Telescopus nigriceps -for ALL TN FRIENDS

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Telescopus nigriceps -for ALL TN FRIENDS
Photo Information
Copyright: Bayram Gocmen (boreocypriensis) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3337 W: 139 N: 3772] (9906)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-04-25
Categories: Reptiles
Camera: Nikon Coolpix 5400
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Bayram's dedications, Turkish Herpetofauna, Syrian Herpetofauna, Dedications at TrekNature Part Three, Snakes - Serpientes - Serpents, RARE or SIGNIFICANT contributions to TN 3 [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2008-04-04 0:25
Viewed: 748
Points: 88
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Telescopus nigriceps (Black-Banded/-Headed Cat Snake) [in Turk. Siyah Bandlı Kedi Gözlü Yılan]

Dear my “heartfelt and beloved” friends, as you known the spring season (i.e. herping time) was came and our herpetological-field trips are starting. In this way, we will leave Izmir today! firstly we are going to SE Anatolia region, including the Nigde, Adana and Hatay provinces as well. After this excursion we will visit my homeland (Cyprus) to make some additional herpetological studies. Therefore, (I think) approx. one month I am not available in TN, actively. During this time, you can sure that I will miss all of you! I wish you a nice time, good luck and all the best…

and finally I dedicate this capture to my all “beloved and heartfelt” friends in TN!

Greetings,


This beautiful snake is strictly nocturnal, medium-sized opisthoglyphous (venomous) snake, reaching maximum 68 cm. The head distinct from neck, snout bluntly pointed, eye with black iris, pupil vertical, body relatively plump and head slightly broad. Rostral scale is rather broad; loreal plate present; 1 preocular, 2 postocular plates, 8-9 supralabial and 9-11 sublabial plates are exist. The body scales are smooth and ordered generally in to 19 (rarely 17 or 18) rows at mid body. There are 172-196 ventral plates (+2 or 3 preventral plates) and 39-65 paired subcaudal plates. The anal plate generally paired (rarely entire).

The ground colour of the body is mostly pale (pinkish) brown t pale (pinkish) gray. A head color polymorphism is seen: generally entirely coal black, sometimes gray or pinkish with very small gray dots. The pattern consist of a nuchal band and also cross bands, i.e. transversal (sometimes oblique) rings, on dorsum of body (15-29) and tail (7-15). These are entirely coal black in all specimens. The tail tip is also black. The belly is always uniformly black.

The most important diagnostic characters of the species are based on the coloration and pattern (black head and black cross bands reaching to ventrals on the body and tail).

It is relatively docile snake, not moving too fast. It feeds on lizards, bird eggs and small mammals. It is oviparous, and females lay several elongate eggs into burrows. Juvenilles appear in late summer. Although it is a venomous species, the toxin is harmless to humans.

It is known from SE Anatolia, Turkey (from Kilis and Urfa provinces) and the adjacent southern countries – Syria, W Jordan and Iraq.

Bayram

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. Göçmen, B., Nilson, G., Yildiz, M. Z., Arikan, H., Yalçinkaya, D. & Akman, B. (2007). On the occurrence of the Black Cat Snake, Telescopus nigriceps (Ahl, 1924) (Serpentes: Colubridae) from the Southeastern Anatolia, Turkey with some taxonomical comments. North-Western Journal of Zoology, 3 (2): 81-95. [PDF document for detailed information]
4. Disi, A. M., Modry, D., Necas, P. & Rifai, L. (2001). Amphibians and Reptiles of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. Edition Chimaira.

nkasot, xTauruSx, mariki, haraprasan, Argus, strahos, zulfu, bahadir, cataclysta, Silvio2006, jaycee, uleko, montivipera, gerbilratz, matatur, maurydv, Ena, SkyF, Luis52, Gert-Paassen, degani, jpdenk, goldyrs, nglen, kmr13777, Necipp, hester, vanderschelden, rousettus, gracious, loot, yasemin, cypturk has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To Heaven: Hello Markusboreocypriensis 1 04-22 07:37
To gracious: Selam Tonyboreocypriensis 1 04-14 15:41
To loot: Hi Lootboreocypriensis 1 04-14 14:39
To Silvio2006: Hello my beloved friend Silvioboreocypriensis 1 04-04 06:49
To Argus: Hi My dear friend Ivanboreocypriensis 1 04-04 04:26
To xTauruSx: Teşekkürboreocypriensis 1 04-04 00:53
To nkasot: Sağol Nazımboreocypriensis 1 04-04 00:43
To mariki: Hello my beloved friend Marieboreocypriensis 1 04-04 00:39
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • mariki Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 841 W: 67 N: 1555] (6903)
  • [2008-04-04 0:28]
  • [2] [+]

Hello Bayram,

Excellent shot of this superb snake. Great POV, DOF and sharpness. Superb composition with a great pose of the snake. Light and colours are great too. One of your best pictures, I think.
Cheers,
Mariki

Bayram Hocam günaydın ve yolunuz açık olsun. Umarim yeni keşiflerle dönersiniz. Kıbrıs'ta sizi bekliyorum. Çekim harika hem de yeni bulduğunuz türü koydunuz. Elinize sağlık.
Kıbrıs'tan selamlar,
Nazım

Harika bir yılan hocam ve ayrıca çekiniz her zmanki gibi mükemmel. Ülkemiz için az bilinen bir yılanı buraya koyarak ayrıca tanıtımında katkı sağladığınız için de teşekkürler.
Elinize sağlık. Saygılar.
Deniz

Hi Bayram,
A nice capture of this cat snake. Very good details and a nice composition. So yes ofcourse we will miss you and your works. But see you soon with some more good captures. Best of Luck. Thanks for this dedication friend.

