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chunky but beautiful :p #3


chunky but beautiful :p #3
Photo Information
Copyright: Bayram Gocmen (boreocypriensis) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3390 W: 142 N: 4009] (10566)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-04-05
Categories: Reptiles
Camera: Olympus C-5060WZ
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Theme(s): Turkish Herpetofauna, Reptiles - Skinks 1 [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2008-05-07 0:25
Viewed: 661
Favorites: 2 [view]
Points: 60
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Trachylepis aurata (Golden Skink) [in Turk. Tıknaz Kertenkele]#3

Dear Friends, thanks for the kind critiques/comments on the previous posting. In last two days, I have uploaded two whole captures of this chunky and beautiful Golden Skink from two different area (Diyarbakır & Kilis Provinces, SE Anatolia, Turkiye), photographing from two different view points (lateral and dorso-lateral views) to show the characteristic pattern of the nominate subspecies which is distributed in Turkey and some adjacent Greek islands . Here's another shot of this skink, but this time a bit closer in, to show its scalation details.

Hoping that you like this shot as well!

Cheers,

Bayram

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

A relatively big-sized, stout diurnal skink with a total length up to 20 cm. The palatine bones occurring at the ceiling of mouth are in contact mesially; palatal notch entirely separating pterygoid bones, extending forward to between centers of eyes; pterygoid teeth minute or absent. Eyelids are movable, lower with undivided more or less transparent disc. Ear openning is distinct and usually it bears 2-3 triangular small scales at the anterior edge. Nostril is pierced in a single nasal plate. There are 32-38 rows of weakly keeled scales around the mid-body. Typically, the nuchal (nape of the neck) scales are smooth (not keeled!). There are 16-22 lamellar scales under the fourth toe. The main colour of the dorsal side is gray or brownish. The dorsal pattern shows some subspecific variations (see below). The belly is usually dirty white or sometimes cream.

Generally, three subspecies of T. aurata were recognized on the basis of colour pattern and number of gular and ventral scales:

(1) T. a. aurata (=M. a. fellowsii) - having two longitudinal rows of large more or less rectangular dark spots on the dorsum (reported usually from Turkey and some adjacent Greek islands);

(2) T. a. septemtaeniata – with the dorsal pattern consisting of four more or less complete longitudinal rows of small dark spots (commonly assigned to populations from Eritrea, Syria, Iraq, southern Iran, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, United Arab Emirates and Oman);

(3) T. a. transcaucasica (=M. a. affinis) characterised by the septemtaeniata pattern and higher number of gular and ventral scales (associated often with the individuals from Armenia, Azerbaijan [Nakhičevan], central and northern Iran and Turkmenistan).

Golden skink inhabits rocky places in open areas with sparse vegetation. Also found under debris of fallen mud-brick and in ruins. It feeds on insects. A female gives birth to 3-8 young (Ovoviviparous). Its vertical distribution reaches to 1200 m. In Turkey, it is distributed in W and S Anatolia and the southern parts of Central Anatolia.

In the hot part of the season, Golden skink is active mainly early in the morning. It is difficult to approach, if disturbed, it hides very quickly in dense bushes, under stones, in deep crevices of soil or in small borrows. Autotomy of the tail is well developed. Therefore it is hard to see an individual with an unregenerated tail in the field.


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. Moravec, J. Franzen, M.. & Böhme, W. (2006). Notes on the taxonomy, nomenclature and distribution of the Trachylepis (formerly Mabuya) aurata (Linnaeus, 1758) complex. In: M. Vences, J. Köhler, T. Ziegler, W. Böhme (eds): Herpetologia Bonnensis II. Proceedings of the 13th Congress of the Societas Europaea Herpetologica. pp. 89-93.
4. Baran, I. & Atatür, M. K. (1998). Turkish Herpetofauna (Amphibians & Reptiles). Ministry of Environment, Ankara. 214 pp.
zulfu, spalaxtr, nkasot, xTauruSx, haraprasan, bahadir, iris, eng55, yasemin, goldyrs, Argus, Jamesp, montivipera, jaycee, degani, gerbilratz, CeltickRanger, inked, mariki, PaulH, gannu, jpdenk, rousettus, Juyona, cypturk has marked this note useful
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To joey: :)boreocypriensis 1 05-07 13:54
To eng55: Selam Ömer Beyboreocypriensis 1 05-07 13:45
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • zulfu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 455 W: 0 N: 69] (488)
  • [2008-05-07 1:04]

