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Amplexus: Love dance - Terrestrial :)


Amplexus: Love dance - Terrestrial :)
Photo Information
Copyright: Bayram Gocmen (boreocypriensis) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3417 W: 148 N: 4246] (11164)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-05-19
Categories: Amphibians
Camera: Olympus C-5060WZ
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Theme(s): Turkish Herpetofauna, Endangered, Bayram's Favorites-1 [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2008-06-06 1:18
Viewed: 595
Favorites: 4 [view]
Points: 62
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Rana holtzi (=R. macrocnemis holtzi) (Taurus Frog) [in Turk. Toros Kurbağası] #5 (Amplexus: embracing)

Dear Friends, thanks for all kind critiques/comments on my previous posting related with the breeding behaviours of Taurus frog in Water.

Today I am posting the same breeding behaviour (amplexus, i.e. embracing) exhibited by Taurus frog male and females in the breeding site. But this is not in water, a terrestrial one, near the breeding site- this situation is not normal for the species. In this way, female lay small clumps of spawn relatively out of the lake. In the viewpoint of their conservation, we have to transport them into the lake to increase their breeding success.

This shot was taken in a relatively fake setting since I have got “good results” in similar conditions in my one of previous captures for another species. It was photographed in wild during our night sourching the breeding animals which we conducted in Karagöl Lake. Full flash was also certainly used as it was taken at about 22.00 O’clock. The backround is a black plastic plate (as single fake application) which we used for taking their weight both during the amplexus and after completing this process (this data is required to estimate their energy ins and outs during the breeding season).

Hoping that you like this shot!

Cheers,

Bayram

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

Taurus frog is known from only Karagöl Lake (Bolkar Mt, Taurus Range, Ulukışla, Niğde province). See my previous landscape shots -L1 & L2- to see the habitat of the species. This species has been on the IUCN (The World Conservation Union) Red List of “Threatened Species” since 1996 and categorized as an Endangered (EN) species. Also it has been taken under strictly conservation by the Turkish Goverment since 1998. Now, Listed as “Critically Endangered” because of a drastic population decline, estimated to be more than 80% over the last ten years, based on observed declines resulting from the introduction of fish into its breeding lakes (The population of the Karagöl lake has significantly declined since the introduction of fish to the lakes in the 1990s); and because its extent of occurrence is less than 100 km², and its area of occupancy is less than 10 km², all individuals are in a single location, and there is continuing decline in the quality of its habitat and in the number of mature individuals in and around Karagöl. Karagöl is found within a popular tourist area. A road (see my previous post) has recently been completed at near the site potentially increasing the number of visitors. Also it can be report to be declining through over collection for scientific (althought the conservation rules exist, and without taking any permitance from the govermental judgements) and possibly other purposes, and the introduction of predatory carp fishes into the lakes, has led to a significant decline in the population. Some authors are accept this population as a “subspecies” of an another species “Rana macrocnemis” (Uludag Frog). However, this situation is not important. From a conservation point of view it is not absolutely important if scientists define it as a full species or a subspecies of R. macrocnemis, it is a true isolated population and an important evolutionary entity in my opinion and I think it would not be possible to replace if going extinct with other R. macrocnemis populations. I am happy that we are doing a lot of ecological and reproductive studies to extend the knowledge of this frog. A small population has been known from the Çiniligöl lakelet, which is situated approximately 150 m distance of Karagöl and about 60-70 m higher than it. However, during the past three years we could not see any frog in this lakelet.

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

Taurus frog is a relatively small frog living in Turkey with a maximum snout-vent length 75 mm. Temporal stripes always present. In males skin is soft and smooth, however in females warted. Dorsolateral skin folds are obvious. There is an iner vocal sac in males. The back is yellowish dirty gren, yellowish pink or gray-green with blackish-grren, black or brownish maculations which usually have thin lighter coloured rims. The venter usually pinkish-redish, sometimes yellowish and rarely gray-white. The pinkish-redish ventral colouration is generally strongly in females than males. It feeds on insects (such as some tenebrionids, gerrids, etc.).

