<< Previous Next >>

Baby Large-headed Gecko for My Students


Baby Large-headed Gecko for My Students
Photo Information
Copyright: Bayram Gocmen (boreocypriensis) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3408 W: 148 N: 4196] (11036)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-04-06
Categories: Reptiles
Camera: Olympus C-5060WZ
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Turkish Herpetofauna-II, Bayram's dedications, Dedications at Trek Nature part Four, Reptiles - Geckos 1 [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2008-07-15 0:32
Viewed: 736
Favorites: 9 [view]
Points: 100
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Stenodactylus grandiceps (Large-headed Thin-toed Gecko) (in Turk. Tombul Keler, Kocabaş Keler) (A Baby, Juvenile)

Dear Friends, I have uploaded some shots based on the adults of this cute gecko species for a long time ago and in that time, I have mentioned that one of my graduate students, Bahadır was studying on its biology and ecology. Now, he and also my other student Deniz -who was studying on the comparison of the Cypriotic and Turkish populations of the Schreiber’s Fringe-toed Lizard-, have almost completed their thesses. In every stage of their researches, my PhD student Mehmet also helped them together with me. Therefore today, I would like to dedicate this cute baby gecko’s shot to my beloved friends and also my inteligent and resolute students, Bahadır (bahadir), Deniz (xTauruSx) and Mehmet (zulfu) for their significant, systematic and successful studies. Congratulations My beloved students for this great milestone in our academic world!

Cheers,

Bayram

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

This lovely gecko species is distributed in Iraq, N. Saudi Arabia, Syria, Jordan and the westernmost part of SE Anatolia (Turkey). In Turkey, It is represented with some isolated small populations in Kilis province (I do not give their exact localities to protect them against to gecko-hunters).

It is a strictly nocturnal, medium-sized (up to 9-10 cm total length but the males are usually smaller) terrestrial gecko, without adhesive pads on fingers. The head is fairly broad and large, snout relatively rounded. The eyes are large and prominent, with a vertical pupil. Ear opening is small and rounded. The digits and toes lack adhesive pads and they have one row of scales (sometimes these scales shows a tricarinate structure). The tail is relatively thick, elongated conical, gradually tapered to a not very fine point. Coloration is variable especially "depending on age". They are usually grayish, brownish or yellowish above, with whitish or yellowish dots of irregular size. A more or les developed darker pattern, consisting of 3-5 transversal cross-bands is seen on dorsal side. The tail is generally has some dark rings or cross-bands, often nearly completely black, sometimes with a whitish tip. The belly is crème or dirty whitish.

During the daytime, it is hidden in self-dug borrows under stones. It is generally inhabits more burrows. Activity starts with the sunset. They forage for prey with highly arisen tails. When they were encountered with a prey, the tails exhibits lateral undulation, and soon after the dinner Large-headed Gecko shows eye-licking behaviour!. The eyelicking behaviour is definetely spontaneus. When threatened, they adopt a raised, stiff-legged posture. An interesting voice resembling the “whiip” “whiiip” is emitted when touched its tail with finger and soon after it tooks its characteristic posture.

I impressed that Stenodactylus females and juvenilles (as indicated in this shot) are especially aggressive. I admire their eye-licking behaviour and the characteristic postures exhibiting when threatened of these lovely geckos.

They feed on various small nocturnal soft-bodied invertebrates including some caterpillars, crickets and grasshoppers. Females lay two hard-shelled, nearly spherical eggs.

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. Disi, A. M., Modry, D., Necas, P. & Rifai, L. (2001). Amphibians and Reptiles of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. Edition Chimaira, 408 pp.
Miss_Piggy, kaytan, spalaxtr, red45, Juyona, haraprasan, cypturk, nkasot, xTauruSx, rkailas, Argus, montivipera, uleko, aes_thor, SelenE, cataclysta, IgorDeleze, bahadir, mayuresh, goldyrs, MMM, zulfu, jaycee, rousettus, liziafa, yasemin, maurydv, Gert-Paassen, Silvio2006, CeltickRanger, Amadeo, JORAPAVI, jpdenk, eng55, ammodytes, mariki has marked this note useful
Only registered TrekNature members may rate photo notes.
Add Critique [Critiquing Guidelines] 
Only registered TrekNature members may write critiques.
Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To ammodytes: :Dboreocypriensis 1 07-18 03:48
To jpdenk: Hi Johnboreocypriensis 3 07-17 18:47
To eng55: :)boreocypriensis 1 07-17 03:12
To maurydv: Hi My friend Maurizioboreocypriensis 1 07-15 14:55
To uleko: Hi Ullaboreocypriensis 1 07-15 03:44
To sayat: Selamboreocypriensis 1 07-15 02:32
To Miss_Piggy: Hi Annaboreocypriensis 1 07-15 00:51
You must be logged in to start a discussion.

