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Baby Viper #2 for PeterZ


Baby Viper #2 for PeterZ
Photo Information
Copyright: Bayram Gocmen (boreocypriensis) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5033 W: 178 N: 11987] (32681)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-04-06
Categories: Reptiles
Camera: Olympus C-5060WZ
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Bayram's dedications, Turkish Herpetofauna-II [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2008-07-06 1:25
Viewed: 3225
Favorites: 2 [view]
Points: 60
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Macrovipera lebetina obtusa (Blunt-nosed/ Levantine Viper) [in Turk. Koca Engerek] (A juvenile) #2

Dear Friends, Yesterday I uploaded the dorsolateral view of this magnificent baby viper to one of my beloved and heartfelt friends in TN, Peter van Zoest (PeterZ) who reached his 200th post three days ago, for his valuable contributions to TN. This shot was taken from the same baby, but now from different angle, "frontal view". Of course I am dedicating to Peter once more :-) who is also my neighbour Today :D. I hope you will like this capture too! And I wish to all a nice new week!

Cheers,

Bayram

Ps. The total body length of this baby is aprrox. 30 cm :).
*****************************

It is a large, mainly nocturnal, stout-bodied viper with a maximum length about 1.80 m [click here to see an adult individual]. The head is large, with blunt nose, triangular, clearly distinct from neck. The eyes are large, with a vertical pupil and yellowish to brownish iris. The tail is relatively short, especially in females. The head covered with only small, strongly keeled scales (no plates!). The body scales are also strongly keeled ordered into 23-27 rows at midbody (25-27 in M. l. obtusa). Ventral and subcaudal plate numbers is varied between 126-181 and 33-58 respectively. These numbers are also showed a sexual dimorphism: 127-177 ventrals in males, 152-181 in females, 33-51 (males)/29-58 (females) paired subcaudal plates plus one conical scale at the tail tip. The dorsum is gray or brownish-grey, with dark, sometimes indistinct (especially in M. l. lebetina from Cyprus), often blackish to brownish large maculations, which are sometimes two pieced, and their edges surrounded with dun-colored bands, their middles brick red. Head uniform above, with a sometimes indistinct band running from the eye to the mouth angle. There is a row of dark maculations on flanks. Belly is whitish to grayish brown, with dark gray spots.

This species is a ground-dweller, diurnal in colder periods, nocturnal in the hottest periods. Often it is encountered on roads during the night time in summer. It is seen frequently in flat meadows or pastures without trees and rocky places, ruins, cultivated fields and gardens. It feeds mainly on rodents, other small mammals, birds, lizards and occasionally even other snakes. It is rather shy, but ready to bite if cornered. When disturbed, it starts the typical body coils are arranged in a double crescent, with the concave side including “S”-curved neck and ready-to-strike head turned towards the enemy. Due to the effectiveness and large volume of the venom, it is the most dangerous snake of Turkey (with the subspecies of obtusa which I photographed here). In Turkey, the abundances of all viper species (around 15 species belonging to the three different genera: Montivipera, Vipera and Macrovipera) are extremely low. Therefore, it is evident that all vipers are endangered and needs protection.

Blunt-nosed viper is distributed in the Near and Middle East from Levantine coast to Kazakhstan and Pakistan, with a relict occurrence in N. Africa (Tunisia and Algeria with the subspecies of M. l. transmediterranea) with a vertical distribution of 0-2000m asl. This polymorphic species is represented 4 currently recognized subspecies: nominotypic (Cyprus), obtusa (Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Turkey, east to west Pakistan and Afganistan-In Turkey it is found in E Mediterranean Region, E and SE Anatolia), M. l. transmediterranea (Tunisia and Algeria) and M. l. turanica (Kazakhstan, N Iran and Afghanistan).

Ps. In addition to mentioned above information the Cypriotic and Anatolian Blunt-Nosed Vipers were distinctly different in terms of the number of Supraoculars, the number of scales arranged in a ring around the eyes (circumoculars) and the number of ventral plates. the nominate subspecies (restricted to Cyprus) is distinguished from M. l. obtusa, by a lower number of ventral plates and a smaller body size.

