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Zamenis situla (Leopard Snake)-for JANE


Zamenis situla (Leopard Snake)-for JANE
Photo Information
Copyright: Bayram Gocmen (boreocypriensis) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 4254 W: 160 N: 6261] (16860)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-03-24
Categories: Reptiles
Camera: Olympus C-5060WZ
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Turkish Herpetofauna, Snakes - Serpientes - Serpents, Dedications at TrekNature Part Three, Bayram's dedications [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2008-03-30 22:24
Viewed: 1821
Favorites: 3 [view]
Points: 58
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Zamenis situla (Leopard Snake) [in Turk. Ev Yılanı] (A Portrait) #3

DEAR FRIENDS, THIS PHOTO IS A SPECIAL GIFT TO MY HEARTFELT & BELOVED FRIEND JANE MAGEN (JAYCEE) and HER NICE FAMILY WHOSE LOVED GREATLY THIS BEAUTIFUL SNAKE.

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 captures for general appearance and portrait]. 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 third capture in 2008. The snake is a female from Rasathane (i.e. observatory) (Nifkarligi Tepe, approx. 1350 asl., Izmir). 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.
gerbilratz, spalaxtr, mariki, montivipera, haraprasan, Proframe, nkasot, bahadir, jaycee, Silvio2006, zulfu, xTauruSx, matatur, maurydv, rousettus, uleko, bahar, kmr13777, degani, goldyrs, yasemin, cypturk has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To Proframe: Hello Harryboreocypriensis 2 04-02 17:20
To matatur: Selam Sayın Hocamboreocypriensis 1 03-31 14:15
To cako: Selam Cahit Beyboreocypriensis 1 03-31 14:10
To jaycee: Hello my dear Friend Janeboreocypriensis 1 03-31 14:04
To strahos: Yasu delphos Iliasboreocypriensis 1 03-31 14:02
To bahar: Selam Baharboreocypriensis 1 03-31 13:56
To PaulGana: Thanks Paulboreocypriensis 1 03-31 13:44
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • demeve Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 525 W: 8 N: 1237] (4524)
  • [2008-03-30 22:46]

Hello Bayram,

Very nice close up and rich details, looks like the snake is smiling for the camera.. Well done

Everton

hi Bayram.

goodmorning,

Good low pov and composition.
beautiful colors with good sharpness.

regards Gert

great capture, love how you got her with her head in the air

Hello Bayram, one of your best images, clean, focused and very good composition.

Stunning colours and amazing eye contact...my favourite!! best regards h

Bayram merhaba,
Çok güzel bir portre. Detaylar ve renkler çok hoş. Paylaşımın için teşekkürler. Selamlar
Mustafa

Hello Bayram,

Very nice composition. I like very much the POV. Good focus on the head. Beautiful light and colours.
Cheers,
Mariki

Merhaba Hocam,
Çok güzel bir kare gerçekten. Yılan fotoğraflarında en sevdiğim poz, hareket çok güzel yansımış kareye. Buna benzer Telescopus göndermiştiniz, o da çok güzeldi, elinize sağlık.
Naşit

  • Great 
  • bahar Silver Star Critiquer [C: 30 W: 0 N: 6] (46)
  • [2008-03-31 1:55]
  • [2] [+]

Çok güzel bir fotoğraf. Elinize sağlık.Paylaşımlarınız için de teşekkürler.

Bahar

Hi Bayram,
A fine capture of this leopard snake again. Very well composed with excellent details. A nice dedication too. Thanks a lot for sharing.

Hello Bayram,

Great clarity, note and pose of the snake.
Love the diagonal line of the body and the head.
Wonderful details.
Pity the BG is'nt a little darker so the snake would stand out more against it.
Nevertheless a beauty. TFS!!!