Aman Hocam bu ne güzel bir yakın çekim. Tum pul detayları, hatta kulak açıklığı ardındaki küçük pullar dahi belirgin. Elinize sağlık.
Teşekkürler.

Mehmet

Bayram merhaba,
Çok güzel bir tıknaz kertenkele portresi. Biz bunu hep Mabuya olarak bilirdirk. Kerpetlojide isimlendirmeler çok hızlı değişmeye başladı, takip etmekte zorlanıyoruz. Paylaşımın için teşekkürler. Selamlar
Mustafa

Bayram hocam mükemmel! her açıdan olaganüstü bir kare.
elinize sağlık.
Nazım

Günaydın Bayram hocam. Daha erken de girmiştim TN e ama yakalayamadım. Tahmin ediyordum bugün böyle bir portre çalışmasının geleceğini. Her açıdan gerçekten nefis olmuş. Perspektif herika.
Elinize sağlık,
Deniz

This is very nice shot too Bayram!
very nice close up with great detail. Nice pov and composition.
Tfs
Ilias

Hi Bayram,
A lovely capture of this beautiful skink. A nice portrait with excellent composition and details. Thanks a lot for sharing.

Offf... offf... Bayram hocam siz bir ekspertsiniz ona şüphe yok. Bir kertenkele bu kada tatlı bu kadar detaylı verilebilir. Üstüne üstük kertenkeleler arasında, ileri derecede parlak pulları nedeniyle çekimi en zor olan türlerden biri. Elinize sağlık.
Bahadır

  • Great 
  • iris Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 361 W: 39 N: 664] (2071)
  • [2008-05-07 1:42]

Hello Bayram,
Superb capture here with nice PoV that details its structure. Your posts have become a gret reference point on repltiles for so many of us.Keep them coming:)
TFS & Cheers

  • Great 
  • eng55 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 349 W: 3 N: 375] (1115)
  • [2008-05-07 2:25]
  • [+]

Merhaba Bayram Bey,
Sayenizde bu kertenkeleyi de tanımış oldum.Fotograf kalitesi en üst seviyede.Detaylar,keskinlik harika.Gözlerinin içindeki detaylar dahi belirgin.Kadraj düşüncenizde çok güzel.Sakın kusur gibi algılamayın,ben olsam sağ taraftan biraz daha crop layıp,sağda eksik kalan ayağı tamamen kadraj dışında bırakırdım.Tebrikler,ellerinize sağlık.
(100 üzerinden 99:))

BAYRAM BU NE GUZEL KERTENKELE BOYLE. PULCUKLARI GORUKUR. NE GUZEL. ELINE SAGLIK. SELAMLAR.
LEYLA

Thank you for sharing this lovely shot, my dear brother.
I maintain, that all I know about repties is due to your shots.
Cheers!
Goldy

indeed chunky but beautiful, Ori

Merhaba Hocam,
Daha devamı gelecek mi? :) Eee, hayvan güzel olunca insan çekmeye doyamıyor. Gene detayları mükemmel bir çekim. Şimdiye kadar gördüğüm en ayrıntılı ve güzel Trachylepis fotoğraflarından biri diyebilirim. Daha önce de yazdığım gibi, parlaması nedeniyle belki çıplak gözle bakıldığında dahi bu kadar detaylı görülemez. Işığı maskeleyerek çok güzel bir fotoğraf elde etmişsiniz, elinize sağlık.
Saygılar,
Naşit