References:
1. Göçmen, B. (Unpub. results). The results of herpetological trips.
2. Göçmen, B., Arikan, H., Mermer, A., Langerwerf, B. & Bahar, H. (2006). Morphological, Hemipenial and Venom Electrophoresis Comparisons of Levantine Viper, Macrovipera lebetina (Linnaeus, 1758) from Cyprus and Southern Anatolia. Turkish Journal of Zoology, 30 (2): 225-234.
3. Göçmen, B., Arikan, H., Özbel, Y., Mermer, A. & Çiçek, K. (2006). Clinical, physiological and serological observations on human folowing Macrovipera lebetina lebetina envenomating. Türkiye Parazitoloji Dergisi (Acta Parasitologica Turcica), 30 (2): 158-162.
4. Budak, A. & Göçmen, B. (2005). Herpetology. Ege Üniversitesi Fen Fakültesi Kitaplar Serisi, No. 194, Ege Üniversitesi Basimevi, Bornova-Izmir, 226 pp. [2nd Edition, 2008].
5. Disi, A. M., Modry, D., Necas, P. & Rifai, L. (2001). Amphibians and Reptiles of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. Edition Chimaira, 408 pp.
6. Baran, I. & Atatür, M. K. (1998). Turkish Herpetofauna (Amphibians & Reptiles). Ministry of Environment, Ankara. 214 pp.
7. Arikan, H., Göçmen, B., Mermer, A. & Bahar, H. (2005). An electrophoretic
comparison of the venoms of a colubrid and various viperid snakes from Turkey and
Cyprus, with some taxonomic and phylogenetic implications. Zootaxa, 1038: 1-10.
8. Arikan, H., G., Göçmen, B., Kumlutas, Y., Alpagut-Keskin, N., Ilgaz, Ç. & Yildiz, M. Z. (2008). Electrophoretic characterisation of the venom samples obtained from various Anatolian snakes (Serpentes: Colubridae, Viperidae, Elapidae). North-Western Journal of Zoology, 4 (1): 16-28.
haraprasan, Gert-Paassen, zulfu, cypturk, nkasot, ammodytes, bahadir, darwin, gerbilratz, PeterZ, xTauruSx, jaycee, nglen, maurydv, Juyona, yasemin, rousettus, Luis52, red45, montivipera, eng55, doktor, gracious has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To spalaxtr: Selamboreocypriensis 1 07-07 00:54
To gerbilratz: Hi Friendboreocypriensis 1 07-06 15:09
To PeterZ: Hi Peterboreocypriensis 2 07-06 05:33
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Critiques [Translate]

Hi Bayram,
A lovely capture of this baby viper. Very good details and a lovely composition. Looks as if it is posing for you. Very nice POV. Thanks a lot for sharing this my friend.

Hey bro Bayram,

Good capture from these snake with much details.
Good long note's.

gert

  • Great 
  • zulfu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1021 W: 0 N: 162] (858)
  • [2008-07-06 2:19]

Hello Bayram Hocam,
Perfect macro capture of this baby viper in all aspects. Superb sharpnes and details. TFS. Regards,
Mehmet

Amazing shot of a baby viper once again. Perfectly composed and detailed shot... cypturk

Göz teması müthiş Bayram hocam. Makro çekim için bu hayvana yaklaşmak cesaret işi:) hele de bu pozisyonda gerçekten ürkütücü. Elinize sağlık.
Nazım

Selam Hocam, cok guzel olmuş; ne yazacağımı bılemedım. Hayvanların bakışlarını burada da olduğu gibi cok ıyı yakalıyorsunuz zaten. Elinize sağlık
Filiz

Müthiş bir frontal bakış açısı, göz teması, etkili bir SDZ ile nefis bir makro çalışması olmuş Bayram hocam. Elinize sağlık.
Bahadır

Hello neighbour Bayram,
Sorry, my friend, I was earlier with my comment than your note. Another very appreciated dedication. Thanks a lot.
Very beautiful photo of this Viper. Great sharpness, details and composition. Nice natural colours and POV.
Have a great Sunday,
Peter

Hi Bayram
Very nice closeup shot with great detail and good natural color tones
tfs jon

Hi Bayram, this is a fine specimen, good natural colours, I like the eyes shut, the eye slit is seen and shows how well this animal adaptation is for full camouflage..

