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Zamenis situla (Leopard Snake) #2


Zamenis situla (Leopard Snake) #2
Photo Information
Copyright: Bayram Gocmen (boreocypriensis) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5023 W: 178 N: 11961] (32621)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-03-24
Categories: Reptiles
Camera: Nikon Coolpix 5400
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Theme(s): Cyprus Herpetofauna, Turkish Herpetofauna, Snakes - Serpientes - Serpents [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2008-03-27 0:24
Viewed: 1645
Favorites: 2 [view]
Points: 66
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Zamenis situla (Leopard Snake) [in Turk. Ev Yılanı] (A Portrait)#2

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 [see another capture for general appearance]. 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 second capture in 2008. The specimen is a female from Rasathane (i.e. observatory) (Nifkarligi Tepe, approx. 1350 asl., Izmir) three 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.
esimsek, nkasot, bahadir, Ena, xTauruSx, haraprasan, zulfu, bahar, matatur, goldyrs, SkyF, mariki, Proframe, Silvio2006, jaycee, montivipera, kaytan, maurydv, nglen, vanderschelden, gracious, marhowie, rousettus, degani, yasemin, cypturk, flashpoint, myosotis_tr has marked this note useful
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ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To strahos: Yasu Iliasboreocypriensis 5 03-29 06:58
To vanderschelden: Hello Annickboreocypriensis 1 03-27 15:05
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Critiques [Translate]

Günaydın Hocam. Kıbrıs'tan selamlar. İtitaf etmeliyim ki dünkünü görünce bugün bir portre koyacağınızdan emindim:-) Nefis olmuş. Hemen göze çarpıyor. Hayvan güzel çeken de üstat olunca böyle oluyor haliyle... Ellerinize sağlık.
Nazım

Aman Hocam bu ne güzellik:) valla sevesim geldi. Nefis bir çekim ellerinize sağlık. Fotoğraf kesinlikle "beni" al diyor. Teşekkürler.
Bahadır

  • Great 
  • Ena Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 367 W: 61 N: 591] (2456)
  • [2008-03-27 2:47]

Selam Bayram,
Nice colose-up!
Good details!
TFS
Ena

Nefis bir yakın plan çekimi, SDZ mükemmel. Elinize sağlık. Teşekkürler.
Deniz

Hi Bayram,
A nice closeup shot of this beautiful leopard snake. Very well composed and excellent details. Thanks a lot for sharing.

  • Great 
  • zulfu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1019 W: 0 N: 162] (858)
  • [2008-03-27 3:28]

Bayram Hocam yine şapka çıkarılacak bir çekim yapmışsınız tüm detaylar, renkler harika. Öyleki pulların arkasındaki ikişer küçük çukurluk bile belli. Bundan daha iyisi de olamaz sanırım. Teşekkürler. Elinize sağlık.
Mehmet

  • Great 
  • bahar Silver Star Critiquer [C: 30 W: 0 N: 6] (46)
  • [2008-03-27 4:42]

Merhaba Hocam,
Çok net ve güzel bir fotoğraf olmuş gerçekten. Paylaşım için teşekkürler. Saygılar.
Bahar

Beautiful portrait and a good "addendum" to your previous post Bayram, I think I can discern you in that reflection from the eye! The complimentary colors of the land mosses improves your comp. my friend.
Mehmet

  • Great 
  • SkyF Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2244 W: 188 N: 1929] (8127)
  • [2008-03-27 5:19]

Hi Bayram,
you bring us really close to those reptiles, so close we can see the amazing detail in its eye.
Great work, very sharp image and fabulous colors and textures.
TFS..Sky

Very nice shot, bro!I especially like the eye that you've so nicely highlighted.
thank you!
Goldy

very nice composition and pov! Colours need a little work in photoshop.
I believe you will show more shots of this situla. Waiting for them :-D
Tfs
Ilias

Hello Bayram,

Very nice composition. Excellent portrait of this snake. Superb detail. Splendid colours.
Cheers,
Mariki

Hello Bayram,

Great sharp and clear close-up shot of this wonderful Leopard Snake.
Beautiful details and soft colors.
Excellent sharpness, clarity and exposure.
Perfect not also.
Very well done. TFS!!!

