Trachylepis aurata (Golden Skink)#1

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Trachylepis aurata (Golden Skink)#1
Photo Information
Copyright: Bayram Gocmen (boreocypriensis) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3337 W: 139 N: 3764] (9894)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-04-08
Categories: Reptiles
Camera: Olympus C-5060WZ
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Turkish Herpetofauna, RARE or SIGNIFICANT contributions to TN 3, Reptiles - Skinks 1 [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2008-05-05 0:24
Viewed: 617
Points: 76
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Trachylepis aurata (Golden Skink) [in Turk. Tıknaz Kertenkele]

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.
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Critiques [Translate]

Bayram Hocam günaydın. Anlaşılan yine bir seriye başlıyoruz:) #1'i gördüm.
Nefis bir çekim olmuş. Parlak pullardan dolayı pozlaması zor olan bu skink türü için fazlasıyla detay elde edilmiş.
Elinize sağlık.
Bahadır

  • Great 
  • nkasot Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Note Writer [C: 354 W: 0 N: 38] (183)
  • [2008-05-05 0:46]
  • [2]

Hocam Bahadır'a katılıyorum. Hakikaten zor bir iş ve layıkıyla detaylı bir görünüm elde etmişsiniz.
Elinize sağlık.
Selamlar,
Nazım

  • Great 
  • anel Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1079 W: 0 N: 1654] (7206)
  • [2008-05-05 0:58]
  • [+]

hello Bayram,
What an amazing shape for this skink. Excellent sharpness and presentation. Thanks also for the very concise note.
Best regards
Anne

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

Tek kelimeyle mükemmel bir çekim. Tüm detaylar ve hayvanın nefis pozu ile müthiş notlar çekimi "sıradışı" yapmış.
Elinize sağlık.

Mehmet

Merhaba Dr.Bayram,
Selam!!
Nicely captured on this Golden Skink!
great pose with excellent sharpness, good colour and details in this shot
always thank you for the notes
greeting
Tony

Great macro capture in all aspects Bayram Hocam. Although this beautiful (L. aurat: golden) skink has a skin consist of shiny scales, you could photographed it in well-composed and detailed. Thanks for sharing this beauty.
Regards,
Deniz

Hi Bayram!
All the time when I am visiting your herpetological gallery on TN I think "nothing more can be added! because, how many species can live in Cyprus + Turkey?" :) And I am always very surprised, because all the time you are showing us something new! It is really great to be a herpetologist (like you are) and to live in area with so huge diversity of these creatures! :)
So summarizing -thank you for another interesting presentation! and... i am waiting for the next one! ;)
Friendly yours,
Radek

Hello Bayram,

Very nice presentation of this skink. Very good POV, DOF and sharpness. Good natural colours.
Cheers,
Mariki

Hi Bayram,
A lovely capture of this plumpy looking skink. Is it pregnant or just devoured some insect. Sharp details and excellent composition. Thanks a lot for sharing.

Hi Bayram, this skink is perfect, colours, shape and details. excellent composition and very good notes. best regards h

  • Great 
  • eng55 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 335 W: 3 N: 370] (1093)
  • [2008-05-05 7:03]

Merhaba Bayram Bey,
Çok güzel bir çalışma.Detaylar,keskinlik,kadraj hepsi 4/4 lük.Verdiğiniz açıklayıcı bilgiler de mükemmel.Selamlar,ellerinize sağlık!

BAYRAM BU NE GUZEL BIR SKINK! ADI GIBI TOMBUL:) COK GUZEL GORUNTULEMISSIN ELINE SAGLIK. SELAMLAR.
LEYLA

Hello Bayram,

Good capture and nice pose from this Reptile, beautiful colors and detail.

gert

Hello Bayram, nice shot of this skink, I've searched a lot for this skink at Rhodos but i wasn't lucky!
Tfs
Ilias

Hello Bayram,
The quality of your photos is very good the last months. So is this one. Great sharpness and very beautiful natural colours. Excellent POV, pose, composition and DOF.
Regards,
Peter

  • Great 
  • Mana Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1687 W: 20 N: 4738] (15476)
  • [2008-05-05 8:41]

Hi Bayram,
Outstanding shot of this Golden Skink with lovely colours and markings on its delicate and silky scales. Great pose captured with superb lighting and exposure levels. The rocky place looks fine and the skink is well positioned to hide at the slightest pretext. Excellent POV and composition. Kudos.
TFS.
Sumon

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1864 W: 2 N: 4738] (18250)
  • [2008-05-05 9:25]
  • [+]

Hi Bayram. A fine close up of this Skink.once again good detail and colour. You have captured the markings so well. with a nice POV. good notes too,
Nick..

