Golden Skink #2

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Golden Skink #2
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: 2008-04-05
Categories: Reptiles
Camera: Olympus C-5060WZ
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Turkish Herpetofauna, Camouflage, RARE or SIGNIFICANT contributions to TN 3, Reptiles - Skinks 1 [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2008-05-06 0:32
Viewed: 651
Points: 70
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Trachylepis aurata (Golden Skink) [in Turk. Tıknaz Kertenkele]#2

Dear Friends, thanks for the kind critiques/comments on the previous posting. Yesterday I have uploaded the lateral view of a beautifull Golden Skink from another locality -Diyarbakır province- of SE Anatolia, and today you can see another beautifull individual from dorso-lateral side to show the characteristic pattern of the subspecies which I photographed in Kilis province.

I hope you like this capture!

Cheers,

Ps. In the hot part of the season, it 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.

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

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.


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. 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.
xTauruSx, eng55, matatur, montivipera, zulfu, nkasot, SelenE, bahadir, aes_thor, yasemin, goldyrs, gerbilratz, Gert-Paassen, jaycee, mariki, nglen, Ishi, spalaxtr, Jamesp, gracious, rousettus, maurydv, CeltickRanger, meyerd, gannu, Ozgur70, haraprasan, cypturk has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

Günaydın Bayram Hocam. Nefis bir görüntü. Tıknazın kıvrılmış vücuduyla oluşturduğu duruş da bir harika.
Elinize sağlık.
Deniz

  • Great 
  • eng55 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 339 W: 3 N: 371] (1095)
  • [2008-05-06 0:52]
  • [3]

Merhaba Bayram Bey,
Güzel bir çalışma.Keskinlik,kadraj,pozlama mükemmel.
Kamuflajı çok iyi vurgulamışsınız.
Selamlar,ellerinize sağlık!

Hulo Bayram,
"Skink"in "S" sini bulmuşsun, darısı diğer harflerinin başına! Yine net ve güzel bir çekim, ama tam da polarizan bir filtrenin kullanımına uygun bir durum, eğer kullansaydın dorsaldeki yansımaların büyük bir kısmını önleyebilirdin, çekim de mükemmel olurdu.
Mehmet

Merhaba Hocam,
İkinci fotoğraf da harika! Gene bir öncekinde olduğu gibi, aşırı parlak görünen ve bu nedenle çekimi zor olan tıknaz kertenkeleyi arazi şartlarında, konudaki ustalığınızla çok güzel ve net fotoğraflamışsınız. Paylaşım için teşekkürler.
Saygılar
Naşit

  • Great 
  • zulfu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 441 W: 0 N: 68] (472)
  • [2008-05-06 1:40]
  • [2]

Harika bir parlak kertenele türümüzün nefis bir karesi olmuş.
Elinize sağlık.
Mehmet

Hocam gerçekten harika görüntülemişsiniz ve skinkin duruşu da çok hoş olmuş. Elinize sağlık. Nazım

  • Great 
  • SelenE Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2337 W: 59 N: 4094] (13345)
  • [2008-05-06 2:11]

Merhaba Bayram Bey,
Detayli ve guzel bir cekim, bilgiler icin de tesekkurler. Elinize saglik
selamlar

  • Great 
  • Ena Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 360 W: 60 N: 569] (2319)
  • [2008-05-06 2:56]

Hello,

Just marking
I'll be back later!

TFS
Ena

Amazing capture of this shiny skink with wonderfull details and lovely posture Bayram hocam. TFS. Regards,
Bahadır

Hi!
Great S-shape, very well done- sharpness, light and details excellent.
Cheers
Adrian

SELAM BAYRAM. COK GUZEL BIR KARE OLMUS! KERTENKELE COK GUZEL! BU GUZEL DURUSU GERCEKTEN IYI GORUNTULEDIN! TEBRIKLER!
LEYLA YESEMIN

A lovely shot , Bro, and lovely, interesting notes, as well.

Goldy

Hello Bayram, great looking skink, this is darker than previous ones, good details to the scale and colouration. excellent notes..regards h

Hello Bayrum,

already an beautiful reptile, I have been never seen these specie.

Thanks.

