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eye-licking:)


eye-licking:)
Photo Information
Copyright: Bayram Gocmen (boreocypriensis) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5089 W: 178 N: 12407] (33873)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-04-24
Categories: Reptiles
Camera: Olympus C-5060WZ, @ ISO 100
Exposure: f/3.2, 1/30 seconds
Photo Version: Final Version, Original Version
Date Submitted: 2009-10-22 0:30
Viewed: 351
Points: 66
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Stenodactylus grandiceps (Large-headed Thin-toed Gecko) (in Turk. Tombul Keler, Kocabaş Keler)

Dear Friends, this shot is a re-post which I have uploaded to TN approx. two years ago as an initial shot:) and re-amended it in signature and quality.
Hoping that you like this shot as previous ones!

TFL and Cheers,

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

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. 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.
siggi, KOMSIS, horias, Heaven, cirano, anemone, flashpoint, goatman04, nasokoun, ferranjlloret, Alex99, cypturk, yasemin, tuslaw, Argus, nkasot, Noisette, mlines, uleko, xTauruSx, valy67, montivipera, oscarromulus, eng55 has marked this note useful
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To KOMSIS: slmboreocypriensis 1 10-22 00:45
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • siggi Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1373 W: 56 N: 4723] (16252)
  • [2009-10-22 0:38]

Hello MF Bayram,
Very good capture of this delightful looking lizard. What a cute reptile! I like this gecko a lot! It has fantastic legs and was presented in very good way with great sharpness and contrast.Best regards Siggi

Bayram bey selamlar,
Keler zaten büyük kertenkele ...
Bunun kafası da gerçekten, Türkçe ismini hak eden büyüklükte gözüküyor.
Zamanlamanız ve iri camgöz ilgi çekiyor.
Emeğinize sağlık,
Seyfi

  • Great 
  • joska Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 407 W: 0 N: 1011] (5460)
  • [2009-10-22 0:49]

Hi Baratom Bayram!
It is a very good photo, in action, of this gecko!
Have a nice Day!

  • Great 
  • foozi Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1339 W: 0 N: 2575] (9083)
  • [2009-10-22 2:37]

Merhaba MF Bayram,
such a lovely shot indicating the lizad's habit. What I like most is the blurry motion of the tongue that allow me to depict the speed of action, and you captured the moment.
The texture of the skin too is very well detailed.
Excellent presentation.

Regards,
Foozi

Bayram
What a funny and cute face have this lovely lizard.
Great shot !
Congratulation!
Horia

Dear Bayram!

Your picture is as humerous as instructive. It shows the significant characteristics of this species of the Gecko. Your notes are very interesting to read.

Kind regards

Markus

Dostum merhaba,
Bu ne şirin şeydir böyle?
Çekim açısı ve kalitesi de ayrıca ilgi çekici;üç boyutlu sanki.Netlik renkler ve kadraj yerleşimi harika.Emeklerine sağlık.
Spas û pîroz.
Bi slavên germ,
Dûrzan

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

Merhaba Hocam, oldukça neşeli ve önemli bir anı yakalamışsınız.
Keler de bir o kadar şirin duruyor. Elinize sağlık.
Saygılarımla,
Özgür

Cioa Bayram. Great capture today! An interesting portrait for this little pleasent lizard. Good details and DOF.

Roberto

How interesting is this gecko and how nice moment to capture it.Congratulation.Best regards.Alin.

Merhaba Bayram,

This a great capture with beautiful camouflage coloration, sharpness & details. Lovely POV, action & BG.

Very nicely done & TFS.

Have a great day MF!

Salam & regards

Umar

Merhaba again MF
the moment that you photographed is very interesting,with good output,
TFS thanks for sharing
Nasos from Ithaca full lizards...

  • Great 
  • lousat Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1978 W: 6 N: 5527] (19673)
  • [2009-10-22 8:20]

Hi Bayram,i remember this colection of little Stenodactylus and this was truely one of the best pics,this moment still stay in the TN history,impressive pic of a incredible and beautiful moment.Thanks for share again,have a nice day,Luciano

Hello Bayram,
Perfect portrait of this species, You are a great teacher. Cheers
TFS & Best regards

  • Great 
  • Alex99 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3585 W: 143 N: 5669] (18533)
  • [2009-10-22 10:29]

Hi Bayram.
I see a huge progress. Last version is more better. I welcome cropping of the image now. Pictured moments and animal at whole are sweet. Timing is precise, details are superb and clarity of the image is excellent. Nice RP. My compliments and kind regards.
Alexei.