On its breeding biology there is “no sufficient data” and now we are studying this using subcutaneus (into lenfoidal spaces under the skin) minute tags readible with UV lamb. Each frog is monitoring via this tag. Breeding occurs once a year and takes place in early spring, immediately after the melting of ice and snow. They often assemble in large numbers to breed in a specialised sites (generally shallow areas riched by algs). Male develope prominent dark nuptial pads on the thumps. They grasp the female around the body behind the arms. They active by night and day at this time. Females lay small clumps of spawn usually containing 300-400 eggs, although 10-500 have been recorded by us. The clumps are generally placed shallow areas . Larval development takes place about three month. Newly metamorphosed frogs are about 1.5 cm long. This species appears relatively long lived, most frogs dying in approx. 7-10 years in normal conditions. The info on the breeding biology of the Taurus Frog mentioned above is based on our preliminary studies.

Ps. These shots was taken during a project on the population dynamics and breeding biology of R. holtzi (Taurus Frog) supported by TUBITAK (The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey).

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.
zulfu, bahadir, xTauruSx, uleko, Juyona, Silvio2006, gannu, nkasot, marhowie, mariki, Gert-Paassen, jaycee, Argus, maurydv, montivipera, matatur, rousettus, CatherineD, strahos, vanderschelden, gracious, SelenE, yasemin, cypturk, flashpoint has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • eng55 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 353 W: 3 N: 375] (1123)
  • [2008-06-06 1:22]
  • [+]

Merhaba Bayram Bey,
4/4 lük bir çalışma olmuş.Detaylar,ışık kontrast,pozlama herşey mükemmel.Favorilerime ekliyorum.
Tebrikler,ellerinize sağlık!

  • Great 
  • zulfu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 482 W: 0 N: 70] (495)
  • [2008-06-06 1:28]

Bayram hocam heryenüyle mükemmel bir çalışma.
Tam kartpostallık olmuş.
Elinize emeğinize sağlık.
Mehmet

Flaşlı gece çekimleri ayrı bir güzel duruyor hovcam. elinize sağlık. Doğal renkler, keskinlik ve kompozisyon. her yönüyle harika. Elinize sağlık.
Bahadır

Bayram Hocxam bu çekime tek kelime yeter bence: "olağanüstü".
Elinize sağlık.
Deniz

  • Great 
  • PaulH Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 992 W: 23 N: 2792] (10178)
  • [2008-06-06 2:39]

Hi Bayram,
excellent detail and great use of the flash to get this even exposure. The dark background really makes these two stand out, well and have a great weekend!
Paul

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2381 W: 164 N: 7153] (22602)
  • [2008-06-06 2:46]

Hello Bayram,
Very nice flash capture of these frogs accentuating their colours and patterns beautifully. Excellent sharpness and well composed. Many thanks, also for the note!
Best wishes, Ulla

  • Great 
  • Juyona Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 2003 W: 6 N: 1955] (13053)
  • [2008-06-06 2:55]

Hola amigo,
interesante trabajo,
detalles y sensacional pov...
color y excelente flash
saludos Bay.

That is one of the most amazing photos ive seen online. Excellent work Hocam, thank you for sharing :)

Hi my beloved friend Bayram, an other fantastic action shoot, great colors, fine details and splendid sharpness, interesting note, very well done, ciao Silvio

  • Great 
  • gannu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 847 W: 4 N: 2096] (9830)
  • [2008-06-06 3:39]

Hello Bayram, Fantastic shot and you are behind frog now a days.Excellent position of the mating frog and the lighting. Lovely composition. Ganesh

Hi Bayram,you know how i think about this series,just my best best compliments for the impressive quality and for the very interesting note,have a nice day,Luciano

Flaş kullanımı ile mükkemmel bir resim olmuş hocam. Renk ve desen çok daha bariz bir şekilde ve nefis detaylar ile göze çarpar nitelikte. Elinize sağlık.
Nazım

Hi Bayram,
Your couple stands out very well with the dark BG, and it's a great POV with nice detail/DOF also.
The saga continues :)
Howard

Hello Bayram,

Superb picture of this couple. Great sharpness. Good lighting. The colours are great.
Cheers,
Mariki

Hello Bayram,
really nice capture from this 2 frogs.
Beautiful colours and great details.

Gert

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1691 W: 8 N: 4340] (14113)
  • [2008-06-06 9:19]

Good Morning My Brother,

Yes, it's still early morning here - not sure what the time difference is between here and there but it's a big one. The black plate made a perfect background for this couple. Superb colors and details - I still love they eyes and feet! Very interesting notes - looks and sounds like you're project was very successful.