Critiques [Translate]

Dear Bayram
If you where my tutor or teacher when I was still at school I am sure my results would have been above average. You really boost your students and I respect you for your last sentence in personal note: Congratulations My beloved sudents for this great milestone in our academic world! I am sure these guys really appreciate all that have been taught and educated by you.
Thanks for sharing this Baby Large-headed Gecko, and I must add this is indeed a very special dedication to your students. This little reptile made me smile as it has such a cute and baby-like face and features, just like our humans with no teeth and soft skin when we are still small and vulnerable. This is indeed a beauty which I enjoyed looking at very much.Thanks for this contribution.
Best regards.
Anna

Bayram merhaba,
Öğrencilerine muhteşem bir hediye sunmuşsun. Bahadır şanslı, bu gün iki hediye birden aldı. Senin bu güne kadarki fotoların içinde an çok beğendiğim sanırım bu oldu. Müthiş sevimli bir ufaklık ve nefis görüntülemişsin. Eminim ki bu karen senin en fazla puan alan karelerinden birisi olacaktır. Bu durum da sanırım öğrencilerini gururlandıracaktır. Eline sağlık dostum.
Selamlar
Mustafa

  • Great 
  • red45 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2805 W: 75 N: 7845] (26275)
  • [2008-07-15 1:36]

Hi Bayram!

Wow, your students are lucky, everyone would like to have teacher like you! Great gift. Gecko looks fantastic with opened mouth. Nice POV and DOF with sharp head and blurred rest of body. Really good post. And of course as always perfect note.

  • Great 
  • Juyona Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1999 W: 6 N: 1951] (13041)
  • [2008-07-15 1:39]

Hola amigo,
WOOW,
it really seems a dragoon :))
excellent work and dedication,
greetings Bayram

Hi Bayram,
A lovely capture of this beautiful baby large headed Gecko. Superb details with is a lovely composition and very good POV showing the head. A nice educative dedication for your students. Thanks a lot for sharing.

Hello Uncle Bayram, this is one of your best images. Very clear, well focused and very good composition. Stunning colours and amazing eye contact... Also great dedicacation your students... kind regards... cypturk

  • Great 
  • sayat Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 267 W: 0 N: 185] (1055)
  • [2008-07-15 2:02]
  • [+]

Şahane, elinize sağlık. Keşke birazcık daha derinlik olsaydı...

Bayram hocam bu tatlı ve sevimli gekkonun müthiş güzel bir karesi. Ayrıca arkadaşlara da güzel ve zamanlı bir dedikasyon olmuş. Elinize sağlık.
Nazım

Dear Hocam, I really trilled and honoured with this beautiful dedication: Indeed we have to thank you for your patience during our researches because we made so much wrong but thanks to you we learned so much on the wild life with photography.
Thanks for all your every kind contributions to us.
Respectfully yours,

Deniz

Hi Bayram

Excellent perspective and great use of a shallow DOF. Crystal clear details - wow you can make out some teeth!!

Thanks for sharing!
Ravi

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2492 W: 132 N: 7090] (22145)
  • [2008-07-15 2:18]

A superb capture and tribute to your students, Bayram!
Bahadir Deniz and Mehmet are much appreciated on this site and I am sure they are gifted students, but you must have played a great part in their progress. I trust that Mehmet will soon get his PhD and that Bahadir and Deniz will graduate with flying colours!
The image itself is sharply and well focused on the head of this juvenile gecko, with a hint of the body melting away in the camouflage of its BG in this excellent composition and POV.
Thanks for sharing this one with us my friend and your with students.
Best wishes to you all,
Ivan

Merhaba Hocam,
Gerçekten harika bir kare, fazla söylenecek bir şey yok. Tam kartposttallık. Arkadaşlara da çok güzel bir hediye olmuş. Elinize sağlık. Saygılar,
Naşit.

