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Lacerta trilineata (Balkan Green Lizard)


Lacerta trilineata (Balkan Green Lizard)
Photo Information
Copyright: Bayram Gocmen (boreocypriensis) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 4173 W: 160 N: 5678] (15200)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-05-10
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: 2008-06-29 2:32
Viewed: 892
Points: 70
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Lacerta trilineata "cariensis" (Balkan Green Lizard) [in Turk. İri Yeşil Kertenkele, Yılan Ebesi] (A female)

A large and agile lizard with a snout typically narrow, but back of head is broad. In adult Balkan Green lizards, total length reaches up to about 33-50 cm, tail often twice body length or more (Snouth-vent length is approx. 16 cm or more). In first sight, it often likes a “big version” of the Green Lizard (Lacerta viridis). Thus these two lizard species can be very difficult to distinguish at times, especially as both are very variable. However they can be easily distinguished from each other. In Balkan Green Lizard, rostral plate typically in contact with nostrils; 2 postnasal plate; typically there are relatively “small scales in temporal region”, so numerous (often over 20). Dorsal scale number around the mid-body is between 42 and 55. The belly plates are arranged in “8 longitudinal rows”, the number of pores on the lower femoral region is ranged between 12 and 19. Supraciliary granules localized between supraocular plates and supraciliar scales are usually in a “continuous” and intermittent row.

Adults fairly uniform bright green (more rarely yellow or brownish) generally with fine black stippling on back. The belly is yellowish-white in males, pinkish yellow in females. In adult males, there may be a light blue coloration on the sides of head. Juveniles usually brown (babies frequently dark), often with three or five narrow light stripes (this number is 2 or 4 in Green Lizard!) or a few light spots on flanks, or dark spots on midback. The venter whitish, yellowish, light green or rarely bluish.

Balkan Green Lizard is present from coastal Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro, inland to Serbia, east to Bulgaria, southeastern Romania, Albania, Macedonia, Greece (including the Ionian Islands and many Aegean Islands including Crete, Lesvos and Rhodes), and western and central Turkey. It ranges from sea level to at least 1,600 m asl.

Its natural habitats are Mediterranean-type shrubby vegetation, sandy shores, arable land, pastureland, plantations and rural gardens. It can also be found close to streams and ditches. Thanks to its large size, it feeds on a wide variety of invertebrates, including robust beetles and locusts. It is an egg-laying species and a female lays 7-18 eggs.

In Turkey, this species is represented with six subspecies.

1. L. t. cariensis – known from Izmir, Aydin and Denizli provinces.
2. L. t. ciliciensis – distributed in İçel (Mersin), Adana and Kahramanmaraş provinces.
3. L. t. diplochondrodes – known from the provinces of Muğla and Isparta.
4. L. t. dobrogica – known from Turkish Thrace.
5. L. t. galatiensis – known from the provinces of Ankara, Eskişehir and Kastamonu.
6. L. t. isaurica - distributed in Konya province.

Beyond this subspecific differentiation, there are also two closely related species in Turkey. One of them, Lacerta pamphylica (Pamphylic Green Lizard) which is distributed in the vicinity of Alanya (Antalya province situated in the west of the Mediterranean Anatolia) seems to be endemic for Anatolia. The other related, relatively semi-arboreal species, Lacerta media (Levant Green Lizard) is known from the eastern parts Central Anatolia (representing with the subspecies, L. m. media) plus Hatay province (representing with L. m. wolterstroffi). The later species also distributed in the Mediterranean ecozones of Syria (L. m. walterstroffi), Lebanon, Israel and Jordan. In Jordan, Israel end Lebanon it is represented with the race of L. m. israelica.

Bayram

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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. Disi, A. M., Modry, D., Necas, P. & Rifai, L. (2001). Amphibians and Reptiles of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. Edition Chimaira, 408 pp.
4. Baran, I. & Atatür, M. K. (1998). Turkish Herpetofauna (Amphibians & Reptiles). Ministry of Environment, Ankara. 214 pp.
5. Schmidtler, J. F. (1986). Orientalische Smaragdeidechsen: 2. Über Systematic, synekologie von Lacerta trilineata, L. media, L. pamphylica (Sauria: Lacertidae). Salamandra, 22: 126-146.
6. Arnold, N.E. (1978). A Field Guide to the Reptiles and Amphibians of Britain and Europe.Collins, London, UK, 288 pp.

