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Blind & Limbless


Blind & Limbless
Photo Information
Copyright: Bayram Gocmen (boreocypriensis) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 4170 W: 160 N: 5650] (15130)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-05-11
Categories: Reptiles
Camera: Olympus C-5060WZ
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Turkish Herpetofauna-II, Reptiles - Lizards, Chuckwallas, Agamas & Tegus 3 [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2008-06-17 2:04
Viewed: 866
Favorites: 2 [view]
Points: 56
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Blanus strauchi (Anatolian/Turkish Worm Lizard, Strauch’s Amphisbaenian) [in Turk. Kör Kertenkele](A PORTRAIT)

[Click here to see WHOLE appearance]

Worm lizards (family Amphisbaenidae) are a group of about 160 much specialised snake-like reptiles, belonging to 16 genera that in nearly all cases are completely limbless. But some retain internal vestiges of the pectoral and pelvic girdles. Worm lizards spend most of their time underground and are only occasionally encountered on the surface. The skull is heavy and modified for burrowing and the skin is very loose. Many elongate reptiles with small limbs or none at all have one lung very reduced in size or absent (like a snake!); usually this is the left one but in Worm lizards it is the right. In general, amphisbaenians show little or no sexual dimorphism in body size. They are also elongate, slender, fossorial reptiles with scales arranged in annular rings. In some species, a small eye is visible under a translucent head scale, but in others the eye is not visible at all. Worm lizards exhibit a variety of head shapes (keelheaded, round-headed, shovel-headed) and a generally cylindrical body shape. In some species the snout is conical and in others it is blunt. They have no external ear openings (like a snake!). The tail is always short but may exhibit a variety of shapes, including rounded and blunt-tipped, pointed, or dorsoventrally flattened. Most amphisbaenid species are capable of autotomizing the tail, but none can regenerate a new tail (like a snake!). All worm lizards have pleurodont dentition (tooths are settled on teeth-bridge laterally), with varying numbers of teeth occurring on the tooth-bearing elements of the skull. Many species are pallid in appearance, presumably related to their subterranean existence. However, some species exhibit striking patterns of coloration, including dark checkerboard patterns on light backgrounds. Still others are a solid brown, yellow, or grey dorsally, with a paler underside. Amphisbaenids exhibit a huge size range, from tiny worm-like species of 10 cm maximum length to some of the largest known amphisbaenians of more than 80 cm maximum length in some species; most species fall within the range of 25–40 cm. Most species feed on invertebrates, especially ants and termites. The majority lay eggs.

They occur in the west and east Mediterranean area, Arabia, tropical and southern Africa, central and South America and the West Indies. Blanus cinereus (Iberian Worm Lizard - It is distributed in much of Spain and Portugal except the north and also Morocco and Algeria) and B. strauchi (Anatolian/Turkish Worm Lizard - It is distributed mainly in Anatolia including the Aegean islands of Greece and also N. Iraq, Syria and Lebanon) are the only two amphisbaenian occurring in Europe. These two species are fairly similar and unlikely to be confused with it in the field, since the two live a great distance from one another. However Anatolian Worm Lizard lacks the skin fold found in Iberian Worm Lizard where the head meets the body, its head is somewhat wedge-shaped and its snout overhangs the lower jaw.

Anatolian Worm Lizard is a limbless lizard with a total length up to 19-20 cm. The head covered with symetrical plates. At first sight, looks like a rather plump earthworm. Head small and pointed with tiny eyes beneath the skin, visible as black spots from the outside. The body and short tail with a pointed end are covered with square or rectangular shaped soft scales arranged in rings (annuli). The number of these scales around the mid-body is changed between 32-42. There is a longitudinal groove on each flank. The body is often bluish brown or sometimes reddish grey.

It is rarely seen on surface of ground, although may come up occasionally, particularly in heavy rain, at evening or at night. Otherwise entirely subterranean. Spends a lot of time in burrows and is usually found when turning stones and logs, when ground is being dug or ploughed, and when plants are uprooted. Often occurs in rather moist places, both in soils with a lot of humus and in ones that are predominantly sandy. Occurs up to 1,400 m in Turkey. Eats ants, insect larvae and other arthropods which it often appears to locate by the sound of their movements. Part of the tail can be shed but does not regenerate. When threatened by a predator, may twist tightly round twigs or other objects. Females usually lay one or two elongate eggs.

In Turkey, Anatolian/Turkish Worm Lizard is known from the southern parts of W Anatolia, S and SE Anatolia and represented with three subspecies [based on the number of the precloacal pores, the contact situation-absent, narrow or wide- between the second supralabial and prefrontal shields, the number of body annuli along the ventral line and the number of segments per midbody annulus]:

(a) B. s. strauchi - lives in W Anatolia of Turkey and some of adjacent islands of Greece (such as Rhodos and Kos)
(b) B. s. bedriagae - lives in the vicinities of Kınık (Xanthos) and Fethiye at SW Anatolia.
(c) B. s. aporus - lives in the Mediterranean area of east of Antalya and SE Anatolia. This race is also found in N. Iraq, Syria and Lebanon.