Best regards, Harry

great close up, TFS Ori

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2493 W: 11 N: 6885] (21912)
  • [2008-03-27 8:54]

Hi Bayram,

You knew I would love this - straight into my favorites. A fantastic close-up of this Leopard snake's face and beautiful skin. Super sharp with marvelous colors. The eye is spectacular. A wonderful view of his amazing markings.

Jane

  • Great 
  • PeterZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2345 W: 92 N: 5348] (17102)
  • [2008-03-27 9:48]

Hello Bayram,
Wonderful photo of this Leopard Snake. Excellent sharp focus on the head. Very nice pose and composition. Great colours.
Regards,
Peter

Çok iyi netlikte bir portre olmuş Hocam, elinize sağlık.
Naşit

  • Great 
  • demeve Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 603 W: 11 N: 1627] (5989)
  • [2008-03-27 12:59]

Hello Bayran,

Excellent close up, very nice composition
and great sharpness.. Well done

Everton

Splendido primo piano, bellissime composizione e ambientazione, ottimi dettagli, molto belli i colori. Grazie e complimenti. Ciao Maurizio

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2860 W: 34 N: 8481] (31692)
  • [2008-03-27 14:03]

Hi Bryram. In my eyes this is your best close up yet. the detail is spot on. such sharp focusing and rich natural looking colours. with good use of the light. so well done TFS.
Nick..

You discovered another species, Bayram:)?
A leopard snake...what's in a name.
Very beautiful animal.
TFS
Annick

  • Great 
  • EOSF1 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1381 W: 126 N: 5246] (23469)
  • [2008-03-27 15:12]

Hello Bayram, perfectly well done composition with great details and a very good exposure. Congrats my friend, thanks!

Mario

El enfoque de tan cerca muestra las sorprendentes formas de una manera muy interesante. El ojo te quedó muy bien.
Bonitos colores y un excelente encuadre.
Saludos: J. Ignasi

Hi Bayram, amazing detail of splendid eye of this wonderful snake, great capture with fine details and excellent sharpness, very well done, ciao Silvio

  • Great 
  • joey Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2001 W: 226 N: 6845] (24727)
  • [2008-03-28 8:51]

Great shot Bayram!
Superb detail in the scales and eye.
I love the vibrent colours.
Great composition and a superb POV.
Nice catch-light in the eye.
Very well done Geckoman!

Owlman :-)

Merhaba Bayram,
Selam!!
Oh! This is a good one!
I always read the notes before before through the fine image always, so will understand and learn more on the species!
as for the image, you got the finest details in sharpness and colour in the subject!
great photographer of nature!
greeting
Tony

Hi Bayram,
Very nice closeup, a well composed frame.
Great color, detail, and light. I like the green vegetation of your BG also, it adds well. The snakes markings/coloration are beautiful.
Howard

nefis bir portre. renkleri harika. yeşil yosunlarla daha da bir güzel olmuş. güzel kontrast oluşturmuşlar. göz teması da çok güzel. eline sağlık. iyi geceler.

  • Great 
  • degani Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 220 W: 0 N: 317] (2481)
  • [2008-04-05 12:35]

Hi Bayram,
this snake has a great colours body, its eye seems to look directly in the camera, great picture my friend and great note too, as always
kind regards
franco

Inanilmaz guzellikte bir yilan. Renkleri ve gozleri harika. Detaylar mukemmel Bayram. Selamlar.
Leyla

Clear, sharp and well focused head shot of this leopard snake uncle... The colours are just lovely and natural... Excellent notes too. tfs... regards, cypturk

hi Bayram,
your gallery is a discovery continues,
what about this first floor of snake leopard with excellent details of the scales of skin

greeting my friend
sERGIO

Eliniize sağlık hocam.

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