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Zamenis situla (Leopard Snake) #1


Zamenis situla (Leopard Snake) #1
Photo Information
Copyright: Bayram Gocmen (boreocypriensis) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3408 W: 148 N: 4196] (11036)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-03-24
Categories: Reptiles
Camera: Nikon Coolpix 5400
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Turkish Herpetofauna, Cyprus Herpetofauna, Snakes - Serpientes - Serpents [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2008-03-26 1:25
Viewed: 1168
Favorites: 6 [view]
Points: 72
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Zamenis situla (Leopard Snake) [in Turk. Ev Yılanı] (A Female, TL: approx. 65 cm)

Leopard snake is a beautifull coloured, aglyphous (non-venomous), medium-sized fairly slender snake, reaching a maximum total length of 115 cm but usually smaller (around 80-90 cm in Turkey); females are rather larger than males. Head is rather narrow but distinct from neck. The eyes have round pupils and reddish iris. There are 8 (rarely 7 or 9) upper labial plates, the 4th and 5th entering the orbit; a rectangle loreal, a single preocular, two postocular plates. The body scales are smooth, in usually 27 (rarely 25 or 26) scale rows at midbody; 215-260 belly scales (ventrals), and 54-92 pairs of scales beneath tail (subcaudals). There are two type patterns on dorsum: a striped and a blotched. Unlike most other rat snakes (Elaphe species), adults retain a juvenile pattern which often consists of a row of black-edged brown to red spots on back and a row of smaller spots on each flank (“blotched pattern”). Sometimes back spots are dumb-bell shaped or divided in two, or replaced by two dark-edged stripes (“striped pattern”). In the specimens having a stripped pattern on dorsum there is a whitish stripe between two dark-edged stripes. Ground colour of dorsum is yellowish, greyish or buff. Underside is yellowish-buff near head without spotting (immaculate) but becomes heavily marked towards tail so that middle and hind belly is often largely black. Head is boldly marked with dark stripes (lateral, medial and tranvers). The lateral, i.e. “temporal stripe” on head is characteristic feature of the genus representatives.

Leopard snake is a largely ground-dwelling snake and seen in stony, bushy habitats; also frequents gardens, field edges, barns, even houses. It is a diurnal species but sometimes seen at dusk. It can climb quite well on stone-piles, walls and bushes where often seen draped over branches avoiding high ground temperatures. When it is cornered, it can bite but it is harmless. Sometimes vibrates tip of tail rapidly among dry leaves making a rattling noise. However, when it was taken to hand it can make same habit. This indicates that this behaviour is related with the self-defence (i.e. it seems to mimic the Rattle Snakes). They feed on small rodents, lizards and birds. Mating may take some hours during which the males bite the neck of their mates. A female lays 2-8 (frequently 2-3) eggs. The eggs are very large (35-70mm x 10-22mm) and cylindrical, and can be seen about 15 days after copulation. They hatch in 6-9 weeks and babies are 29-36cm long and probably take 3 or more years to reach maturity. They can live approx. 25 years in captivity.

This species is present in southern Italy (including eastern and southern Sicily) and Malta, and also ranges from southern Croatia (including the Adriatic islands), through southern Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro (in southern Montenegro only), Albania (littoral zone), Macedonia, southern Bulgaria and most Greece (including a number of Ionian and Aegean islands), east to Turkey (western Anatolia: Denizli and Izmir provinces) and Crimea; with a vertical distribution to 1,600 m asl.
It has been recorded from Cyprus by us based on an old alcohol-preserved specimen collected from Küçük Kaymakli (Nicosia, N. Cyprus) in 1960 but its presence here remains uncertain because the single ethanol preserved specimen is quite old dated and no other specimen has been found or seen since then. However, no excursions were made to its known habitat since 1974, because a considerable more part of the area is now within the buffer zone between SC and NC.

Bayram

Ps. This is my first capture in 2008. The captured specimen here is a female from Rasathane (i.e. observatory) (Nifkarligi Tepe, approx. 1350 asl., Izmir) two days ago (24 March 2008). Total length: appox. 65 cm.

