunning camouflage... it would be so easy to step on this snake.... amazing patterns... I like the POV of this, it shows the sinusoidal curls of this snake so well. super info.. I am getting more interested in herpetology every day!!!

P/S.. I have been reading some of your papers as well... excellent knowledge... best regards h

Hi Bayram,
A lovely capture of this beautiful viper. A lovely dedication for Annick. Very well composed with sharp details. Thanks a lot for sharing.

  • Great 
  • Juyona Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 2041 W: 6 N: 2021] (13267)
  • [2008-07-12 6:06]

Hola Bay,
buen trabajo y fino pov,
dedicatoria y detalles magníficos.
excelente trabajo amigo,
saludos

Hi Batram, splendid snake with fantastic details, perfect focus and excellent sharpness, very well done, ciao Silvio

Hi Bayram,
Another intereesting shot of this viper species, this time showing how she moves..And she moves me ;-)
Nice dedication to Annick for his great contributions to TN.
Well done,
Howard

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1785 W: 8 N: 4627] (14955)
  • [2008-07-12 9:48]

Hi My Brother,

Cute??? I don't think so. Wonderful shot of this Lady Viper but definitely not cute. It's hard to believe this is a "sub-adult." I love the position she is in. Wonderful colors and good details and we see her clearly even though she is so well camouflaged.

Jane

A lovely shot, bro!
Very well done!
Goldy

Hi my dear brother...Excellent photo and its very kind of you dedicated for Annick....Very clear detail on the body and scales.....Still I feel cold when I looking snakes....Take care brother....All the best...Leyla

  • Great 
  • joey Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1691 W: 242 N: 5580] (19801)
  • [2008-07-12 14:02]

Hi Geckoman,
nice photo of this baby viper!
Great composition and POV.
Very good DOF too.

Well done, Bayram!

Joe

  • Great 
  • NinaM Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 566 W: 0 N: 1382] (4569)
  • [2008-07-12 14:37]

It's incredible all the species that you photograph and it's incredible to see how many species there are! Beautiful result too, with clarity and perfect pose of your subject ;-) It looks longer than it seems to be in reality and to be true, I would be verrry impressed to meet one. Thank you once more for the instructive notes Bayram,

Francine

Ceyhan arazisi sandığımdan verimli geçmişe benziyor. bu türü görünce hep aklıma vukuatı geliyor. ama fotoğrafta çok daha güzel duruyor. çekim de güzel olunca. eline sağlık hacı. Muğladan selamlar.

Merhaba Dr.Bayram,
Selam!!
Superp composition of the Levantine Viper and a nice dedication to our friend Annick!
great size to enjoy the closeness of it in perfect sharpness, good colour and perfect details
great job well done
greeting
Tony

  • Great 
  • gannu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 921 W: 4 N: 2302] (10736)
  • [2008-07-13 1:12]

hello bayram, Nice shot and good long note. Well presented. Ganesh

Hello Bayram,
Another great photo of a Viper. Very sharp with excellent details. His camouflaged colours are wonderful. Good POV and composition.
Regards,
Peter

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2465 W: 168 N: 7448] (23526)
  • [2008-07-13 4:00]

Hello Bayram,
This one looks too well camouflaged for comfort! I'm sure I'd step right on it if I came walking along! Where I grew up outside Stockholm there were many Adders among the stones and rocks and I learnt early to show respect! This one is very nicely captured here showing it in a fine pose and the colours and details are excellent.
Many thanks and best wishes, Ulla

Hello Bayram,
Thank you very much for this Levantine viper, a dangerous beauty as you call it in your as always well written in depth notes.
I noticed it a bit too late (no bite though!:)as I'm too busy to participate as I used to do here, due to an overload of work.
Anyway I'm very honoured and I hope that this photo and your writings will result in more knowledge about this snake and will contribute to a protection policy.
Thank you very much, Bayram.
Annick

Bayram merhaba,
Tam kare nefis bir engerek olmuş. Tam kitaplık bir fotoğraf. Eline sağlık. Selamlar
Mustafa

Merhaba Hocam,
Harika bir kare olmuş. Sırt deseni çok güzel görünmüş, elinize sağlık.
Saygılar,
Naşit

  • Great 
  • eng55 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 353 W: 3 N: 376] (1127)
  • [2008-07-14 10:22]
  • [+]

Merhaba Bayram Bey,
Uzaktan bakildiginde arap alfabesi harfleri gibi duruyor:)Renkler,detaylar ve yilanin durusu cok guzel.Selamlar,ellerinize saglik!

  • Great 
  • Mana Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1714 W: 24 N: 4988] (16346)
  • [2008-07-15 15:13]

Hi Bayram,
Excellent shot of this great looking Viper with lovely colours and details on its scales. Very neat and sharp image with perfect illumination. I like its pose and your top POV to portray it. Very nice dedication to Annick and the composition is superb. Kudos.
TFS.
Sumon

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