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2416 W: 132 N: 6653] (20877)
  • [2008-04-04 1:53]
  • [+]

Hello Bayram,
Beautiful portrait of a Black-banded Cat Snake, with fine technical quality and showing the charcateristic features with good sharpness and from an excellent POV.
I hope you have a successful fieldtrip and a great visit to your homeland, that could be united soon!
Best wishes my friend and thanks for the dedication!
Ivan

Hello Bayram! Another beautiful shot from you! Nice backround choice, nice pale colours!
Tfs
Ilias

  • Great 
  • zulfu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 441 W: 0 N: 68] (472)
  • [2008-04-04 2:39]

Bayram Hocam selam bu güzel yılan türümüzün nefis bir karesi. Her zmanki gibi her açıdan mükemmel görüntü almışsınız. Elinize sağlık.
Mehmet

Mükemmel kelimesi bile az gelir buna Bayram Hocam. Nefis...
Elinize sağlık. Teşekkürler.
Bahadır

  • Great 
  • joey Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1555 W: 233 N: 5091] (17959)
  • [2008-04-04 5:45]

Very, very, very sharp image of this Cat Snake, Geckoman!
Superb clarity and detail too.
This is a beautiful snake you show here!
Great composition and POV.
Brilliant light.
I hope you have a great time herping my friend!
And thankyou for the dedication :-)

All the best!

Joe

Hi Bayram
Beautiful perfectly sharp image. Fantastic reptile. Note is as always very good. I am waiting for new photos from you reptile scientific excursions ;-)
TFS
Krzysztof

Hi bayram my friend
very nice new picture you do so well with taking picture thanks a lot for sharing this pictures
great colours nice details and perfect sharpness
Toba

Exelente foto uma magnifica foto e bastante interessante a cor dela muito boa realmente meus parabéns.
Nilson

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1675 W: 8 N: 4022] (13255)
  • [2008-04-04 9:22]

Hi Bayram,

What a beauty this one is! It is up there with the Leopard Snake as most beautiful! The charcoal and beige colors are magnificent. And the face and eye are wonderful. See what you have done to me - before I met you I would never have seen the wonders of a snake. I wish you a safe and successful trip. I will miss you dear friend.

Jane

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2297 W: 163 N: 6694] (21146)
  • [2008-04-04 9:47]

Hello Bayram,
What a great view of this beautiful nocturnal snake in a fine curled-up position. Excellent sharpness and I like its distinct pattern.
I hope you have a successful field trip and come back with some fine pictures to show us!
TFS and all the best wishes, Ulla

  • Great 
  • PeterZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1086 W: 58 N: 2152] (7179)
  • [2008-04-04 10:42]

Hello Bayram,
Fantastic photo of this Snake. Light, colours and sharpness are great. Very good composition and POV. I will miss you too.
Regards and have a good trip,
Peter

wow beauyifull cat snake, Bayram.
I wish you will have a good season with lot of herps, and amaizing shots!!!

Merhaba Hocam,
Muhtemelen şu anda yoldasınız. Umarım verimli bir arazi olur. 1 aylık aradan önce çok güzel bir kare koymuşsunuz, elinize sağlık. Enegrekler kadar olmasa da, kedi gözlü yılanları da severim (Tabi bende zehirli olsun taştan olsun mantığı var :)) Ayrıca Türkiye için yakın zamanda keşfedilen (keşfettiğiniz) bir türü koymanız da ayrı bir incelik. Bu da, bu siteyi ve yaptığınız paylaşımları ciddiye aldığınızı gösteriyor.
Görüşmek üzere!
Naşit

Hi Bayram, it will be sad to see you go for your trip, but you have left us with this stunning reptile...superb...best regards h

An excellent parting shot Bayram, hope everything goes as you wish during your lengthy field trip.
Cheers,
Mehmet

Un altro splendido serpente, ottimi POV e DOF, bellissima composizione: un cerchio inscritto in un quadrato, eccellenti i dettagli e magnifici i colori. Grazie e complimenti. Ciao Maurizio

  • Great 
  • Ena Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 360 W: 60 N: 569] (2319)
  • [2008-04-04 14:41]

Selam Bayram,
Amazing snake!
Beautiful capture!
Nice details!
TFS
Ena

  • Great 
  • SkyF Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2447 W: 207 N: 2035] (8113)
  • [2008-04-04 15:29]

Hello Bayram,
sound like you have a wonderful trip ahead of you.
Wishing you all the best and a safe return. Bring back many photos and share your experience with us.
Great shot, I like this snake all curled up seeing its entire body.
Sky

  • Great 
  • Luis52 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1036 W: 5 N: 2728] (9914)
  • [2008-04-04 21:41]

Hi Bayram.
We all going to miss You during this time, but we also know You are going to bring new spices of snakes to present here. Take good care My friend.
Luis52.