Jane

Hello Bayram,
Excellent in all aspects. Don't have much time also. Fantastic colours against the dark BG.
Have a good weekend,
Peter

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2500 W: 132 N: 7109] (22209)
  • [2008-06-06 10:15]

Hello Bayram,
A great capture of this duo of Taurus frogs having fun together! Well lit by the use of flash, this is nice and sharp and taken from a fine POV.
TFS this beauty my friend,
Cheers,
Ivan

  • Great 
  • demeve Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 508 W: 8 N: 1077] (3976)
  • [2008-06-06 10:51]

Hello Bayram
great capture of this 2 frogs mating.. nice presentation
with great informative notes.. Well done

Everton

Spettacolare cattura in amplesso ascellare, eccellenti POV e composizione, straordinarie nitidezza e definizione dei dettagli, magnifici i colori e uso perfetto del flash. Grazie e complimenti. Ciao Maurizio

Hi brother. Another excellent work,fantastic action,detail,composition,I mean everything about this picture and information are perfect.Well done. very impressive too. take care,regards from all of us...Leyla

Merhaba Hocam,
Fazla söze gerek yok, her zamanki gibi. Projenin sonuçlandırılmasını beklemeden birçok bilgiyi buradan öğrenmiş olduk fotoğraflarınızla birlikte :) Önceki gönderilerinizden Hyla'da da bu alttaki malzemeyi kullanmıştınız. Gece çekimlerinde arka plan olarak çok iyi oluyor bence. Paylaşım için teşekkürler.
Saygılar
Naşit

  • Great 
  • joey Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1589 W: 242 N: 5308] (18683)
  • [2008-06-06 13:44]

One of the sharpest shots I've ever seen!!!
Absolutely tonnes of detail and incredible clarity.
Excellent lighting and colours... superb use of flash.
Great composition and POV.
Superb DOF.
One of your best frog shots!

Well done, Geckoman!

Joe :-))

Eveeet, ampleksusta doğal olan büyük dişi - küçük erkek temasına dönmüşsün Bayram, bu konuda soru soranlar bu kareyi görünce sevineceklerdir. Kaçınılmaz flaşa rağmen çekim mükemmel olmuş, aksiyal ampleksus da en iyi şekilde gösterilmiş, kutlarım dostum.
Mehmet

hoca, rahat bırak şu hayvanları:)) yoksa nesilleri kesilecek, sana poz verelim derken yumurtalar gidecek. şaka bir yana çok güzel çekimlerini gönderdin peşpeşe, hep de ampleksusta. eline sağlık.
not: tür adı konusunda teşekkürler, kitap elimde yoktu gönderirken, diğer adı da biliyordum ancak sen hangini kullandın, baktım o türü göndermediğini gördüm. Atatür hocanın mailinden sonra düzelteceğim.
not2: mesaj kutusundan kasdettiğim, şu an yazdığımız pencere. öyle adlandırdım o an yazarken. bugünkü notların da oldukça uzun, git git bitmiyor, nereye yorum yazacağımı zor buldum anlamında takılayım demiştim:P
iyi geceler, selamlar.

Wonderful shot Bayram, with so nice colours and sharpness. Very interesting note too. TFS,
Catherine

Hello Bayram!
very educational photo with detail and optical information for this species! your useful note completes the frogs profile (as always :-D )
Tfs once again,
Ilias

Very educational in depth contribution, Bayram.
Guess you have a lot of work now..
Nevertheless...a great weekend
Annick

Merhaba Dr.Bayram,
Selam!!
sorry bit late for coming in!
many thanks for sharing this awesome shot with first class quality!
good closeness in total sharpness, very nice colour and so much details to view on the frogs!
a great job well done
greeting
Tony

  • Great 
  • SelenE Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2308 W: 59 N: 3689] (11822)
  • [2008-06-09 1:30]

Merhaba Bayram Bey,
Guzel bir ciftlesme fotografi olmus. Emeginize saglik
Selamlar

hi Bayram,
the great series presented and explained by the usual clarity of the many episodes of reproduction in different species of amphibians
well done my friend

best sERGIO

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