References:
1. Göçmen, B. (Unpub. results). The results of herpetological trips.
2. Göçmen, B., Atatür, M. K., Budak, A., Bahar, H., Yildiz, M. Z., Alpagut-Keskin, N. (2008). Taxonomic notes on the snakes of Northern Cyprus, with observations on their morphologies and ecologies. Animal Biology, 58 (4): 46 pp (#5081, in press)
3. Budak, A. & Göçmen, B. (2005). Herpetology. Ege Üniversitesi Fen Fakültesi Kitaplar Serisi, No. 194, Ege Üniversitesi Basimevi, Bornova-Izmir, 226 pp. [2nd Edition, 2008].
4. Atatür, M. K & Göçmen, B. (2001). Amphibians and Reptiles of Northern Cyprus (1st Edition), Ege Üniversitesi, Fen Fakültesi Kitaplar Serisi, No. 170, Ege Üniversitesi Basimevi, Bornova-Izmir, 63 pp.
5. Göçmen, B., Tok, C. V., Kaya, U. & Tosunoglu, M. (1996).A Preliminary Report On the Herpetofauna of Northern Cyprus. Turk. J. Zoology, 20 (suppl.): 161-176.
6. Arnold, N.E. (1978). A Field Guide to the Reptiles and Amphibians of Britain and Europe.Collins, London, UK, 288 pp.
xTauruSx, nkasot, mariki, zulfu, maurydv, SelenE, bahadir, haraprasan, marcellr, montivipera, uleko, Argus, sandpiper2, Ena, rousettus, cicindela, Raptorman, matatur, XOTAELE, gerbilratz, jaycee, Luis52, dejo, bahar, jpdenk, yasemin, cypturk has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To jaycee: Hello my dear Friend Janeboreocypriensis 2 03-26 17:09
To montivipera: Sağol Naşitboreocypriensis 1 03-26 03:15
To zulfu: Selam Mehmetboreocypriensis 1 03-26 02:19
To mariki: Hello My Dear Friend Marieboreocypriensis 1 03-26 02:04
To nkasot: Sağol Nazımboreocypriensis 1 03-26 02:02
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Critiques [Translate]

Üfff hocam bu ne güzellik, ne kadar alımlı. Renk ve deseni harika. 2008'in ilk fotosu için de ayrıca tebrikler. Elinize sağlık. Teşekkürler.
Deniz

  • Great 
  • nkasot Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Note Writer [C: 373 W: 0 N: 38] (183)
  • [2008-03-26 1:55]
  • [2] [+]

Bayram Hocam bu yilan inanılmaz güzel, hazır buffer zone projesideyken ben Kaymakli'yi didik didik edeyim:)
Belki son temsilcilerini buluruz. İnsanlar bu güzelliklere nasıl kıyıyor anlamıyorum.
Elinize sağlık hocam nefis bir çekim ve mükemmel hazırlanmış notlar. Her zamanki gibi.
Kıbrıs'tan selamlar,
Nazım

  • Great 
  • mariki Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 892 W: 65 N: 1759] (7555)
  • [2008-03-26 1:57]
  • [3] [+]

Hello Bayram,

Very nice composition. Great POV, DOF and sharpness. Wonderful colours. That is really a beautiful snake.
Cheers,
Mariki

Splendida cattura, eccellenti POV e DOF, bellissime composizione e posa di reciproco ed interrogativo rispetto, eccellenti i dettagli e molto belli i colori. Grazie e complimenti. Ciao Maurizio

  • Great 
  • zulfu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 476 W: 0 N: 70] (491)
  • [2008-03-26 2:09]
  • [+]

Bu hayvan hakkaten güzel hocam,
ele alındığında "çingıraklı yılan" gibi kuyruk sallaması benim de çok dikkatimi çekti. Pek anlam verememiştim. Şimdi anladım.
Demekki bunda da tıpkı Sikkeli Yılanda'ki gibi mimikri benzeri bir durum var. Ama dağılışı içerisinde Çıngıraklı yılan yok bildiğim kadarıyla, bu davranışı nerden öğrenmiş olabilir ki? ilginç ve uzun bir düşünme tarzı oldu sanırım:p. Tekrar teşekkürler,
Mehmet