Gert

great #2, TFS Ori

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1675 W: 8 N: 4022] (13255)
  • [2008-05-06 9:48]

Hi Bayram,

Interesting to see this Skink from a different perspective. This gives a good view of the colors and shadings. I love the position of the feet. At first I thought he was resting his head on the rock but I guess not. But if he got tired he could.

Jane

Hello Bayram,

Beautiful picture of this skink. Nice POV. Good sharpness with nice detail of the scales.
Cheers,
Mariki

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1864 W: 2 N: 4738] (18250)
  • [2008-05-06 11:22]
  • [+]

Hi Bayram. How many Skink are there. This is a chunky looking one. He has big lesa and a long tail. You have captured the markings so well with your good detail. well done TFs.
Nick..

  • Great 
  • PeterZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1086 W: 58 N: 2152] (7179)
  • [2008-05-06 11:23]

Hello Bayram,
Another beautiful photo of this Lizard. Good sharpness, details and camouflaged colours. Nice POV, pose and composition.
Regards,
Peter

  • Great 
  • Ishi Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 85 W: 0 N: 401] (1580)
  • [2008-05-06 11:35]

Excellent view of this skink, Bayram! Excellent note, too!

TFS!

Ishi

  • Great 
  • demeve Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 505 W: 8 N: 1023] (3786)
  • [2008-05-06 11:56]

Hello bayram,

Very nice lizard, that is a very good POV.
The picture is well composed and well framed, great
colors and sharpness.. Well done

Everton

Hello Bayram,
Nicely done #2. Effective point of view...
Well done again..
TFS
Annick

Bayram merhaba,
Çalışmanın ismi fotoğrfla gerçekten çok uyumlu. Nefis bir kamuflaj örneği. Fotoğraf da çok iyi. Eline sağlık arkadaşım. Selamlar,
Mustafa

  • Great 
  • cako Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 327 W: 0 N: 280] (1619)
  • [2008-05-06 12:36]

Merhaba Bayram bey yine nefis bir poz tek şanssızlığınız bu hayvanların bizim kuşlar gibi arka fonu güzel olmayışı ama her şeye rağmen büyük keyif veriyor ellerinize sağlık.

  • Great 
  • joey Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1555 W: 233 N: 5091] (17959)
  • [2008-05-06 13:15]

Very fine shot of this stocky but beautiful Skink :-)
I love the patterns on its back.
Very detailed and extremely sharp.
Great POV and composition.
Perfect light.
Well done Geckoman!

Joe

Hi Bayram!
Another small "dragon" from Turkey ;) And another interesting species. I especially like its pose, very natural but also very "mobile" :)
Best greetings,
Radomir

  • Great 
  • Jamesp Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1223 W: 0 N: 4449] (13290)
  • [2008-05-06 13:55]

Hi Bayram

A great close-up shot - good sinous composition with great colour and superb detail. Well observed and captured.

James

Merhaba Dr.Bayram,
Selam!!
many thanks for sharing another dorso-lateral side of view!
as good as the first with good sharpness, nice colour and details
always a great work from you
best regards
Tony

hacı yine güzel görüntü almışsın eski tanıştan. gündüz ders, toplantı derken gecikmeyle ziyaret ediyorum. eline sağlık başarılı bir çekim. iyi geceler.

Un'altra spettacolare immagine, eccellenti POV e composizione con questa bellissima postura, ottima nitidezza, magnifici i colori con tonalità monocromatiche. Grazie e complimenti. Ciao Maurizio

hello Bayram

another excellent shot this time the POV from above
showing details of the lizard, but as i wrote to the #1
i love it much more because of the POV at the level of the subject, TFS

Asbed

  • Great 
  • gannu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 729 W: 4 N: 1811] (8608)
  • [2008-05-07 2:37]

Hello Bayaram, Lovely capture and superb note. Excellent composition and great view. Ganesh

Hi Bayram, great capture of beautiful Skink with fine details and wonderful sharpness, very well done, ciao Silvio

Hi Bayram,
A nice capture of this beautiful golden skink in full scape. Excellent composition and sharp details. Thanks a lot for sharing my friend.

Nasil bu kadar guzal ceken bunlari anlamam... bu hayvanlar dogada super hizli gacarlar ama sen harika cekiyon dayi... aranizda telepati var galiba... hehehe... cypturk

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