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Pseudocyclophis persicus (Persian Snake)


Pseudocyclophis persicus (Persian Snake)
Photo Information
Copyright: Bayram Gocmen (boreocypriensis) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3389 W: 139 N: 3987] (10514)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2006-05
Categories: Reptiles
Camera: Nikon Coolpix 5400
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Turkish Herpetofauna, Snakes - Serpientes - Serpents, RARE or SIGNIFICANT contributions to TN 3 [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2008-03-25 0:30
Viewed: 537
Points: 40
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Pseudocyclophis persicus (Persian Dwarf Snake/Persian Snake) [in Turk. Iran Yılanı] (A Portrait)

Persian Dwarf Snake is relatively small, rare, aglyphous (non-venomous) snake with a maximum length of 40 cm. It is distributed in SE Anatolia (Turkey), Iran and Iraq with a vertical distribution to 1500 m.

The body is slender from the behind of the neck to tail base; the small head is distinct from neck (see another capture uploaded by me). The dorsal scales are smooth, ordered into 15 rows at midbody. Typically, rostral plate approximately twice as wide as high, visible from above; the length of the suture between internasal plates almost equals (or relatively longer) the suture between the posterior-situated prefrontal plates. Frontal plate is 1.5 times longer than wide, about 1.5 times wider than supraocular plate, equal in length to its distance to the end of snout, shorter than parietal plates. The nostril is situated in an undivided elongate nasal plate. 7 upper labial plates: 3rd and 4th bordering eyes; 7-8 lower labial plates. The eyes are small, almost black with a round pupil. There are 189-221 ventral plates on the belly. Anal plate was divided. Also it has 44-84 paired subcaudal plates plus one conical scale at the tail tip. The dorsum is uniformly immaculate brownish light grey; however the center of each scale is darker. The belly has a solid and pale coloration with no spotting.

Generally, three black blotches are seen on head and nape of neck; one transverse dark bar between eyes, another on parietal plates, and a third on the nape of the neck which can be seen below the throat. However, some variation is seen on this pattern. Sometimes the blotches on the head are joined forming a single larger blotch on the head. The black transversal blotch on the nape of neck may be joined to the black maculation on top of head, or separated from it by a wide or narrow transversal stripe (as seen in my capture here). Although the species is monotypic, the Turkish representatives have lower subcaudal plate numbers (44-60) and two black blotches on the top of head and neck.

The biology of this species is fairly unknown. It is a fossorial snake and inhabits in rock and semidesert areas, mountains, usually under rocks. It is oviparous; 3-8 eggs lay in summer period. It feeds predominantly on small insects and spiders, rarely consumes small lizards.

Bayram

References:
1. Budak, A. & Göçmen, B. (2005). Herpetology. Ege Üniversitesi Fen Fakültesi Kitaplar Serisi, No. 194, Ege Üniversitesi Basimevi, Bornova-Izmir, 226 pp. [2nd Edition, 2008].
2. Baran, I. & Atatür, M. K. (1998). Turkish Herpetofauna (Amphibians & Reptiles). Ministry of Environment, Ankara. 214 pp.
3. Göçmen, B. (Unpub. results). The results of herpetological trips.
4. Latifi, M. (1991). The Snakes of Iran. Comtributions to Herpetology, Nr.7, SSAR, USA, 159 pp.
zulfu, xTauruSx, rcrick, matatur, bahadir, mariki, nkasot, haraprasan, montivipera, jaycee, Raptorman, gerbilratz, kaytan, Luis52, yasemin, cypturk has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To yasemin: :)boreocypriensis 1 05-02 11:09
To gracious: Hello Friend Tonyboreocypriensis 1 03-25 17:32
To nkasot: Thanks Nazimboreocypriensis 1 03-25 02:20
To matatur: Hoca sağolboreocypriensis 1 03-25 01:58
To Gert-Paassen: Hi Friend Gert!boreocypriensis 1 03-25 00:46
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Critiques [Translate]

Hi neighbour of the day,

how are you today?

Exellent close up from these snale with beautiful colors.

regards gert

  • Great 
  • zulfu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 455 W: 0 N: 69] (488)
  • [2008-03-25 0:53]

Çok güzel makro olmuş hocam.
Tüm baş plağı detayları görünüyor. Elinize sağlık.
Selamlar,
Mehmet

Bayram hocam. Baş detayı da çok güzel olmuş. Türün diagnostik özellikleri hemen belli oluyor.
Elinize sağlık, teşekkürler.
Deniz

Dear Bayram,
Many thanks for the kind words much appreciated, I have to admit I'm not a lover of Snakes, but you have some amazing images in you gallery, the colours on this are beautiful, excellent detail, look forward to seeing more, all the best Cheers Rick :)

Good portrait with some dewdrops on the parietal Bayram, color reproduction is quite natural my friend, you need a polariser to prevent some of those reflections...
Mehmet

Bu küçücük yılan için baş pul-plak detaylarını harika gösteren bir yakın çekim görüntüsü hocam.
Elinize sağlık. Selamlar.
Bahadır

Hello Bayram,

Nice close-up of this snake. Good sharpness. Very good light and colours.
Cheers,
Mariki

Hello My dear Supervisor,
Great close-up shot focusing the eye of this very small and rare snake. The details of its head scalation is very impressive and all diagnostic features are seeing very well. Thanks for sharing this beauty.
Greetings from Cyprus,

Nazım

Hi Bayram,
A nice capture of this beautiful portrait of Persian Dwarf Snake. Excellent details and composition. Thanks a lot for sharing.

Merhaba Hocam,
Boyutça küçük olan bir yılanın çok güzel bir portresi olmuş, elinize sağlık. Tüm detaylar belli oluyor. Teşekkürler.
Naşit

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1657 W: 8 N: 4252] (13851)
  • [2008-03-25 9:01]

Hi Bayram,

I knew I've seen this snake before! I loved the colors in the last shot and I love them still. Wonderful closeup of his face and skin with good details. This is a pretty one.

Jane

very very nice, try to increase contrast a little, TFS Ori

Hey bro!
Awesome shot!And ou've got another dedication today. as well!
Cheers!
Goldy

Hi Bayram. Clear, sharp and well focused "head shot" of this little snake. The colours are just lovely and natural. Excellent notes regards h

Hi Bayram, superb portrait of beautiful snake with splendid colors and excellent sharpness, very well done, ciao Silvio

  • Great 
  • Luis52 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1013 W: 5 N: 2750] (9982)
  • [2008-03-25 15:02]

Hola Bayram,
Otra muy bella serpiente para tu coleccion de reptiles que tienes en tu exelente galeria, todas ellas muy bien documentadas de gran interes para los que tenemos el agrado de poder observarlas aqui.
Fina Foto Mi buen amigo.
Luis52.

Merhaba Bayram,
Selam!!
Both photos are much appreciated to share, well captured in perfect sharpness, good colour and superb details!
again thanks for the notes about this species!
greeting from NZ
Tony

The wonderful world of snakes and lizards! I love it! Great details - wonderful close-up. Fantastic color. Well done!

Bu da cok ilgin bir yilan. renkleri ve basi enteresan. Bu kadar yilani nasil buluyon hayret ediyorum. Hayatimda goremeyecegim mahlukatlari gosteriyon bize. Aslinda bu bir iltifat. Tesekkurler.
Leyla

A wonderful photo with a fantastic lighting... Focus on the head is perfect. Amazing beautiful colours. tfs... cypturk

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