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2456 W: 132 N: 7004] (21879)
  • [2008-05-07 7:09]

Hello Bayram,
A great close-up of the Golden Skink with fine sharpness and detail of the head body and legs.
A really fine illustration of this Turkish ssp.
Thanks for sharing it and the fine informative notes,
Best wishes my friend,
Ivan

  • Great 
  • Jamesp Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1179 W: 0 N: 4496] (13406)
  • [2008-05-07 9:03]

Hi Bayram

An expert shot - great pose with lovely detail and exposure. Great note as usual.

James

Hi Bayram, splendid portrait with amazing details, you are right it's very beautiful, superb sharpness, very well done, ciao Silvio

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1658 W: 8 N: 4248] (13845)
  • [2008-05-07 11:10]

Hi Bayram,

I am enjoying these shots of the Golden Skink. Excellent details of the skin and that marvelous eye. The colors and patterns are wonderful. I still love the feet!

Jane

  • Great 
  • joey Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1559 W: 233 N: 5222] (18351)
  • [2008-05-07 13:22]
  • [+]

Fantastic shot, Geckoman (or maybe Skinkman now... nah! doesn't sound as good!) :-)
I love the pose.
Sharp, sharp, sharp, sharp and sharp with loooooaaads of detail.
Excellent DOF and BG.
Very nice colours and earthy tones.
Exceptional work, Bayram!!

Cheers!

Joe

  • Great 
  • degani Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 183 W: 0 N: 255] (2032)
  • [2008-05-07 13:27]

hi dear friend,
you give us another beautiful and strange little reptyle, a very nice picture Bayram, bravo
kind regards
franco

Hi Bayram, this is a really good close up of this creature. the eye detail and scale patterns are excellent. Good composition combined with superb notes, a credit to you!!

hello Bayram

another excellent image this time close-up shot
with a very fine POV and DOF, i love his pose
with his feets pose, excellennt sharpness and details, TFS

Asbed

  • Great 
  • inked Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 125 W: 0 N: 214] (634)
  • [2008-05-07 23:07]

hi Bayram,
nice shot of this large skink. really great detail and depth. great focus, nice and sharp image. nicely composed from good POV. good notes too. tfs!
Gethin

Hello Bayram,

Beautiful close-up of this skink. Superb detail and colours.
Cheers,
Mariki

  • Great 
  • PaulH Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 978 W: 23 N: 2700] (9900)
  • [2008-05-08 1:15]

Hi Bayram,
a very impressive looking creature you got here, with a great name too - Skink?? The detail and clarity is excellent, with a well framed subject and very good DOF. Your notes are very interesting too, excellent posting!
Paul

  • Great 
  • gannu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 818 W: 4 N: 2026] (9534)
  • [2008-05-08 2:14]

Hello Bayram This is superb closeup shot. Excellent composition and sharp picture. Ganesh

Hello Bayram,

An excellent close-up, shows the scalation really well, nice looking lizard, good composition.

Thanks,
John

Hi Bayram,
this is a big chunk of muscles getting through life. I wonder how it uses it, is it wiggling through holes or hiding in sand or digging by pushing. Anyway, your image suggests all these things. Thanks again, Bayram for telling us the interesting stories about the herpetofauna and adding those very good pictures.
Best regards,
Dietrich

bunu atlarsak olmaz şimdi:) eline sağlık hacı, güzel macro. kuyruk nerde demeyeceğim:) detayları görmek için güzel bir seçim. eline sağlık, selamlar.

  • Great 
  • Juyona Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1988 W: 6 N: 1927] (12963)
  • [2008-05-28 4:18]

Hola amigo,
bella captura y hermosa escena,
excelente trabajo,
saludos

Another perfect close-up of an interesting and weird skink in a lovely pose with amazing details... tfs... warm regards, cypturk

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