Bu sevimli kertenkelemizi tümüyle net çekebilmişsin Bayram, kutlarım dostum.
Mehmet

Hi Bayram,

Another wonderful Skink - perfect from head to tail. I don't know how you get such great shots of these creatures. The skin is beautiful with wonderful colors and shadings. Once again I love the eye and the little feet.

Jane

What a lovely shot, my dear friend...Very different pose and a lovely subject.
Cheers!
Goldy

  • Great 
  • cako Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 327 W: 0 N: 280] (1615)
  • [2008-05-05 10:20]
  • [+]

Merhaba Bayram bey sayenizde kerkenkelerin bile türlerinin olduğunu ve bunların güzelliklerinide öğreniyoruz nefis bir poz olmuş ellerinize sağlık.

how do u freeze all these reptiles! u r very lucky, great pic :) Ori

  • Great 
  • joey Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1555 W: 233 N: 5087] (17953)
  • [2008-05-05 11:03]

Hello Geckoman!
What a great capture of this smooth, sleek Skink :-)
Very sharp with excellent detail.
Brilliant lighting and great exposure.
Superb composition.
Very well done!

Cheers Bayram,
Joe

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2295 W: 163 N: 6692] (21138)
  • [2008-05-05 11:49]

Hello Bayram,
This is a bautiful Skink very well captured. Excellent sharpness and fine colours. I like its pose and the composition is perfect.
TFS and kind regards, Ulla

Hello Bayram,
Good photo of this Skink.
Attached is a really excellent in-depth photographer's note.
Congrats
TFS
Annick

  • Great 
  • Juyona Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 2073 W: 6 N: 1848] (12714)
  • [2008-05-05 12:40]
  • [+]

Hola Bayram,
excelente trabajo,
detalles y bella realización...
sensacional pov.
saludos

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2413 W: 132 N: 6649] (20861)
  • [2008-05-05 12:47]
  • [+]

Hello bayram,
This Golden Skink is a real beauty and you have made an excellent capture of it with practically the whole body sharp and seen from a great POV.
Nice composition too.
Tfs this beauty, my friend.
Best wishes, Ivan

Altra bellissima immagine, ottimi POV e DOF, molto bello i taglio compositivo, eccellente nitidezza e bellissimio colori. Grazie e complimenti. Ciao Maurizio

Hi Bayram

A fine capture of this large skink. Its markings are quite similar to our Eastern Water Skink (Elamprus quoyii), which is about the same size and lives along streams.
Good POV and sharpness.

Chris

İki gündür, TNden uzak sayılır. yeni gördüğüm bu güzel çekim için kutlarım. açısı, netliği ve renkleriyle çok güzel. eline sağlık. selamlar.

  • Great 
  • Jamesp Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1223 W: 0 N: 4446] (13284)
  • [2008-05-05 23:05]
  • [+]

Hi Bayram

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

Just back from Ireland - sorry missed some postings.

James

Merhaba Hocam,
Asıl konunuza döndünüz nihayet, hem de harika bir fotoğraf ile. Detaylar ve netlik harika, notlar da her zamanki gibi mükemmel.
Ayrıca normalde çok parlak görünen, deyim yerindeyse ayna gibi olan bu hayvanı bu netlik ve detaylarda birlikte fotoğraflamanız da konudaki ustalığınızı sergiliyor, elinize sağlık.
Saygılar
Naşit

Hi Bayram, splendid metallic skin with great details and excellent sharpness, perfect focus and good colors, very well done, ciao Silvio

Hi Bayram,

Excellent note as usual, very nice photo of this handsome lizard.

Thanks,
John

hello Bayram

comparing your Golden Skink #2 with this one (#1),
i love much more this one because of your POV
that is at the level of the subject, also fine POV
with excellent sharpness and details, TFS

Asbed

  • Great 
  • chiliu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1549 W: 0 N: 1182] (6482)
  • [2008-05-06 20:03]

Hi Bayram,
Very nice close-up! Excellent detail and great natural colour.
Chi

Hi Bayram,
it's always a pleasure to look at your latest pictures! Again, the perfect portrait of a species I did'nt even know it existed! Thank you for presenting the slide and the detailed comment.
Best egards
Dietrich

Another beautiful photo of this chunky skink. Good sharpness and details with camouflaged colours and great composition... tfs... warm regards uncle... cypturk

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