Bayram

Etymology: The name of “Amphisbaen” come after their muscular ability to move backwards and forwards. [amphi: on both sides, i.e. front and back side + baen (Gr.)]: move].

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. Alexander, A. A. (1966). Taxonomy And variation of Blanus strauchi (Amphisbaenia, Reptilia). Copeia, 2: 205-224.
4. Göçmen, B., Disi, A. M. & Yildiz, M. Z. (2008). On the occurrence of Blanus strauchi aporus Werner, 1898 and Chalcides guentheri Boulenger, 1887 in the Mediterranean Ecozone of Syria. Zoology in the Middle East, 43: 69-74.
5. Grzimek, B., (2003). Grzimek’s Animal Life Encyclopedia, Second Edition Volume 7 Reptiles Schlager Group Inc. 571 pp.
haraprasan, zulfu, mariki, xTauruSx, nkasot, JPlumb, ammodytes, Argus, mayuresh, marhowie, maurydv, eng55, Jamesp, jaycee, yasemin, bahadir, NinaM, CeltickRanger, loot, montivipera, cypturk has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To loot: Hello My dear Friend Lootboreocypriensis 1 06-19 15:02
To NinaM: Hi Francineboreocypriensis 2 06-17 20:05
To mayuresh: Hi Mayureshboreocypriensis 1 06-17 06:40
To marhowie: Hi Howardboreocypriensis 1 06-17 06:32
To betsie: Hiboreocypriensis 5 06-17 06:28
To JPlumb: Hi Johnboreocypriensis 1 06-17 03:42
To nkasot: Sağol Nazımboreocypriensis 1 06-17 03:23
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Critiques [Translate]

Hi Bayram,
A nice closeup shot of this blind and limbless worm lizard. Superb details and a lovely composition. Thanks a lot for sharing.

hi Bayram,
very nice and clear close-up, showing us every detail of strauchi's head and nech scales, covered eye and nostril.
thanks for showing us these details, these shots are very rare!
Ilias

  • Great 
  • zulfu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 598 W: 0 N: 117] (669)
  • [2008-06-17 2:46]

Bayram hocam yine mükemmel bir makro çekim. Tüm baş detayları ve pullar ve plak altında kalan körelmiş gözü çok iyi sergilemişsiniz.
Elinize emeğinize sağlık.
Mehmet

Hi Bayram
You could at least have wiped his face for this pose!! Have a grat day.
Regards
Betsie

Hello Bayram,

Excellent close-up of this worm lizard. Excellent sharpness. Good management of the light. Very good natural colours.
Cheers,
Mariki

Hocam nefis bir yakın çekim. Tüm detaylar ve pullanma karakterleri ortada. Elinize sağlık.
Teşekkürler.
Deniz

Another great detailed capture of this rare seen amphisbaenian species Bayram Hocam. I do not think that someone get such perfect shot showing all diagnostic features. Many thanks!
Greetings from Cyprus,
Nazım

Hello Bayram, very interesting post on this Turkish Worm Lizard, with a very good close shot. Your notes are excellent. I found myself going between your notes and the shot itself. I note the size and shape of that head, huge in relation to the body. The scales are different from a snakes in their arrangement. I found the eyes interesting, are they vestigial, or does the animal maybe see light? Very excellent presentation.

Thanks, John

Merhaba Hocam, labda görmüştük ama bu şeklilde ilk kez görüyorum. Gözleri çok ilginç. Yaptığınız herşeyle bişeyler öğretebiliyorsunuz. Sizin öğrenciniz olmak büyük bi şans. Paylaşım için teşekkürler.
İyi çalışmalar
Filiz

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2765 W: 150 N: 7969] (24819)
  • [2008-06-17 4:54]

Hello Bayram,
Another fine close portrait of this remarkable lizard, the Turkish Worm Lizard. The scale structure and degenerate eye are shown sharply with good detail and lighting.
TFS this eye-opener!
Best wishes, my friend,
Cheers,
Ivan

Hello Bayram,
very nice close-up shot of blind and limbless worm lizard,perfect sharp and good details,
well done,
TFS.

Hi Bayram,
Great follow-up on this blind reptile..Now does the eye have some sensory function? Not totally blind is it?
I used an Olympus C8080 awhile back. R U using manual focusing and/or a close-up diopter?
Great post mf,
Howard

Ciao Bayram, splendid portrait of this strange lizard like a snake with great details and excellent sharpness, very well done, ciao Silvio

Spettacolare macro, bellissima composizione con il primo piano sulla diagonale, ottimi dettagli, forse eccessivi i riflessi dovuti alla ripresa molto ravvicinata. Grazie e complimenti. Ciao Maurizio

  • Great 
  • eng55 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 474 W: 3 N: 474] (1475)
  • [2008-06-17 7:24]

Merhaba Bayram Bey,
Bu açıdan baş kısım detayları çok iyi anlaşılıyor.Yakından çekilmesine rağmen başarılı ve etkili bir çalışma olmuş.
Selamlar,ellerinize sağlık!

