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Podarcis taurica (Balkan Wall Lizard)


Podarcis taurica (Balkan Wall Lizard)
Photo Information
Copyright: Bayram Gocmen (boreocypriensis) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3991 W: 153 N: 4799] (12716)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-09
Categories: Reptiles
Camera: Nikon Coolpix 5400
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Turkish Herpetofauna, Reptiles - Lizards, Chuckwallas, Agamas & Tegus 3 [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2008-03-23 1:00
Viewed: 719
Points: 64
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Podarcis taurica taurica (Balkan Wall Lizard) [in Turk. Trakya Kertenkelesi] (An Adult Male)

Balkan Wall Lizard is a medium-sized lizard with rather robust and deep head, distinctly serrated collar and light dorsolateral stripes. Total length reaches up to 22 cm (SVL: approx. 8 cm in adults). Tail is sometimes twice body length. Usually it is easily distinguished from other Wall lizards and from Rock lizards, including Green Lizards in its range by its distinctly serrated collar.

Rostral plate usually is in contact with nostrils and separated from frontonasal scale; row of supraciliary granules nearly always complete; outer edge of parietal scale reaches or closely approaches lateral border of parietal table both posteriorly and anteriorly. One postnasal scale in the great majority of individuals; no contact between supranasal and anterior loreal scales above nostril; usually four upper labial scales in front of subocular (occasionally 5 or 3); upper temporal scales often distinguishable but rather narrow, the first often longest but sometimes not clearly differentiated from other upper temporals; masseteric scale usually present and differentiated, occasionally small and the rest of the temporal region covered by very small granular scales. Dorsal body scales small and typically more strongly keeled (whereas usually smooth or weakly keeled in many other wall lizards), 42–64 in a transverse row across mid-body. Collar typically distinctly serrated; six longitudinal rows of more or less rectangular ventral scales with limited posterior overlap; preanal scale relatively wide and short, bordered by one or more rarely two semicircles of smaller plates, the two most anterior scales of which often slightly enlarged; scales under toes smooth or tubercular; whorls of tail scales subequal in length. The number of femoral pores is changing between 14 and 22.

The dorsum of adult individuals is often bright grassy green in spring (more olive or brown in summer). The rest of dorsal pattern varies according the subspecies, i.e. geographically. In the nominate race (E. t. taurica), animals have a pair of narrow light dorsolateral stripes (or occasionally rows of spots) bordered towards centre of back by a brown area overlaid by black blotches. Populations in Albania, western Greece and the Ionian islands (E. t. ionica) tend to lack brown areas, and the light stripes may be faint; a vertebral streak or row of spots may be present especially over the hind quarters. Some animals in fhis area are almost uniform with a green back and some stippling on the flanks. The belly is often unspotted whitish, but bright orange, rcd or ycllow with greenish throat in breeding males. Juveniles lack green on back and are frequently more strongly striped than adults. Animals on Thasopula (E. t. thasapoulae) are rather long-limbed and regularly climb on rocks.

It range includes the Balkan countries, including the Turkish Thrace, some Aegean islands and Crimea. It is found in two localities on coast of NW Asiatic Turkey (Belgrad Forest-Istanbul and Gebze-Kocaeli) with a vertical distribution to 1000 m. Turkish populations of the species are represented by the nominate race (E. t. taurica).

It tends to occur in rather drier and warmer situations than other small-bodied lacertids within its range. Structural niche is to living largely on the ground often in and around herbaceous vegetation, however it is found in rocky or sandy open areas as well. Feeds on insects. A female lays 2-6 eggs. Males bite flank of female during copulation.

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. 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.
jhm, haraprasan, nkasot, bahadir, gerbilratz, zulfu, xTauruSx, matatur, degani, jaycee, uleko, nglen, Argus, montivipera, extramundi, bahar, jpdenk, kmr13777, yasemin, cypturk has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To extramundi: Hello Felipeboreocypriensis 1 03-23 17:22
To joey: Hi my friend, OwlMan Joeboreocypriensis 1 03-23 14:58
To cako: Tewşşekürler Cahit Beyboreocypriensis 1 03-23 14:10
To gracious: hello My dear Friend Tonyboreocypriensis 1 03-23 14:02
To nglen: Hello Nickboreocypriensis 1 03-23 13:59
To matatur: Sğol Hocaboreocypriensis 1 03-23 08:51
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • jhm Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 660 W: 0 N: 178] (622)
  • [2008-03-23 1:08]

Hello Bayram,

I look it everytime to your lovely nature picture, certainly to these Podarcis taurica taurica as subject.
Reptiles are very difficult for take, also through the metamorphosis but you did very lovely.
Very well done.

Best regards,
John.

Hi Bayram,
A lovely capture of this beautiful balkan lizard. Excellent sharp details and a fine composition. Thanks a lot for sharing.

Selam Hocam yine çok güzel ve doğal duruş ve renkeleriyle harika bir kertenkele çekimi. artık alışkanlık haline geldi. Aklıma acaba hoca ne koycak bu gün diye. Ard arda doğada her zaman göremyeceğimiz güzel çekimler gelince haliyle insan böyle oluyor:) Teşekkürler.
Kıbrıs'tan selamlar,
Nazım

Tek kelime: "mükemmel". Notlar da öyle hocam. Nefis hazırlamışsınız. Elinize sağlık. Selamlar.
Bahadır

Hi Bayram, thanks for this splendid lizard with fantastic details, wonderful colors and superb sharpness, very well done, Happy Easter, ciao Silvio

Hi Bayram, Very nice lizard!! the colours and details are first rate, a wonderful specimen.Sharp, well focused and a great composition. best regards h

  • Great 
  • zulfu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 527 W: 0 N: 95] (585)
  • [2008-03-23 2:09]

Hayvanın pozunu çok sevdim. Sırtın desen ve renkleri her yönüyle çok güzel. Elinize sağlık. Teşekkürler.
Mehmet

Selam Hocam her zamnaki gibi nefis çekim. Hemen göze çarpıyor. Elinize sağlık.
Deniz

Hello Bayram,

very nice lizard, with beautiful colours and good of sharpness.

