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Apathya cappadocica muhtari


Apathya cappadocica muhtari
Photo Information
Copyright: Bayram Gocmen (boreocypriensis) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5109 W: 178 N: 12535] (34229)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-10-22
Categories: Reptiles
Camera: Nikon Coolpix 5400
Exposure: f/4.5, 1/80 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Theme(s): Turkish Herpetofauna, Reptiles - Lizards, Chuckwallas, Agamas & Tegus 4 [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2008-09-15 0:30
Viewed: 981
Points: 74
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Apathya cappadocica muhtari (Kayseri Lizard) [in Turk. Kayseri Kertenkelesi] (Female)

Dear Friends, yesterday I have uploaded a male Kayseri Lizard and dedicated it to the memory of our beloved teacher, Professor Muhtar BASOGLU (1913-1981), the founder of modern herpetology in Turkey.

Today a subadult female and an adult female portrait shot (in WS) to show its characteristic “transparent window” in the lower eyelid.

Hoping that you like these shots! TFL!

Cheers,

Bayram

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

The Genus Apathya (formerly Lacerta) includes only two species (Apathya cappadocica and Apathya yassujica) which they are distributed in Southeastern Turkey, northern Iraq (A. cappadocica) and west Iran (A. yassujica). These members of the genus are unique among lacertid lizards in having clear single keels on scales beneath toes, a transparent window in the lower eyelid consisting of several black-edged scales, and variable scaling on the side of the snout that may involve up to three postnasal and three loreal scales and sometimes an additional scale between the rostral and the nostril. Also possessing the following features found only in a minority of other lacertids: outer edge of parietal scale not reaching lateral border of parietal table, often five upper labial scales anterior to subocular, no masseteric scale (indeed a big one in temporal region), in some populations eight longitudinal rows of ventral scales; preanal scale often very small, bordered by two or more semicircles of smaller scales; often broad light dorsolateral stripes on dorsum; blue ocelli often present on flanks; bright colouring on underside absent, at least posteriorly, no blue spots on outer ventral scales, hemipenes with traces of an armature and its retracted lobes coarsely folded.

The species are small lizards up to 83 mm from snout to vent, adult males often larger than females; head and body usually quite depressed. Rostral plate separated from frontonasal scale; row of supracilliary granules complete; outer edge of parietal scale not reaching lateral border of parietal table. Two or three postnasal scales and one to three anterior loreals; sometimes an additional scale between the rostral and the nostril; no contact between the supranasal and anterior loreal scales above nostril; usually five upper labial scales in front of subocular; lower eyelid with transparent window made up of 5 (A. yassujica) or 6 to 8 (A. cappadocica) large black-edged scales; first upper temporal scale long; masseteric scale absent and temporal area covered by very small granular scales. Dorsal body scales small and smooth, about 50–75 in a transverse row at mid-body. Collar smooth; six or eight longitudinal rows of rectangular ventral scales; preanal scale often very small, bordered by two or more semicircles of small subequal scales; scales under toes with clear single keels; whorls of scales on tail subequal in length.

Adult dorsal patterns in A. cappadocica more or less striated, banded or reticulated, often with fairly broad, light coloured dorsolateral stripes, the precise pattern varying geographically; A. yassujica is often plain above. Background colour bluish-green to greyish. Blue ocelli often present in shoulder region and over rest of flanks. Whole underside without strong pigmentation in A. cappadocica, being whitish sometimes with a blue-green tinge, but throat and adjacent thoracic region yellowish-orange in A. yassujica; throat and chin of both species often with dark spots; no blue spots on outer row of ventral scales. Juveniles similar to adults but pattern more contrasting and tail blue.

Males bite flank of females during copulation; clutches consisting of 3–7 eggs. Often found climbing on rock exposures.

In Turkey, the genus is represented with one of two known species, Apathya cappadocica (Kayseri/Cappadocian Lizard): its total length reaches up to 25 cm. It has usually 5, rarely 6 supralabials in front of subocular; no masseteric; 52-75 rows of dorsal scales at mid-trunk; ventrals in 6 longitudinal rows (8 in the subspecies urmiana); femaral pores between 18-27; subdigital scales with keels. Pattern and coloratian changes according to the subspecies, however usually the dorsum is bluish-green to gray and generally with black maculations. Light colored longitudinal supraciliary stripes are present, continuing on flanks, sametimes intermittent; the dark flanks with darker or lighter maculations. The venter is whitish or bright light pinkish.
Kayseri Lizard prefers stony, rocky, pebbly areas with sparse vegetation and rock mounds; sametimes seen in wooded areas. Also It can climb on trees. Feeds on various insects and Aafemale lays 3-7 eggs. It is known from Turkey and N Iraq with a maximum vertical distribution of 2000 m. In Turkey, represented with five subspecies:

(1) A. c. cappadocica: It is known from Malatya, Kahramanmaraş, Adana and Erzincan provinces, also the southern parts of Central Anatolia.
(2) A. c. urmiana: In SE Anatolian provinces Siirt and Mardin.
(3) A. c. muhtari: In SE Anatolian provinces Sanliurfa and Diyarbakir. (‘Calcareous’ biotopes)
(4) A. c. schmidtlerorum: In SE Anatolian provinces Sanliurfa and Diyarbakir. (‘Lava’ biotopes)
(5) A. c. wolteri. In provinces Gaziantep, Kahramanmaraş, Hatay,also Nur Mountains.

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. Baran, I. & Atatür, M. K. (1998). Turkish Herpetofauna (Amphibians & Reptiles). Ministry of Environment, Ankara. 214 pp.
4. Arnold, E. N., Arribas, O. & Carranza, S. 2007. Systematics of the Palaearctic and Oriental lizard tribe Lacertini (Squamata Lacertidae Lacertinae), with descriptions of eight new genera. Zootaxa 1430: 1-86.
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Critiques [Translate]

günaydın,
muhtar hocamızın adını taşıyan bu güzel forma ait nefis çekime ilk yorumu yazmak son derece güzel. özellikle boncuk boncuk olmuş pul detayları harika. keskinlik, netlik desen yine aynı şekilde. eline sağlık selamlar.

  • Great 
  • Bufo Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 422 W: 73 N: 984] (4241)
  • [2008-09-15 0:46]
  • [+]

Hello bayram,
how great it is to see all your great pictures of herpetofauna. Even more, I learn more and more by reading your notes. Keep up the good work!
Regards, Jacob

Yine Müthiş bir sunum Bayram hocam. WS'deki portre ile türün en önemli özelliğini göstermeniz de harika. Ayrıca farkettim çerçeveyi değiştirmişsiniz. Güzel olmuş. Elinize sağlık.
Nazım

Hi Uncle, an amazing shot of this female and its portrait in WS, so many details neatly captured with good sharpness and lighting. Very well done.

TFS & Kind Regards, Cypturk

Hi Bayram!

Thank you for this very complex, complete and instructive posting! An amateur like me can learn a lot! The pictures are in the usual quality and I especially like the delicate portrait of the young "lady" in the WS.

Kind regards

Markus

Merhaba Hocam,
Bu kare de çok harika olmuş, desen ve renkler daha ön plana çıkmış. WS'deki kare de önemli bir özelliğe değiniyor. Can alıcı ayrıntıları veriyorsunuz hep, bize bir şey kalmıyor :) Şaka yapıyorum tabi ki, paylaşılmayan bilginin bir değeri yoktur. Güzel kareler için teşekkürler. Saygılarımla, Naşit.

Hi Bayram,
A nice capture of this beautiful Kayseri Lizard. Very well composed shot with sharp details. Thanks a lot for sharing.

  • Great 
  • PeterZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2411 W: 94 N: 5569] (17712)
  • [2008-09-15 2:31]

Hello Bayram,
Another very sharp and beautiful coloured lizard. The details are fantastic. A beautiful young lady! As usual in great quality.
Kind regards,
Peter

Hi Bayram,
excellent portrait as usual. We can identify every scale and toe. The image is esthetically very pleasing due to the pose of the animal, the subdued light. But first of course you will have to finfd this species. Well done Bayram.
Best regards
Dietrich

nice close up, great to see each scale, greetings Ori

Merhaba Bayram Bey,ilmek ilmek işlenmiş bir desen ve harika netlik.Kusursuz bir kare,ellerinize sağlık:)

Hi bro bayram,

Very good detailed picture.lots of details.
Exellent sharpness and dof.

Gert

  • Great 
  • zulfu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1069 W: 0 N: 162] (870)
  • [2008-09-15 4:57]

Selam Hocam, muhtari'nin tipik desenini ve türün özelliklerini mükemmel gösteren kareler. Elinize sağlık.
Mehmet

Merhaba Bayram bey,
Harika bir netlik ve çok güzel renkler.
En güzelide Muhtar hocamızın adını taşıması.

Hola Bayram,
A good capture of a beautiful specimen, over a splendid and a little familiar background!
Cheers,
Mehmet

Merhaba Hocam, çok hoş bır kare olmuş. Ben WS dekı uyuyan guzelı daha cok beğendım:)Elinıze sağlık.
Saygılar

Fİliz

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2924 W: 34 N: 8671] (32310)
  • [2008-09-15 9:15]

Hi Bayram. Fantastic detail in this one. Dont they have some beautiful markings on the skin.You have taken this with your sharp focusing and fine detail . and natural colours. well done TFS
Nick..

