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Small males grasp the larger females?


Small males grasp the larger females?
Photo Information
Copyright: Bayram Gocmen (boreocypriensis) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 4110 W: 156 N: 5317] (14174)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-05-19
Categories: Amphibians
Camera: Olympus C-5060WZ
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Turkish Herpetofauna [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2008-06-07 3:27
Viewed: 737
Points: 52
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Rana holtzi (=R. macrocnemis holtzi) (Taurus Frog) [in Turk. Toros Kurbağası] #6 (Amplexus: embracing)

Dear Friends, thanks for all kind critiques/comments on my previous posting related with the breeding behaviours of Taurus frog in Water.

Today I am posting an another amplexus exhibited by Taurus frog male and females in the breeding season. But this time, in relatively out of lake and natural conditions to take your attention on the sizes of the embracing individuals .

In Taurus frog, breeding typically takes place by males grasping females from above (amplexus). Males of grasp the female just behind the forelimbs (axillary amplexus). Although a generalization can be say on the sizes of the individuals of amplexus amongst the anuran amphibians as “the small males grasp much the larger females”, this argument is not valid for the Taurus Frog. If you can notice this and my previous shots on this subject you could reach this info easily. In Taurus Frog, there are “no any standard on the size of the embracing animals in amplexus”. We also observed frequently the much smaler females (in a rate of approx 1/3) in amplexus during our studies.

The female is smaller in this shot- am I right my friends? I would be indebted to you if you could write your suggestions -especially who are made a dictation- on this! except for Smitha!.

By the way, many thanks to my heartfelt friend Smitha Komath (smitha) from India for her kind interest and special attention to this subject. Thank you very much once more Smitha!.

Hoping that you like this shot!

Cheers,

Bayram

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

Taurus frog is known from only Karagöl Lake (Bolkar Mt, Taurus Range, Ulukışla, Niğde province). See my previous landscape shots -L1 & L2- to see the habitat of the species. This species has been on the IUCN (The World Conservation Union) Red List of “Threatened Species” since 1996 and categorized as an Endangered (EN) species. Also it has been taken under strictly conservation by the Turkish Goverment since 1998. Now, Listed as “Critically Endangered” because of a drastic population decline, estimated to be more than 80% over the last ten years, based on observed declines resulting from the introduction of fish into its breeding lakes (The population of the Karagöl lake has significantly declined since the introduction of fish to the lakes in the 1990s); and because its extent of occurrence is less than 100 km², and its area of occupancy is less than 10 km², all individuals are in a single location, and there is continuing decline in the quality of its habitat and in the number of mature individuals in and around Karagöl. Karagöl is found within a popular tourist area. A road (see my previous post) has recently been completed at near the site potentially increasing the number of visitors. Also it can be report to be declining through over collection for scientific (althought the conservation rules exist, and without taking any permitance from the govermental judgements) and possibly other purposes, and the introduction of predatory carp fishes into the lakes, has led to a significant decline in the population. Some authors are accept this population as a “subspecies” of an another species “Rana macrocnemis” (Uludag Frog). However, this situation is not important. From a conservation point of view it is not absolutely important if scientists define it as a full species or a subspecies of R. macrocnemis, it is a true isolated population and an important evolutionary entity in my opinion and I think it would not be possible to replace if going extinct with other R. macrocnemis populations. I am happy that we are doing a lot of ecological and reproductive studies to extend the knowledge of this frog. A small population has been known from the Çiniligöl lakelet, which is situated approximately 150 m distance of Karagöl and about 60-70 m higher than it. However, during the past three years we could not see any frog in this lakelet.

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

Taurus frog is a relatively small frog living in Turkey with a maximum snout-vent length 75 mm. Temporal stripes always present. In males skin is soft and smooth, however in females warted. Dorsolateral skin folds are obvious. There is an iner vocal sac in males. The back is yellowish dirty gren, yellowish pink or gray-green with blackish-grren, black or brownish maculations which usually have thin lighter coloured rims. The venter usually pinkish-redish, sometimes yellowish and rarely gray-white. The pinkish-redish ventral colouration is generally strongly in females than males. It feeds on insects (such as some tenebrionids, gerrids, etc.).

