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Like a cat:)


Like a cat:)
Photo Information
Copyright: Bayram Gocmen (boreocypriensis) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5091 W: 178 N: 12433] (33947)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-04-06
Categories: Reptiles
Camera: Olympus C-5060WZ
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Turkish Herpetofauna, Turkish Herpetofauna-II, Selen's Favorites II, Reptiles - Geckos 1 [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2008-07-18 0:55
Viewed: 1575
Favorites: 5 [view]
Points: 66
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Stenodactylus grandiceps (Large-headed Thin-toed Gecko) (in Turk. Tombul Keler, Kocabaş Keler) (A Baby, Juvenile)

Dear Friends, Today another shot of this adorable baby which I uploaded three days ago. Please notice that its posture resembles that of one cat or dog:) Hoping that you like this shot too!

Cheers,

Bayram

Ps. The name of the species, i.e., grandiceps came after the Latin words grand= "big" + ceps= "head".

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

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(as also indicated in this shot). 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 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.
montivipera, cypturk, zulfu, nkasot, Heaven, maurydv, SelenE, bahadir, xTauruSx, haraprasan, eng55, ammodytes, oguz, jaycee, red45, anel, Juyona, Jamesp, yasemin, cicindela has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To ammodytes: :Pboreocypriensis 1 07-18 03:53
To Ozgur70: Selamboreocypriensis 1 07-18 02:28
To SelenE: :)boreocypriensis 1 07-18 02:09
To cypturk: :Dboreocypriensis 1 07-18 01:07
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Critiques [Translate]

What an amazing capture with great detail and sharpnes... It realy resembles cat:) in this posture... tfs... kind regards, cypturk

  • Great 
  • zulfu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1059 W: 0 N: 162] (868)
  • [2008-07-18 1:11]

Hocam hakikaten kedi gibi zaten. benim gördüğüm gekko türlerimiz arasında en korunması gereken ve en güzel gekko türümüz. Yine nefis görüntülemişsiniz. Elinize sağlık.
Mehmet

Bu güzel hayvanın nefis bir duruşu ve makrosu. Sanki iki bacaklı gibi:) elinize sağlık. Kıbrıs'tabn selamlar Bayram hocam.
Nazım

Yes Bayram, this gecko is a beauty! Excellent pose and perspective from the photographer.

Cheers
Ravi

Hi Bayram, nice shot. We see very rarely such pisctures. This gecko trys to look bigger and bad :-D
Very interesting capture.
Tfs
Ilias

Hi Byram!

You present us an interesting document of a unknown species to me. Your notes are very instructive and you show the cute baby in a very natural environment.

Kind regards

Markus

Un'altra spettacolare immagine di questo "favoloso" giovane geco, una simpatica e fantastica postura che mi fa pensare più ad un gatto che ad un cane, bellissimo anche il dettaglio dell'occhio con la tua immagine riflessa, magnifici i colori e BG. Grazie e complimenti. Ciao Maurizio

Hocaaammm bana bunu yapmayın. Biliyorsunuz bu gekko benim gekkom:) çok tatlı çıkmış. Kızınca bile güzel. Elinize sağlık.
Bahadır

Merhaba Bayram Bey,
Muthis sevimli :o) Yakaladiginiz pozu da cok begendim. Tebrikler ve selamlar,
Selen

Hocam yine patlattınız bombayı:) gerçekten kedi gibi bu velet:) Tapınılmayacak gibi değil. Bu güzelim biyolojik değerimizi etkli bir şekilde tanıttığınıziçin teşekkürler. Elinize sağlık.
Deniz

Tombul keler yerine Kocakafalı keler dense daha iyi olurmuş galiba. Detaylar, netlik harika. Güzel paylaşımınız için teşekkürler...

Hi Friend,
Another beautiful shot of this large headed baby gecko. Very well composed with sharp details. Nothing to critique. Thanks a lot for sharing.

  • Great 
  • eng55 Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1139 W: 32 N: 1164] (3582)
  • [2008-07-18 3:23]

Merhaba Bayram Bey,
Arazide yasamak yaramamis pek bu kedicige.Bir deri bir kemik kalmis,tuylerini dokmus ama yuzune baarsaniz nesesinden birsey kaybetmemis:)Saka bir yana hakikaten mukemmel bir fotgraf gözleri de resimli eski porselen tabak gibi duruyor.Tebrikler,ellerinize saglik!

selam Hocam, yıne cok guzel bır kare. elınıze sağlık. gözünde yan yana iki kişi var gıbı duruyor, bırısı sız olsanız diğerı kesın Bahadır'dır:D ama gercekten de cok sevımlı bı hayvan, sevılmıycek gıbı değil.
saygılarımla
filiz

very nice cat, TFS Ori

  • Great 
  • lousat Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1978 W: 6 N: 5527] (19673)
  • [2008-07-18 4:31]