Regards Gert

Hola Bayram,
A very good representation of a fine specimen under ideal illumination, captured in high definition throughout. Wish he had a complete tail set! TFS and cheers,
Mehmet

hi Bayram, great picture of this beautiful and coloured little animal, thak you very much for the great note and the great image my friend
kind regards
franco

Hello Bayram,
Beautiful photo of this Balkan Wall Lizard. Colours, sharpness and details are very good. Great composition.
Regards,
Peter

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1786 W: 8 N: 4638] (14987)
  • [2008-03-23 9:26]

Hi Bayram,

What a special looking lizard this is. It looks huge to me compared to what I will see here this summer. Beautiful colors and fine details of the skin with the wonderful markings and the head.

Jane

  • Great 
  • bahar Silver Star Critiquer [C: 30 W: 0 N: 6] (46)
  • [2008-03-23 11:49]

Merhabalar hocam
Selamınızı ilettim Naciye hocaya. Çekim yine çok güzel olmuş :) Elinize sağlık
Saygılar
Bahar

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1991 W: 5 N: 5557] (20998)
  • [2008-03-23 12:23]
  • [+]

Hi Bayram. This large looking lizard has so very nice markings which you have captured so well. i wonder why nature puts the green stripe down the back. well done TFS.
Nick..

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2611 W: 133 N: 7494] (23373)
  • [2008-03-23 12:28]

Hello Bayram,
Great portrait of a Balkan Wall Lizard that shows regrowth of a lost tip of the tail. Technically this is excellent and the POV and composition are great.
Thanks for sharing this fine image my friend,
Ivan

Merhaba Hocam,
Çok iyi bir netlikte ve kertenkelenin güzel duruşuyla gene hoş bir kare olmuş. Sırt deseni de hemen göze çarpıyor.
Teşekkürler.
Naşit

Merhaba Bayram,
Selam!!
good choice of size posting to enjoy the closeness of this amazing Wall Lizard!
image very sharp with wonderful colour and superb details
most important is your informative notes that shared
greeting
Tony

  • Great 
  • cako Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 389 W: 0 N: 371] (1986)
  • [2008-03-23 13:56]
  • [+]

Merhaba Bayram bey oldukça güzel renkleri varmış ellerinize sağlık.

Hello Byram, Fine shot of this lizard. Wonderful color patterns and focus detail well seen. Nicely composed also. Interesting note. Tfs Richard

  • Great 
  • joey Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1692 W: 242 N: 5589] (19849)
  • [2008-03-23 14:48]
  • [+]

What a beautiful Lizard!
I love the green scales and blotchy patterning.
Great POV that shows it's markings very clearly.
Sharp with great detail and a superb composition.
Well done Geckoman!

Joe

Merhaba Bayram,

Superb capture of this lizard!
The details of his skin, pattern, texture and colour are excellent!
I love the way he is curving into the shot creating his own leading lines!

Kind regards,
Bev :-)
Many thanks for your warm comments on 'The royal blackbird'.

Bellissima macro, ottimo POV, buona nitidezza con superbi dettagli, molto belli e naturali i colori. Grazie e complimenti. Ciao Maurizio

I have just discovered you gallery and you have an impressing collection of reptiles very well captured.
Congratulations and regards, Felipe.

Hello Bayram,

Just marking,
Mariki

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2466 W: 168 N: 7458] (23564)
  • [2008-03-24 1:11]

Hello Bayram,
Wow, what a beauty! I'd love to see this one!!
Excellent capture showing its pattern very sharply and the colours are fantastic. A brilliant composition too!
Many thanks and best wishes, Ulla

Bro Geckoman!
I'm back after my Easter weekend, back home in the foothills of the Himalayas!I hope you had a wonderful Nevroz!
Again a shot I can only say is perfect!
Very well done!
Warm regards,
Your bro,
Goldy-the Elephantman!

  • Great 
  • Mana Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1714 W: 24 N: 4988] (16346)
  • [2008-03-24 11:42]

Hi Bayram,
Outstanding shot of this lizard with such lovely colours, markings and sharp details on its scales. Nice pose you have captured with a nicely chosen POV. Perfect light and exposure handling and a superb composition. Kudos.
TFS.
Sumon

Hi Bayram,
Beautiful color and details. Great POV and composition. The shadows in the wood add a lot of effect in the picture.

TFS
Kirti

  • Great 
  • SkyF Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2390 W: 194 N: 1991] (8113)
  • [2008-03-25 3:45]

Hi Bayram,
this looks wonderful, very well composed with lovely curves and great framing.
A lot of fabulous detail and textures in this shot. A interesting species you showing us.
TFS..Sky

RENKLERI, USTUNDEKI DESENI NE KADAR GUZEL BIR KERTENKELE. TURKIYEDE NELER VARMIS NELER. KIYMETINI BILSELER BARI. ELINE SAGLIK.
LEYLA

Excellent picture of this lizard. Beautiful composition. Very good POV, DOF and sharpness. Very nice colours. tfs...cypturk

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