Ciao Bayram,
bellissima specie che ho avuto la fortuna di incontrare una sola volta in Sicilia, dove comunque è molto rara.
Splendida la tua foto che mette in risalto in maniera eccellente la magnifica livrea.
Ottimo lavoro, come sempre.
Marcello

Hocam bu bence yilanlarin en zarifi, alarm renklerine ve mimikrisine rağmen yine de görsel olarak çok tatlı bir yilan. Ele alarak tanima fırsatini bulduğum için ayrıca memnunum. Teşekkürler. Çekiminiz her zmaanki gibi nefis. Ayrıca teşekkürler.
Bahadır

Hi Bayram,
A nice capture of this beautiful leopard snake. Excellent sharp details and a fine composition. Thanks a lot for sharing.

Merhaba Hocam,
Gerçekten çok güzel bir yılan. Çok da güzel fotoğraflamışsınız, elinize sağlık. Ve notlar da her zamanki gibi harika, notlarınızdan birçok yeni şey öğreniyorum. Bunun için de ayrıca teşekkürler.
3 haftadır araziye çıkıyorum ama kertenkeleden başka bir şey bulamamıştım. Tabi ki bilgi ve üstüne eklenen tecrübe farkı...
Selamlar
Naşit

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2375 W: 164 N: 7131] (22536)
  • [2008-03-26 3:23]

Hello Bayram,
This is a fine capture of the Leopard Snake showing its beautiful pattern and colours. I like its pose and your fine composition. Interesting note too!
Many thanks, Ulla

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2492 W: 132 N: 7090] (22145)
  • [2008-03-26 3:27]

Hello Bayram,
A superb image of a recently caught Leopard Snake, a species that seems to show both camouflage and warning colouration, depending on the situation.
Technically this is excellent and the pose and composition with the stoney BG up to your usual high standard.
Thanks for sharing this beauty, my friend,
Ivan

Hi Bayram

Well done with your first capture this year, an impressive snake with a great pattern. Good pose and exposure. Well composed with good sharpness.
Good work

Chris

  • Great 
  • Ena Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 359 W: 61 N: 568] (2327)
  • [2008-03-26 3:31]

Selam Bayram,
Lovely shot!
Good details and composition!
TFS
Ena

en güzel yılan türlerimizden biri, özellikle desenleri çok güzel. çekimi, açı, netlik ve kompozisyonuyla çok çok güzel olmuş. notlar da çok güzel, her zamanki gibi. eline sağlık. selamlar.

Hello Bayram!
At first I though that this is some more exotic species, as some snakes from the USA are similar to this one. But after reading your note I see that this is "still" a creature from your region! Wow! The diversity of herpetofauna in the Middle East is amazing. All the time you are showing us something new!
What can I add more? Once again thank you for another lesson about this interesting group of animals :)
Best greetings from snowny Lodz,
Radek

Hola Bayram, al contrario que tú, yo no soy experto, por lo que valoro sencillamente las tomas según mis gustos.
Creo que esta toma es excelente por la composición y también por los colores.
Hay un tipo de luz que viene por la parte izquierda que deja un poco blanquinosos los colores en algunas zonas de la toma.
Un bonito e interesante trabajo.
Saludos: J. Ignasi

Hi Bayram, superb snake with splendid colors and fantastic details, good DOF and excellent sharpness, BRAVO! very well done, ciao Silvio

  • Great 
  • Mana Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1676 W: 24 N: 4885] (15930)
  • [2008-03-26 8:44]

Hi Bayram,
Wonderful shot of this awesome looking Leopard Snake with amazing colours, markings and details on its scales. Very neat and sharp image with perfect lighting and exposure. I like the way it curled up and that huge eye. Excellent top POV to portray it and very nicely composed. Kudos.
TFS.
Sumon