  • Great 
  • Jamesp Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1303 W: 0 N: 5097] (15194)
  • [2008-06-17 8:52]

Hi Bayram

Amazing work - excellent close up with wonderful detail. A masterful shot.

James

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1909 W: 8 N: 4974] (16081)
  • [2008-06-17 9:14]

Hi L'il Brother,

I should have known you would have come back with a great view of the face of the Worm Lizard! I'm so glad you did - I was curious about it yesterday. If I printed out all of your photos and notes I would have an excellent text book.

Jane

Hi brother..Another exellence shot...Perfect portre and good edicational information you give us...Good work well done again...Take care, you working very hard...Wish you all the best from all of us... Leyla

Dayicim ellerine saglik ama bence sen manzara , cicek ya da sevimli hayvanciklar resmi koy ....Herkes bakiyor ben bakamam hic senden cekmedim ...Gurtcuklar midemi bulandirir...Hayranim sana dayi nasil bunlari elleyip ders verin....Bana resim hediye edeceginde manzara ya da deniz resmi yolla, kiskandim beklerim.... Iyi calismalar dayicim...Merih

Bayram hocam harika olmuş. körelmiş gözleri de güzel güstermişsiniiz. Elinize sağlık.
Bahadır

  • Great 
  • NinaM Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 654 W: 0 N: 1623] (5300)
  • [2008-06-17 14:16]
  • [+]

Oh, Bayram, that's a tough one, this lizard almost a snake... ouf! What a strange creature, yet very fascinated and I read those notes with curiosity... and wonders and questions marks. Where are they from, I mean why the evolved the way they did... it reminds me a little of the salamanders, I don't know why, a fiery nature living under rocks and plants. Thank you for this useful natural history lesson! We learn about life and its diversity every day here.

Francine

Nunca había visto de tan carca a esta especie Bayram. Buen acercamiento ya que esa toma , por la forma del gusano , sus brillos y colores, ha de tener una gran dificultad. Originalidad ya que no se publican muchas fotografías de este estilo.
Saludos: Josep Ignasi Tejedor.

  • Great 
  • joey Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1883 W: 245 N: 6168] (21966)
  • [2008-06-17 14:30]

Great close-up Geckoman!!!
Stunningly detailed and razor-sharp!
Very good lighting and colours.
Excellent composition too.
The DOF is brilliant!

Well done, Bayram!
Joe

amazing close up, TFS Ori

  • Great 
  • gannu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 996 W: 4 N: 2570] (11874)
  • [2008-06-18 2:12]

Hello Bayram,
Superb details of worm lizard. Lovely composition. Ganesh

hello Bayram

excellent portrait shot of this reptile, fine POV,
i love the way he is diagonnaly placed on the frame
and his eye-contact with you, TFS

Asbed

  • Great 
  • loot Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5747 W: 606 N: 3505] (9407)
  • [2008-06-19 5:12]
  • [4] [+]

Hi Bayram

Fascinating stuff my friend. I enjoy these wonderful reptilian creatures more and more, every day and of course, thanks to you, the source of visual and written material has increased, easily as much as 10 fold on the TrekNature site. Wonderful, excellent, astonishing, enthralling, exceptional, first-rate, and captivating information keeps streaming in and it is a totally pleasurable joyride to see and learn all from these useful contributions.

A while back I only had a vague knowledge about the existence of- and the general fact that one do find various chameleons, lizards, monitors, and crocodiles, but the learning curve was great here on the TrekNature site. Fact is that it has increased dramatically ever since you're around. So much so that today I even have a variety of herpetological themes, where (for example) only the list of the various types of lizards alone by far outweighs the totality of my preceding knowledge base on the subject of reptiles.

Just by looking at a broad overview of Lazertilia (where a lizard in not just a lizard) then a fascinating picture emerges of numerous types of Lizards in each of these groups, example:
Casque-headed lizards,
Spiny-tailed lizards,
Earless lizards,
Horned lizards,
Side-blotched lizards,
Tree lizards,
Ground lizards,
Collared lizards,
Leopard lizards,
Club-tail lizards,
Wood lizards,
Legless lizards,
Blind lizards,
Plated lizards,
Night lizards,
Wall lizards,
Spectacled lizards,
Glass lizards,
Knob-scaled lizards,
Whip-tailed lizards.

This also includes the various types of:
Geckos,
Agamas,
Basilisks,
Chuckwallas,
Tegus,
Blind-worms,
Slow-worms,
Skinks,
Monsters,
Dragons,
Monitors.

Ok, so what's this all about. The bottom-line to all this is the fact that although you have shown us so much which we've appreciated, it seems there is still a heck of a lot you have not shown us yet. This means that you still have a great task at hand and therefore we hopefully will see you around the TrekNature site for many years to come. How's that? Ok, I believe I can include a little (chuckle) here.

Good work Bayram and TFS.
Regards
Loot

Merhaba Hocam,
Harika bir kare daha, körelmiş göz harika görünüyor. Gerçekten değerli bir kare, paylaştığınız için teşekkürler.

Saygılar
Naşit

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