Hi Bayram,this is incredible,i can't believe at my eyes!Every day a new and great surprise in your gallery,today a capture very fine and perfect,excellents details and colors,have a nice day my friend and thanks to show us this strange reptil,Luciano

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2993 W: 162 N: 961] (2823)
  • [2008-07-18 6:52]

Hello Bayram,
I really love this little Gecko and here it is posing very nicely testing its 'long' legs. Great details of the skin and beautiful colours. Very well-timed and a fine composition. How on earth to do you find all these beauties??
TFS and best wishes, Ulla

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3819 W: 190 N: 11368] (35041)
  • [2008-07-18 8:21]

This is a great capture Bayram!
As you say this juvenils Gecko moves like a cat and with a smile on its face!
Great POV and technically excellent, once again showing how camouflged it can be against its BG.
Thank you for sharing this beauty my friend,
Cheers,
Ivan

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2493 W: 11 N: 6885] (21912)
  • [2008-07-18 9:27]

Dear Brother,

I loved this little Gecko the first time I saw him and now even more. The pose is priceless - he does look like a house pet. Great eye and timing to capture this one. Excellent colors and details - the eye and tail are amazing.

Jane

Hi Bayram, I just love gecko's, this is just perfect....

  • Great 
  • PeterZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2392 W: 94 N: 5536] (17620)
  • [2008-07-18 11:04]

Hello Bayram,
What a cute little fellow in perfectly camouflaced colours. The quality of this photo is very good. Everything looks great!
Have a wonderful weekend,
Peter

Hi Bayram...Another great shot from Little Gecko...Look pretty and try to standing...I hope people care of them......This kind of gecko we do not have everywhere....Excellent pose you catch..Well done...

Cok sevimli ve urkmus gibi, korunmaya muhtac yavru gibi...Umarim bunun da nesli tukenmez...Sevgiler saygilar cnm kardesim....

Leyla

  • Great 
  • red45 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2705 W: 74 N: 8864] (30243)
  • [2008-07-18 12:42]

Hi Bayram!

I think no one can't like reptiles after these shots! This gecko is so cute! I've never seen gecko in such fantastic cat-like pose. Excellent photo!

  • Great 
  • anel Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1723 W: 0 N: 3919] (15742)
  • [2008-07-18 12:51]

Hello Bayram,
I was wondering what was moving like a cat...amazing to see this funny Gecko-baby in this position. I have to admit that it made me laugh and that's the best reaction we can have in front of a picture. So well-done, like all your shots.
Best regards
Anne

  • Great 
  • Juyona Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2262 W: 10 N: 2630] (15567)
  • [2008-07-18 13:34]

Hola Bay,
estupendo disparo,
sensacional macro,
con efectivo foco...
saludos

  • Great 
  • Jamesp Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1351 W: 0 N: 5494] (16522)
  • [2008-07-18 14:22]

Hi Bayram

Great capyure - you seem to have an endless supply of excellent subjects. Great pov and pose, plus sharp detail.

James

Merhaba Bayram,izlemek guzel evet guzel.Ama karsilassam urkermiyim bilmiyorum.Fotografinda sevimli gorunuyor.Cok net bir kare olmus.Desenleri harika gorunuyor,ellerine saglik,selamlar :))

alemsin dostum, süper bir poz, harika bir çekim. bu duruşuyla bukalemunu hatırlatıyor bana. kutlarım bu güzel çekim için. iyi geceler, selamlar.

Hi Anne, great capture of this strange creature with splendid eyes, superb details and excellent sharpness, very well done, have a good week end, ciao Silvio

Hey Big Brother!
Sorry am very irregular, but we're having a Quarterly Business Review, and that's taking all my time and energy!
And yes, I love this shot, too, my brother!

Goldy

Hello Bayram uncle, This is brilliant shot. You seem to be always on the research hunt. I also keep watching discovery channel. Good information too. Vignesh

Hello Bayram!
This is absolutely amazing creature! Its head is so big againt so small rest of the body! It is interesting how it can move without problems! Anyway, the quality of this image is great: DOF is perfect, sharpness and light - amazing, colours - vivid and perfectly saturated. And once more time you prooved that reptiles are fantastic creatures!
Regards and all the best my Friend!
Radomir

Merhaba Hocam,
Modelimiz burada biraz sinirlenmiş galiba, ya da bana öyle geldi. Elinize sağlık.
Saygılarımla,
Naşit.

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