Best wishes, Harry

  • Great 
  • nkasot Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Note Writer [C: 474 W: 0 N: 38] (191)
  • [2008-03-31 3:26]
  • [2]

Bayram hocam bugün 2 tane birden nefis görüntü. Mükemmel hareket içeren bir poz. Netlik müthiş. Gözünde sizi görebiliyorum. Teşekkürler.
Nazım

Hello Bayram,
very nice shot! Very good position of snake's body and excellent pov
tfs
Ilias

Hocam nefis bir poz ve nefis detaylar. Işıklandırmayı da çok iyi ayarlamışsınız. Yılanın tipik boyun kıvırma hareketi karaye mükemmel yansımış. Elinize sağlık. Teşekkürler.
Bahadır

Hi Bayram,

Thank you so much - and I really do love this snake. (Never thought I would ever say I loved a snake). This shows off the face and magnificent eye beautifully. A wonderful picture with excellent lighting, colors and details. She posed perfectly for this and even smiled.

Jane

  • Great 
  • zulfu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 648 W: 0 N: 130] (715)
  • [2008-03-31 11:16]
  • [2]

Wawww. Hocam bu çok harika bir kare. Tam da başını yukarı kaldırıp tipik bir duruştayken görüntüyü yakalamışsınız. Her zamanki gibi makro ustalığınızı göstermişsiniz. oldukaç kibar bir insan Jane'e de güzel bir dedikasyon olmuş. Elinize sağlık.
Mehmet

  • Great 
  • cako Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 499 W: 0 N: 603] (2763)
  • [2008-03-31 11:21]
  • [+]

Merhaba Bayram bey harika bir aksiyon ve netlik ellerinize sağlık.

  • Great 
  • PeterZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1446 W: 76 N: 3153] (10349)
  • [2008-03-31 11:34]

Hello Bayram,
This is a wonderful photo with a fantastic POV. Focus on the head is perfect. Amazing beautiful colours.
Regards,
Peter

Üffff... tam bir aksiyon sahnesi tadinda nefis bir makro calışması Bayram Hocam. Yilanin boyun hareketi harika duruyor. Gözlerde gerçekten gülücük hissi var:) yilanlar sizi çok seviyor bunu biliyorum. Elinize sağlık. Teşekkürler.
Deniz

Hola Bayram, I am progressing from new to old posts today and now am face to face with a beautiful Leopard Snake from an ants-eye-view, a little intimidating from this angle, I must admit. A beautifully executed capture my friend!
Mehmet

Spettacolare immagine, eccellente composizione, POV riflesso nell'occhio, bellissimo il contatto, quasi un'intesa, fra fotografo e serpente, molto buoni i dettagli e magnifici colori.
Grazie e complimenti. Ciao Maurizio

bu güzel çekimi arada kaçırmayayım. peşpeşe güzel çekimlerin geldi Z. situla ile. en güzel renk ve desenli yılanlardan biri. eline sağlık hacı. selamlar.

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2678 W: 173 N: 8282] (26095)
  • [2008-04-01 3:58]

Hello Bayram,
What a brilliant low POV of this beautiful Leopard Snake. Great focus on the eye and excellent details of the shiny skin. Very nice diagonal composition.
Many thanks and regards, Ulla

Hi Bayram, superb portrait of splendid snake with fine details and great sharpness, very well done, ciao Silvio

Hi Bayram,
Excellent shot of this leopard snake in action. Very sharp detail capturing with very nice exposure. Great DOF and an excellent composition.

TFS
Kirti

hi again Bayram,
great elegance and posture of this beautiful snake, it seems to be in the pose of the attac, great picture and note
kind regards
franco

Wonderful portrait of this leopard snake. Masterfully captured. The picture is very sharp and the POV is GREAT! Love it!
TFS
Tibi

I missed this shot, my dear Geckoman..
An amazing pose captured with perfect timing!
very well done!
Goldy

Bu cok guzel buna bayildim. gozleri ayri guzel. garnindaki hersey gozukur. mukemmel fotograf. tesekkurler. Bolkar da kolay gelsin. kendine iyi bak. Leyla

A nice capture of this beautiful portrait of Leopard Snake... Excellent details and composition... Thanks a lot for sharing... cypturk

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