On its breeding biology there is “no sufficient data” and now we are studying this using subcutaneus (into lenfoidal spaces under the skin) minute tags readible with UV lamb. Each frog is monitoring via this tag. Breeding occurs once a year and takes place in early spring, immediately after the melting of ice and snow. They often assemble in large numbers to breed in a specialised sites (generally shallow areas riched by algs). Male develope prominent dark nuptial pads on the thumps. They grasp the female around the body behind the arms. They active by night and day at this time. Females lay small clumps of spawn usually containing 300-400 eggs, although 10-500 have been recorded by us. The clumps are generally placed shallow areas . Larval development takes place about three month. Newly metamorphosed frogs are about 1.5 cm long. This species appears relatively long lived, most frogs dying in approx. 7-10 years in normal conditions. The info on the breeding biology of the Taurus Frog mentioned above is based on our preliminary studies.

Ps. These shots was taken during a project on the population dynamics and breeding biology of R. holtzi (Taurus Frog) supported by TUBITAK (The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey).

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. Baran, I. & Atatür, M. K. (1998). Turkish Herpetofauna (Amphibians & Reptiles). Ministry of Environment, Ankara. 214 pp.
nkasot, cataclysta, gannu, zulfu, anel, xTauruSx, maurydv, eng55, gerbilratz, bahadir, Gert-Paassen, jaycee, smitha, nglen, Silvio2006, rousettus, Luis52, vanderschelden, montivipera, CeltickRanger, goldyrs, yasemin, cypturk has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To goldyrs: hahaha:)boreocypriensis 1 06-11 23:15
To yasemin: :Dboreocypriensis 1 06-07 14:15
To yasemin: :Dboreocypriensis 1 06-07 14:15
To smitha: Hi Smithaboreocypriensis 1 06-07 10:45
To anel: Hi Anneboreocypriensis 1 06-07 04:38
To gannu: :)boreocypriensis 1 06-07 03:56
To cataclysta: Hi & Thanks Krzysztofboreocypriensis 1 06-07 03:39
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Critiques [Translate]

Hi Bayram
I finnally found some time for TN ;-) Another great educational shot. Perfect informative note and great ilustration of the subject
As always very good job
Best wishes my friend
Krzysztof

Merhaba hocam ampleksusun bir başka güzel hali. Doğal koşullar altında mükemmel bir kare. Sorduğunuz soruya gelince çok açık görülüyor. Bildiğim kadarı ile benzer bir durum bağımsız ampleksus gösteren bazı dendrobatid türlerinde de var. Yani erkek ve dişi biyüklüğü üzerine bir genelleme yapmak olası değil. Elinize sağlık.

Nazım

  • Great 
  • gannu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 982 W: 4 N: 2512] (11673)
  • [2008-06-07 3:52]
  • [+]

Hello Bayram, You really are upto something friend. You are behind these fellaas having a very merry time. Excellent. You know what. My son came back from his school picnic and told me that he saw a lot of frog's on his picnic spot. I just remembered you. Hats off. Kerala has a lot of frogs. Tempted to drop in India? Ganesh

  • Great 
  • zulfu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 561 W: 0 N: 100] (609)
  • [2008-06-07 4:04]

Yine harika bir ampleksus çifti Bayram hocam. Elinize sağlık.
Cevabı siz vermişsiniz saten:). Iyi hafta sonu.
Mehmet

  • Great 
  • anel Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1211 W: 0 N: 2132] (9006)
  • [2008-06-07 4:33]
  • [+]

hello Bayram,
Very educational notes and somehow funny to read that they are not any standard on the size of the embracing animals..
Excellent and sharp picture, looks a little repellent to me.
Un grand merci
Anne

Nefis bir ampleksus örneği daha. Elinize sağlık Bayram hocam.
Deniz

Un'altra splendida immagine di amplesso ascellare e le relative note di documentazione scientifica dove le eccezioni statistiche confermano la regola generale sulla "biodiversità" anche nella stessa specie. Straordinaria come sempre la definizione di ogni dettaglio, meravigliosi i colori. Grazie e complimenti. Ciao Maurizio

  • Great 
  • eng55 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 412 W: 3 N: 427] (1335)
  • [2008-06-07 7:06]

Merhaba Bayram Bey,
Güzel bir fotograf.Alttaki dişinin hali pek iç açıcı gözükmüyor:)Detaylar,pozlama ve netlik kusursuz.
Tebrikler,ellerinize sağlık!