Hi Baran,

Beutiful colors and snake.
Much details on the snake.
good note and explaination.

Well done!

Regards gert

Hi Bayram, thanks for this splendid dedication, wonderful snake with superb details and great sharpness, have a good trip and I'm witing for a lot of splendid photo when you return, very well done, have a great week end, ciao Silvio

Hi dear friend,
you give us another beautiful image of a nice and elegant reptile, thanks for the good explanation, bravo Bayram
kind regards
franco

Hello Bayram,

Another excellent image, this time of another beautiful snake, very sharp, good composition too.

Thanks,
John

Awesome shot, my friend...
Enjoy your time away from us, and get back soon!
Cheers!
Goldy

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1864 W: 2 N: 4738] (18250)
  • [2008-04-05 11:54]

Hi Bayram. have a good time on your trip. You have left us with a very good shot of the Snake. very good markings and detail in the head. with natural looking colours. well done TFs.
Nick..

Hello Bayram,
Great shot of this beautiful coiled up snake. Very interesting BG with a wonderful golden shade.
Have a wonderful trip and have fun. Take care.

TFS
Kirti

  • Great 
  • Necipp Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1150 W: 15 N: 2074] (12392)
  • [2008-04-05 12:07]

Merhaba Bayram cok guzel ayarlamisin keskin detaylar ve iyi kompozisyon olmus. tebrikler selam Necip.

  • Great 
  • hester Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1497 W: 18 N: 2924] (10762)
  • [2008-04-05 12:19]

Hi Nayran

This beautiful snake is perfectly positioned within the frame. Wonderfully sharp with excellent DOF. You certainly have some wonderful snake images

TFS

Karan

Hello Bayram,
Wish you all the best during your excursions.
You provided us once again with a beautiful snake. Wonderful colours and patterns.
Looking forward to see your excursion animals
if possible. Greetings and see you!
Annick

T. nigriceps is one of the new records for Turkish fauna list. nice to see it with your nice shot. I wish you successfully work in field and have a nice trip. maa-selamat vesselams.
Ahmet

Hola Bayram.
Muchas gracias en lo que a mi se refiere
por esta preciosa dedicatoria.
Bella serpiente y estupenda nota.
Un cordial saludo desde Gran Canaria, JL.

great pic! greetings from Antalya (laat day unfortunately). Ori

  • Great 
  • cako Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 327 W: 0 N: 280] (1619)
  • [2008-04-10 10:58]

Merhaba Bayram bey sayenizde yılanlarla bayağı haşır neşir olduk nefis olmuş ellerinize sağlık.

Algún día nos mostrarás un pájaro... o una flor jajaja, aunque de momento todos tus reptiles son preciosos como ocurre en la toma de esta serpiemte, donde la efectiva luz y el excelente enfoque nos descubren toda su belleza.
Un abrazo: Josep Ignasi

Merhaba Bayram,
Selam!!
my sincere thanks for the ID on my insect posting this morning and greeting to you from NZ! I had updated the name with my special thanks to you!
Sorry I nearly miss this awesome posting from you on this excellent image of snake!
the image is so sharp with perfect colouration and superb details
well done
friend Tony

  • Great 
  • Jamesp Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1223 W: 0 N: 4449] (13290)
  • [2008-04-13 22:49]

Hi Bayram

Another great shot - good composition and POV with good colour and superb detail. Well observed and captured.

James

  • Great 
  • loot Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5633 W: 594 N: 3202] (8699)
  • [2008-04-14 2:12]
  • [+]

Hi Bayram

1st: Thanks for the general dedication to all your TrekNature friends.

2nd: Thanks for another "TrekNature first" posting. You are treating and spoiling us rotten with all these wonderful herpetological contributions you keep on posting one after the other and thanks also for your dedication and appreciated educational involvement to the site. Single-handedly you have made a major impact on the material in the field of herpetology to be found on TrekNature.

3rd: Even though I'm a bit late for it, enjoy what's left of the trip and I hope you find amazing material to come and show us.

4th: Another great reptilian shot, this time a beautiful snake. Well captured and presented with all details pin sharp, colours reflecting natural tones, and the subject standing out nicely from the peat BG.

Well done and TFS.
Regards
Loot

Hi Bayram!

I discover your gallery with great interest and am impressed by the diversity. I have chosen this picture for my comment on a very subjective base: I just like it. The snake is beautiful, sharpness and lighting are fine, too.

It would interest me to know if you take the photos of your snakes in free nature or in captivity.

Kind regards

Markus

Bu ne guzel yilan boyle enine cizgili, nefis duruyor. Ne guzel de goruntulemissin. Eline saglik kardesim.
Leyla

Wonderful shot of this beautiful cat-eyed snake with very impressive sharpness and lovely colours and cross markings on its skin. Superb lighting and exposure... Excellent composition... tfs... cypturk

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