nkasot, zulfu, rousettus, uleko, lousat, haraprasan, bahadir, goldyrs, xTauruSx, nglen, jaycee, mariki, Gert-Paassen, yasemin, cypturk, eng55, SelenE, alikox, ammodytes, jpdenk, CeltickRanger, montivipera, gracious, Miss_Piggy, maurydv has marked this note useful
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To Miss_Piggy: Hi Annaboreocypriensis 1 07-02 13:32
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To lousat: Hi Lucianoboreocypriensis 1 06-29 15:30
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Critiques [Translate]

Kamuflajlı bir başka tür. Nefis çekmişsiniz hocam. Resim küçük haldeyken hayvanı farketmek zor oldu:). Bilgiler ve özellikle Yeşil Kertenkle ile karşılaştırma ile sunmanız farkı anlama bakımından da önemli. Elinize sağlık.
Nazım

  • Great 
  • zulfu Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 600 W: 0 N: 117] (669)
  • [2008-06-29 2:59]

Hocam harika kamuflajlı bir İri Yeşil Kertenkele. Kompozisyon, ışık ve detaylar nefis. elinize sağlık.
Mehmet

ben de uyuyup kaldınız sanmıştım, maşallah herkes burda:)) eline sağlık,yeşiller arasında bizim yeşil pek bir güzel çıkmış. eline sağlık hacı. uşaklara da selamlar.

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2585 W: 170 N: 7879] (24911)
  • [2008-06-29 3:15]

Hello Bayram,
What a beautiful Lizard and so nicely camouflaged in the grass. I like the fine black stippling and the colours are beautiful. Excellent sharpness too. Well done!
TFS and best wishes, Ulla

Hi Bayram,its incredible the lot of the reptils living in your country,this have fantastics colors and a great capacity of made a perfect camouflage as your last pic,the details and the sharpenss are perfects as your style,i think isn't easy take pics like that,my best compliments,have a nice Sunday,Luciano

Hi Bayram,
A lovely capture of this beautiful green lizard. Superb details and a very good composition. Thanks a lot for sharing.

Hello Bayram,
Another beautiful photo in a great composition. The sharpness and details are fantastic. The focus on the head is excellent. Great camouflaged and clear colours.
Very good POV.
Regards,
Peter

Merhaba hocam, iri yeşil kertenkele nin nefis bir çekimi. SDZ, poz ve kompozisyon harika. Detaylar müthiş. Elinize sağlık.
Bahadır

Lovely shot, bro!
And a great note, as usual...
Goldy

Ço güzel olmuş hocam. Notlar her zamanki gibi mükemmel. Burda da kamuflajı yeşil bitklier arasında yine harika götüntülemişsiniz. Elinize sağlık.
Deniz

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 2130 W: 9 N: 5960] (22528)
  • [2008-06-29 9:17]

Hi Bayram . Once again this is a fine close up of the green Lizzard. The detail and colours are first class. A good pose to get all the body and tail into the shot. A nice low POV. well .done . Interesting notes too.
Nick..

Hi Bro,

I'm watching Wimbledon as I comment on this wonderful lizard. Although he's so well cammouflaged he comes thru sharp and clear in the grass. I love the position with the tail curved. Superb colors and details of the skin and face. A beautiful lizard with a wonderful eye.

Jane

Hi Bayram, I like this lizard, it is a favourite of mine, the green colours are wonderful.Great details and definition. TFS, regards h

  • Great 
  • mariki Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1064 W: 64 N: 2234] (9195)
  • [2008-06-29 11:39]

Hello Bayram,

An excellent capture of this green lizard. Very good POV, DOF and sharpness. Very good camouflage colours again.
Cheers,
Mariki

Hi Bayram,

another great looking camouflaged lizard.
How do you find so many different spcies?

Good pov and beautiful colors and details.

Gert

  • Great 
  • joey Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1888 W: 245 N: 6180] (22002)
  • [2008-06-29 12:37]

Great photo, Geckoman!
Sharp with great detail.
The colours are great!
This lizard is very camouflaged in the grass.

Well done, Bayram!

Joe

  • Great 
  • doktor (0)
  • [2008-06-29 13:08]

Merhaba Bayram Bey,
Çok güzel bir çekim olmuş. Kendi ortamına uyum sağlamiş ama sizin elinizden kaçamamış. Fotograf mükemmel olmuş. Elinize sağlık.
Kolay gelsin,

Zeliha

  • Great 
  • Amadeo Gold Star Critiquer [C: 211 W: 0 N: 755] (3323)
  • [2008-06-29 14:28]

Hola Bayram, buena fotografia, buen enfoque, tonos de color agradable y con la luz adecuada para no perder detalle. Un saludo

Gracias por todo Bayram , ya visité la fotografía que me dedicaste.