Hello Bayram, I pity the females!!, wonderful colouration and definition. Your notes as always are perfect compliment to the image... best and kind regards, h

Erkeğin ağırlığından dişi neredeyse ezilmek üzere hocam. Amplexusun bir başka özelliğini pek güzel ele almışsınız.
Elinize sağlık.
Bahadır

Hello Bayram,

what are ther many species of frogs there.
Another nice capture with much details.

Gert

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1859 W: 8 N: 4820] (15621)
  • [2008-06-07 10:05]

Hi Bro Bayaram,

Seems to me you are more interested in their surroundings than they are. Any place, any time, any size female is fine with these male frogs. Another super shot this one showing clearly the positions. I'm still looking at the eyes - beautiful eyes.

Jane

Hello Bayram,
Excellent capture of the Taurus frogs in amplexus. The POV clearly shows the size of the mating frogs. The female is indeed smaller than the male. Well, you have given me a new insight on the reproduction of the frogs. So far, I used to believe the females are grabbed by much smaller males. This picture proves I was wrong.
Thanks for the picture and the notes,
Best,
Smitha.

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 2085 W: 9 N: 5843] (22132)
  • [2008-06-07 12:29]

Hi Bayram. A good close up of the Frogs with good detail and colours. your use of the light has given fine detail . well done TFS.
Nick..

I like a lot, Bayram, an other superb shoot of this splendid series, amazing details and wonderful sharpness, very well done, have a good week end, ciao Silvi

Saygideger Bayram hocam. Kurbagalar serisi ne zaman bitecek...Bir ansiklopediyi dolduracak kadar faydali bilgiler, o kadar da nefis resimler. Gercekten yalniz kardesim oldugun icin degil ,emek harcayan caliskan bir egitmen ve zoolog oldugun icin de seninle gurur duyuyorum.Paylasim icin sagol, ellerine saglik, basarilarinin devamini DILERIM..Saygilar iyi sanslar....Leyla

  • Great 
  • lousat Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1081 W: 6 N: 2996] (11102)
  • [2008-06-07 16:15]

Hi Bayram,you're building a very sexy frog's gallery,excellent work this time too,perfect colors and details,thanks for the great idea and for the perfect realisation,Luciano

Bolkarlardan gönderdiğin en güzel çekimlerden biri. gerçi diğerleri de güzel ama bu daha da güzel geldi. eline sağlık. bilgiler oldukça faydalı oldu. hem bu nadir formu tanımak/tanıtmak hem de canlıların ilginç dünyalarını öğretmek açısından çok iyi.
iyi geceler, selamlar.

  • Great 
  • Luis52 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1025 W: 5 N: 2876] (10399)
  • [2008-06-07 17:41]

Hola Bayram.
Aqui otra muy bella foto de este par de Ranitas. Intereante como siempre es leer Tus notas escritas que son de gran valor.
Un saludos Bayram.
Luis52.

Realmente impresionante la toma: luz, colores ... aunque por sus expresiones parecen no disfrutarlo jajaja.
Un abrazo Bayram.

Merhaba Hocam,

Bahsettiğiniz durumu çok iyi gösteren bir kare. Belgelerle konuşuyorsunuz :) Elinize ve emeğinize sağlık.
Saygılar
Naşit

Hello Bayram,
So busy and still on the list.
Well done
Good sharpness for instance.
TFS
Annick

  • Great 
  • Mana Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1757 W: 26 N: 5133] (16804)
  • [2008-06-08 19:20]

Hi Bayram,
Outstanding shot of these mating frogs and you show a fabulous phenomenon here. Your notes are highly educational and you made me learn something new today. Very neat and sharp image with lovely colours and markings on its body. Superb lighting and exposure. Excellent POV and composition. Kudos.
TFS.
Sumon

hello Bayram

again you did your paparazzi excellent job to get this
wonderful image, fine POV and DOF, excellent brightness
with great sharpness and details, TFS

Asbed

You're getting naughty, my bro!
;)
Goldy

Kurbagalarin ciftlesme fotograflari cok ilginc...Nasil da yakalan o ani ve ceken hayret...Sen artik specialist olmussun kurbagalar hakkinda da...Notlarin ve bilgilerin mukemmel ve egitici....Calismalarinda basarilar...Merih

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