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2493 W: 11 N: 6885] (21912)
  • [2008-09-15 10:20]

Hi L'il Brother,

Two magnificent shots of the female Kayseri Lizard. I especially love the close-up of the adult's face showing off the beautiful eye, skin and "hand." The sub-adult is wonderful as well. Colors and details are superb. I love how there is a line between the body patterns and the head. She really is an exceptionally fine looking lizard.

Jane

  • Great 
  • red45 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2705 W: 74 N: 8864] (30243)
  • [2008-09-15 10:43]

Hello Bayram!

Beautifull lizard. I really like blue spots on its body. Perfectly sharp and detailed with very nice dorsal view. Old wood is good BG for this reptile. Note as always superb.

Hocam nefis 2 poz.. Her ikisi de hem eğitici hem de nefisler.
Elinize sağlık.
Bahadır

Not: süpriz yaptık! Galeriye bakın:p

  • Great 
  • siggi Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1385 W: 56 N: 4777] (16434)
  • [2008-09-15 10:49]

Hello Bayram
Excellent POV and framing of the lizard. The exposure is spot-on and colour really good.
Best regards Siggi

Detay, renk ve kompoozisyon olarak ayrıca notlar ve sunum 1 numara hocam. Elinize sağlık.
Bahadır yazmış:) Süpriz yaptık:D

Deniz

Hola Bayram, como observarás llevo una temporada menos activo por aquí. Primero gracias por tus comentarios.
La toma en tu línea, y en esta en particular plasmas a la perfección las tecturas de este bello reptil, que más bien parece una joya.
Buena profundidad, luz y colores.
Un abrazo: J. Ignasi Tejedor.

a very fine and beautiful portrait of Kayseri Lizard female..I must say I prefer the female!
great series my friend

cheers sERGIO

  • Great 
  • lousat Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1978 W: 6 N: 5527] (19673)
  • [2008-09-15 15:50]

Hi Bayram,what a incredible details!!! It's a fantastic pic,this time very very perfect,your work no need comment but just a lot of compliments,thanks a lot,have a nice day my friend,Luciano

hello Bayram

another excellent shot of the reptile, fine POV,
superb sharpness and details of the subject,
i love the contrast between the subject's
and the ground's colour tones, TFS

Asbed

Salam Bayram,

A really outstanding capture of this Kayseri lizard. One can see the fantastic details of the various parts of the scale & the toes. Very well done & TFS.

Regards

Umar

Hello Bayram!
Well, what to say... It is really a pitty that I can add your name to my favourite photographers only one time! Your photos are not only great because of subjects - you know, all these reptiles and amphibians are just lovely, but moreover - you provide full information. And there can not be nothing more interesting for nature lover :>
This image is no exception, both main photo and workshop are very good. Sharpness, details, DOF, light - I can not image better work my Friend!
TFS and I am waiting for next picture from you!
Friendly yours,
Radomir


PS. By the way, do you remember about Syrian herpetofauna? Of course I have time, no problem, just wanted to do not be forgotten :)

Hi Bayram
Another perfectly sharp image. Nice diagonal composition, great field guide POV and as always very informative note
Best wishes
Krzysztof

Hello Bayram,

Excellent, fine detail in this shot, nice-looking animal too.

Thanks,
John

  • Great 
  • gannu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1169 W: 4 N: 3262] (14691)
  • [2008-09-16 10:12]

Hello Bayram, Excellent image quality as usual. Lovely note and well presented.

Derisindeki pulcuklardan desenine kadar hersey cok guzel. Eline saglik... kendine iyi bak canim kardesim... Leyla

Hi Bayram, your collection of Lizards is amazing, lovely capture with fantastic details and splendid sharpness, very well done, ciao Silvio

  • Great 
  • EOSF1 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1381 W: 126 N: 5246] (23469)
  • [2008-09-16 18:59]

Hello Bayram! Great details on this very sharp shot of this beautiful Lizard, great surroundings too, good job!

Mario

Bayram, very nice shot, clear details and nice colours.
I saw your WS photo and i think you should upload it at the gallery, it's an amazing and very interesting shot.
Tfs both
Ilias

Bayram Hocam merhabalar,
Yine herşeyi ile kusursuz bir makro çekim.Detaylar harika.Tebrikler,

hAyAti

Awesome shot, my dearest bro!
Love the way you bring out details!
Your l'il bro!
Goldy

Derideki detaylar, kertişin duruşu çok güzel. Emeğine sağlıkk kankim.
Gökhan

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