Ciao Bayram, fantastic portrait of beautiful gecko, amazing details and splendid sharpness, wonderful colors, very well done my friend, ciao Silvio

Dayi cok guzel:) cok sirin bir kertenkeleymis.
Espirili bir foto olmus. Eline saglik.
İyi geceler.
Merih

Bayram.. gercekten cok guzel bir anda cekmissin.. renkleride cok guzel..Bebek gibi duruyor:)
Eline saglik canim kardesim.. hepimizden selam.
Leyla.

  • Great 
  • tuslaw Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 504 W: 20 N: 1385] (4841)
  • [2009-10-22 17:41]

Super capture Bayram,
You clicked the shutter at exactly the right moment. Great detail and beautiful natural colors. Excellent DOF and exposure!! TFS.
Where I live we don't have tiny lizards like this running around, but whenever I visit my daughter in Phoenix I see them all over the place. I'm always amazed by their quick movements and camouflage ability.
Ron

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3816 W: 190 N: 11348] (34987)
  • [2009-10-22 21:38]

Good morning Bayram!
A fine re-post of Stenodactylus grandiceps, well timed to show its eye-cleaning behaviour and with good overall sharpness to show the front half of this species of gecko.
Thanks and have a nice weekend dostum,
Cheers,
Ivan

Bayram Hocam süper:) Çok da keyifli bir kare.
Elinize sağlık.
Nazım

Merhaba Bayram
very funny shot of this gecko with his tongue out, this version is much better that the first one, you have taken it with great sharpness and warm colors
the composition and the POV are very good too
Have a good night
Jacqueline

nice capture, greetings Ori

  • Great 
  • mlines Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 539 W: 24 N: 596] (2870)
  • [2009-10-23 23:03]

Hi Bayram, These Geckos have a strange appeal. They way they can walk upside down is amazing. Good very clear close up showing the individual scales and hairs. Very fine nature photograph. TFS. Murray.

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2992 W: 162 N: 950] (2789)
  • [2009-10-24 4:23]

Hello Bayram,
Interesting and well-timed capture of this Gecko licking its eye! How handy, no eyedrops needed here! Great details and colours and well composed.
TFS and have a nice weekend, Ulla

hello Bayram!
a very good moment of slurp
captured ......funny!!!

ciao sERGIO

Muhteşem olmuş hocam. Süper.
Elinize sağlık.
Deniz

  • Great 
  • valy67 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1880 W: 59 N: 2915] (8733)
  • [2009-10-24 22:50]

Helo Bayram !
The progress you have made during those two years is just amazing ! The second picture is so much better ! I really love the moment you have captured, with the gecko licking his eye, it's funny and unusual. There are nice details and we can admire the textures of his skin. Very well done myfriend !
Valérie.

Merhaba Bayram hocam,

Bu tür kelerlerin ülkemizde varolduğunu bilmek gerçekten çok güzel bir duygu. Ayrıca zamanlama ve teknik açısından çok güzel bir kare. Elinize sağlık.

Selamlarımla,
Mehmet

Barram,
The focusing is beautiful; gives you EXCELLENT clarity. The scales of the geco are seen clearly.
Lovely capture; licking its eye.
I had them as pets in our home in Goa, India. They use their tongues to dislodge their skins from the front.... starting the "peeling" process like snakes do. They ate mosquittos and kept us Malaria free. GREAT GIFT from the gods.
Regards,
Mario.

  • Great 
  • eng55 Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1138 W: 32 N: 1161] (3574)
  • [2009-11-11 8:06]

Bu diliyle gözün camını siliyor gibi.Mükemmel bir çalışma olmuş yine.
Selamlar,ellerine sağlık..

Merhaba Hocam,
Bu sevimli arkadaşı tekrar görmek iyi oldu, paylaşım için teşekkürler.
Saygılarımla, Naşit

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