Hiya Bro!
For someone as ignorant about reptiles, I feel this is a very beautiful snake, captured even more beautifully by you, brother!
Thanks & regards,
Goldy

  • Great 
  • SkyF Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2390 W: 194 N: 1991] (8113)
  • [2008-03-26 9:17]

Hello Bayram,
this snake has a wonderful pattern and you captured it very well.
POV is excellent to get a great look at the entire snake. Colors and sharpness are great.
TFS..Sky

Hello Bayram,
This is one of the best photos of your collection I've seen so far. Excellent clear colours and sharpness. The pose of the Snake is very impressive. Fantastic POV, DOF and composition.
Regards,
Peter

  • Great 
  • cako Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 353 W: 0 N: 316] (1777)
  • [2008-03-26 10:32]

Merhaba Bayram bey buna şapka çıkarılır işte çok güzel olmuş ellerinize sağlık.

An expert capture of a beautiful species Bayram, very effective POV rewarded you with a direct stare and sharply delineated skin structures in fine color. Good, natural posture in a nice composition.
Cheers,
Mehmet

  • Great 
  • joey Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1583 W: 242 N: 5286] (18629)
  • [2008-03-26 12:24]

Wow! What a superb shot Bayram!!!
The patterns on this snake are very pretty!
Superb sharpness and clarity.
Very, very good composition.
This is your best so far my friend!
Congrats on finding your first snake this year :-)

Well done Geckoman!
Cheers,
Joe

Hola Bayram.
Una estupenda imagen muy bien acompañada por un interesante texto.
Saludos amigo and tfs, JL.

Hi Bayram, stunning patterns and colouration to this amazingly good snake. The image is sharp and well focused, a great composition. regards h

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1684 W: 8 N: 4321] (14053)
  • [2008-03-26 15:02]
  • [+]

Hi Bayram,

Oh, look at that face! I think this is my favorite snake so far. He is really beautiful. The eye is superb and the markings are wonderful. Beautiful colors and patterns on his skin. I'm glad he has a name like Leopard Snake so I won't forget it.

Jane

  • Great 
  • dejo Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 354 W: 51 N: 475] (2048)
  • [2008-03-27 1:35]

Hello Bayram,
thanks for this fantastic picture of one beautiful snake! I saw them few times in my country, they is really magnificent creatures!
great close-up, great details,
best regards,
Dejan

  • Great 
  • bahar Silver Star Critiquer [C: 22 W: 0 N: 5] (38)
  • [2008-03-27 4:41]

Merhaba Hocam
Renklerindeki canlılık ve parlaklığıyla çok güzel bir yılan. Sizin çekiminizle daha da güzelleşmiş, elinize sağlık.
Saygılarımla
Bahar

  • Great 
  • Luis52 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1015 W: 5 N: 2758] (10010)
  • [2008-03-27 7:44]

Hola Bayram.
Creo que esta debe ser una muy larga "Serpiente" y de gran tamaño. Una foto mas de estas especies de reptiles que agrandan tu fina coleccion. Los colores en el dorso cual si fueran diamentes luce exelentemente.
Saludos My friend.
Luis52.

  • Great 
  • SelenE Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2305 W: 59 N: 3685] (11810)
  • [2008-03-27 9:25]

Merhaba Bayram Bey,
Desen ve renkleriyle cok guzel bir yilan. Elinize saglik.
Selamlar

Hi Bayram,

What a beauty! Excellent image in all respects.

Thanks,
John

Beautiful snake indeed, Bayram...
I don't trust that mimic sound:-)
Well done
TFS
Annick

Gorgeous shot of this beautiful snake, totaly unknow to me
Hugs and TFS.

Bu yilani cok sevdim ben.renkleri cok guzel. eline saglik Bayram

Bunun renkleri cok guzel cikmis dayicim...Hayatimda ilk defa fotografin sayesinde bir yilan begendim....Pattenlar harika gorunuyor tebrikler..Merih

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