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2375 W: 164 N: 7131] (22536)
  • [2008-07-15 3:24]
  • [+]

Hello Bayram,
What a wonderful capture and a great dedication to your charming students! I think they're very lucky to have you as a supervisor! I wish them luck!
This baby Gecko looks really great here! Incredible sharp focus on the face and the big eyes. Very nice composition too! I think he's calling for his Mum!
Many thanks and best wishes, Ulla

Hi Bayram,

this is good one- funny, well composed, with great focus on head, good posture of lizard, nice colours and overall very attractive look... best compliments

Adrian

  • Great 
  • SelenE Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2305 W: 59 N: 3685] (11810)
  • [2008-07-15 4:12]

Merhaba Bayram Bey,
Cok hos olmus :o) Tebrikler
Selamlar

very nice shot Bayram from a good pov! Nice dof too!
tfs
Ilias

Hello Bayram,
This shot is just amazing!
Great focus on the head.
Greetings.
Igor

Hi Bayram

Its interesting and refreshing to see the camaraderie you and your students have for each other. Here in Australia, its all too frequent for academic supervisors to be "distant" from their students, even those doing PhDs. So well done and I'm positive your students will benifit from the mutual respect you show them.

Great shot of this lovely gecko, though I guess I would have liked a bit more DOf. Nevertheless, the sharpness and details on the head is great.

Chris

My dear and estimable supervisor, this was really surprised to me. I indebted to you for everthing. As you known also, really I love this gecko:). This shot shows the cute face and magnificent eye beautifully. Thank you Bayram hocam once more!
Very truly yours,

Bahadır

Hey Big brother,
Coming from a faily of generations of teachers,I understand how prould you are about your students!
A lovely dedication!
Goldy

Hello Bayram,
What a wonderful shot with excellent details,very good pov and composition,well done,superb moment capture
tfs

  • Great 
  • MMM Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 737 W: 0 N: 1497] (6754)
  • [2008-07-15 6:45]

Hi Bayram
What a strange animal.Excellent portrait and well composed image.Good eye contact to.Text is outstanding.
TFS Michel

nice baby, TFS Ori

  • Great 
  • zulfu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 476 W: 0 N: 70] (491)
  • [2008-07-15 8:39]

Dear my beloved hocam,
it is very nice dedication,I suprised and honored. You know that Bahadır,Deniz and I loved this gekko so that this dedication too significant for us. I would like to thank you for your nice dedication again.
best wishes
Mehmet

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1684 W: 8 N: 4321] (14053)
  • [2008-07-15 9:16]

Hi Dear Brother,

A wonderful dedication to Bahadir, Deniz and Mehmet. I had once told them they were lucky to have you but I think it works both ways. You are lucky to have such intelligent and nice students. They must appreciate this and had big smiles on their faces when they saw this Baby Large-headed Gecko. I am still smiling - and so is the gecko! Wonderful shot and that head is so cute. Great details in this shot. I extend my congratulations to your three beloved students.

Jane

Hello Bayram,
This is a great contribution to your students and for this site. This baby is really cute in this funny attitude. I'm not familiar with gecko and it is very instructive to learn about them. Thanks for this useful contribution. Best regards,
Catherine

  • Great 
  • PeterZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1109 W: 59 N: 2247] (7449)
  • [2008-07-15 10:17]

Hello Bayram,
Excellent photo of this Gecko in a great pose and composition. Fantastic sharpness, details and DOF. Beautiful low POV and pose. A great dedication to your students.
Regards,
Peter

haymaşallah, favori rekoru kırmış. hak da etmiş yani. çekim çok orijinal. eline sağlık hacı. kimseyi atlamadan ekibi güzel bir karede birleştirmişsin. bu güzel çekim için kutlarım.
e-postada bahsettiğin sebepten sabah yorum yazamamıştım. düzeldiğine sevindim.
iyi akşamlar, sana ve bütün uşaklara selamlar.

Hi Bayram,
Amazing photo,
Excellent composition, colors and details.
Well done and good job!
TFS Malgosia

Looks funny and pretty too...small dinosaur..Good choice for your students...Also never seen very cute gecko in my life before.Excellent composition, useful information and fantastic shot.....Congratulations...Kind regards, Leyla

Spettacolare primo piano di geco, la ripresa ravvicinata grandangolare e la particolare postura fanno pensare ad un bellissimo animale di fantascienza, non solo il giovane geco ha la bocca aperta, ma anche noi apriamo la bocca meravigliati di fronte a questa immagine. Per questo e per la dedica ai tuoi studenti la metto fra le mie preferite. Grazie e complimenti. Ciao Maurizio

Hi Bro Bayram,,

Exellent shot from this Gecko.
Great pov and dof.