Esta toda una delicia de colores, con un cuidado encuadre y práctica presentación.

Abrazo.

Great shot of this Green Lizard with a nicely curved tail brother... the composition is splendid and the focus is great showing all parts clearly. Beautiful colours too. Well done!... Leyla

What a beautiful lizard and splendid shot... A great composition too. All phtographic criteria are perfect uncle. Many thanks for sharing this beauty...cypturk

  • Great 
  • eng55 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 474 W: 3 N: 474] (1475)
  • [2008-06-29 23:48]
  • [+]

Merhaba Bayram Bey,
Yine çok güzel bir kamuflaj örneği.Renkler,keskinlik,detaylar ve kompozisyon mükemmel olmuş.Selamlar,ellerinize sağlık!

  • Great 
  • SelenE Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2426 W: 63 N: 4002] (12926)
  • [2008-06-30 0:16]

Merhaba Bayram Bey,
Dogal ortaminda guzel ve detayli bir cekim. Einize saglik
Selamlar

Merhaba Bayram bey,
Kompozisyon ve netlik çok güzel. Özellikle kertenkelenin uzun kuyruğunun da kırpılmadan, tam olarak çerçeve içerisinde olmasını beğendim. Notlarınız her zamanki gibi aydınlatıcı. Teşekkürler
Ali

Selamlar Hocam, yeşillikler içinde yeşil bır kertenkele, cok guzel olmuş. elinize sağlık. gecen yaz benı ısırmıştı bı tanesı:D ve canından gecen kuyrugundan gecmeyen ılgınc bı hayvan:D
İyi calışmalar
Filiz

  • Great 
  • gannu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 996 W: 4 N: 2570] (11874)
  • [2008-06-30 10:42]

Hello Bayram, Excellent note and great compositio. Ganesh

Hi Bayram,

Yet another amazing shot my Friend. The way those creates camouflage themselves sure makes photography difficult! It is really amazing how well they can blend into their surroundings.
Thanks for posting such awesome pictures showing those creatures in their natural habitat. To me, your pictures serve as a reminder to keep my eyes opened at all times. I am sure I walked beside camouflaged animals many times without realizing they were there. This way, it is a reminder to always be on the look-out.
Your picture shows this lizard beautifully. Details are outstanding, composition and colors are just perfect. Excellent work Bayram, TFS.

Best Regards,

Martin

Merhaba Hocam,
Yeşillikler içinde çok güzel bir kare olmuş, elinize sağlık.
Naşit

Merhaba Dr.Bayram,
Selam!!
I loved the colour of this Green Lizard!
the camouflaged is awesome and the subject is in top sharpness and superb details
well done
TFS
greeting Tony

Merhaba Bayram, splendid lizard, very difficult green on green, great composition with excellent sharpness, very well done, ciao Silvio

  • Great 
  • Mana Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1812 W: 29 N: 5246] (17188)
  • [2008-07-02 6:09]

Hi Bayram,
Outstanding shot of this great looking Green Lizard with such lovely colours and sharp details on its scales. Very elegant it looks among the grasses and the image is tack sharp. Excellently handled low POV and very nicely composed. Kudos.
TFS.
Sumon

Hallo Bayram
Due to the fact that I have been ill, I just could not give my comments to some of the lovely images that appeared and past me by on the gallery. Now I have such a lot of catching up to do so please pardon me for only saying……………………
Splendid and very captivating image. It is indeed a feast to the eye and it did not go unnoticed.You have captured the details of this reptiles scales with great clarity and preciseness. The green colour is really special and makes this lizard even more spectacular.
Best regards
Anna

hello Bayram

we can say another caouflaged lizard with his environnement,
excellent shot with fine POV and DOF, excellent sharpness and details,

TFS

Asbed

  • Great 
  • iris Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 409 W: 41 N: 785] (2478)
  • [2008-07-04 23:36]

Hi Bayram,
Dont i love this one.....absolutely a pleasure ot look at another of your captures that is rare...

I like the details of the lizard, Bayram.The texture cpatured is in detail and is well highlighted by the effective use of natural light.Good sharpness and clarity.

Your excellent well researched notes complete this very well rounded presentation.

Very well done.
TFS & Cheers

Ciao Bayram,
bellissima cattura in situazione di mimetismo, eccellenti POV e composizione con la bella postura della coda, ottima definizione della "texture" della pelle, splendidi i colori.
TFS. Maurizio

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