Gert

  • Great 
  • joey Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1583 W: 242 N: 5286] (18629)
  • [2008-07-15 14:15]

Nice shot, Geckoman!
This is very original :-D
Great sharpness and clarity.
Superb composition.

Well done,
Joe

  • Great 
  • Jamesp Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1210 W: 0 N: 4626] (13756)
  • [2008-07-15 15:07]

Hi Bayram

A lovely posting and lovely sentiment - I wish my PhD supervisor had been as nice as you! Excellent pose and detail.

James

  • Great 
  • Mana Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1676 W: 24 N: 4885] (15930)
  • [2008-07-15 16:07]

Hi Bayram,
Just marking this one, I will be back.
Sumon

hello Bayram

excellent shot of this amazing reptile with his funny
eye-contact with you, fine POV and DOF,
it is his funny glance, happy face, that i love, TFS

Asbed

  • Great 
  • Amadeo Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 182 W: 0 N: 581] (2586)
  • [2008-07-15 22:28]

Hola Bayram, muy bonita fotografia, con excelente composición, la PDC suficiente para destacar la expresión del motivo. Color natural y una luz adecuada. Un saludo

Hola Bayram,
Magnífica captura de este simpático y curioso Gecko, fantástica composición con una pose muy expresiva. Gracias por compartir estas joyas. Saludos
José Ramón

Hi Bayram
Ha Ha Funny photo. Interesting effect with shallow DOF. Aslo great dedication. I like it very much
Best wihses
Krzysztof

Hi Bayram, superb capture of this strange creature, splendid portrait with fantastic colors, bravo amico mio, very well done, ciao Silvio

Hi Bayram
Fantastic closeup shot,details are amazing
tfs jon

Hi Bayram,

Very cute shot, looks like it's smiling. A beautiful little creature.

Thanks,
John

  • Great 
  • gannu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 840 W: 4 N: 2081] (9772)
  • [2008-07-16 20:32]

Hello Bayram, I totally agree with Anna and I have no words. Sometimes somewhere hope to meet you. God Bless. Excellent. Ganesh

  • Great 
  • horia Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2044 W: 212 N: 3655] (12162)
  • [2008-07-17 0:33]

Hi Bayram

A simlpy amazing shot of this gecko!
The pose of this fellow here is absolutely outstanding and the timing of your capture couldn't be any better.
The shallow DOF is also terrific, allowing for only the head to be in focus, thus isolating the most important part to be the only one in focus.
Splendid work really!

Bravo and TFS
Horia

Eres un artista Bayram, esta toma , al igual que la siguiente son impresionantes. El trabajo con el color es casi perfecto. La pose del reptil issuperable. Gran trabajo.

  • Great 
  • eng55 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 351 W: 3 N: 375] (1121)
  • [2008-07-17 1:45]
  • [+]

Merhaba Bayram Bey,
Cok hoş bir kare.Modeliniz de ne kadar sevimli.Yüzü,agzı bana çocuklugumdaki kumbaralari hatirlatti.Belki bu fotograf size boyle bir kapi da acabilir:)Bu keyifli kareyi bizlerle paylastiginiz icin tesekkurler.Ellerinize saglik!

No doubt it is a very good species to see but also taken very well.nice focus on the head part to show the details.

TFS

  • Great 
  • cako Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 353 W: 0 N: 316] (1777)
  • [2008-07-17 11:56]

Müthiş bir kare tebrik ederim.keyifle izledim.

merhaba Hocam, ancak bu kadar olur herhalde. soylenebilecek soz yok. ellerinize sağlık.
iyi calışmalar
Gebze'den selamlar:(:(:(
filiz

  • Great 
  • mariki Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 892 W: 65 N: 1759] (7555)
  • [2008-08-12 23:40]

Hello Bayram,

Very nice picture of this cute baby Gecko. Good focus on the eyes. Beautiful detail. Even out of focus the colour patterns of the skin are well shown. I like very much the pose of the animal. Good natural colours.
Cheers,
Mariki

Calibration Check
















0123456789ABCDEF