I would like to know the density of population per hectare in the regions it is found... and apart from humans, does anything predate on them?

Hi Bayram hocam, a superb close-up shot of this beautiful baby viper, great eye-contact too. TFS. Regards,
Deniz

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2493 W: 11 N: 6885] (21912)
  • [2008-07-06 10:05]

Hi Brother Bayram,

Another wonderful view of this Baby Viper. He is in a fine position with his head resting on his body. Nice colors and details of this big baby. I'm sure Peter appreciates the encore dedication.

Jane

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2865 W: 34 N: 8488] (31708)
  • [2008-07-06 10:08]

Hi bayram. once again a fine close up of this snake. your picture shows fine detail in theskin with natural colours. Not one i would like to meet up with when he is full size. well done TFS.
Nick..

Yilanin kucugu bile sevilir derler ne derece dogru bilemem ama benim icin soguk ve urkutucu gorunuyor...Renk, detail ve genel olarak fotograf guzel ama tehlikeli ve avina saldirmaya hazir gibi duruyor....Bilgiler cok egitici....Take care brother...Leyla

another great baby pic, greetings Ori

Un'altra prospettiva per questa piccola vipera, buona nitidezza, molto belli i colori. Grazie e complimenti. Ciao Maurizio

  • Great 
  • Juyona Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2252 W: 10 N: 2594] (15453)
  • [2008-07-06 12:37]

Hola Bay,
sensacional captura,
hermosos pov,
detalles y hermosos foco,
saludos :))

  • Great 
  • joey Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2001 W: 226 N: 6845] (24727)
  • [2008-07-06 13:32]

Hello Bayram,
what a nice capture of this plump little snake :-)
Very sharp.
Superb composition.
Nice light.
Another very deserving dedication to Peter!

Well done Geckoman!

Joe

Hay maşallah, güzel engerek çekimleri peşpeşe. bu da çok güzel. eline sağlık hacı. selamlar.

  • Great 
  • Luis52 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1109 W: 5 N: 3453] (12751)
  • [2008-07-06 19:22]

Hola Bayram.
Here another great photo of this snake. I like the eyes and the colors of skin. Looks it is a long one.
Peter should be happy for this excellent present.
TFS My good friend.
Luis52.

  • Great 
  • Jamesp Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1351 W: 0 N: 5494] (16520)
  • [2008-07-06 22:35]

Hi Bayram

ANother superb image of this young snake. The detail is very good here - as is your POV.

James

  • Great 
  • red45 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2703 W: 74 N: 8857] (30219)
  • [2008-07-06 23:14]

Hello Bayram!

Another great shot of this baby. I like frontal POV, now both eyes are well visible. Good composition and details. As always perfect note, I'm glad that we can read your unpulished work!

Bayram merhaba,
TN'a uzun bir ara verdikten sonra tekrar döndüm. Dostları tekrar sayfalarda güzel fotolarla görmek güzel, Özlemişim. Senin bu asil yılan bebek te olsa çok heybetli çıkmış. Eline sağlık. Selamlar.
Mustafa

Merhaba Hocam,
Farklı bir açıdan, bakışları yakalayan güzel bir kare olmuş, elinize sağlık.
Saygılar
Naşit

  • Great 
  • gannu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1169 W: 4 N: 3260] (14687)
  • [2008-07-07 3:14]

Hello Bayram, I look at your marks 8888. this is just superb shot and just perfect composition. Ganesh

  • Great 
  • eng55 Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1074 W: 30 N: 1046] (3270)
  • [2008-07-07 4:59]

Merhaba Bayram Bey,
Buradaki bakış açısını daha çok beğendim,yüzü tam kameraya dönük.Detaylar,pozlama be netlik her zamanki gibi mükemmel.Selamlar,ellerinize sağlık!

Hi Bayram, this one too is a wonderful capture of this baby, fine details and splendid sharpness, very well done, ciao Silvio

  • Great 
  • doktor (0)
  • [2008-07-07 14:02]

Merhab Bayram Bey,

Kucuk ama yine de urkutucu gorunuyor. Tebrik ederim guzel bir cekım olmus. Elinize saglık..

Selamlar,
Zeliha

Merhaba Dr.Bayram,
Selam!!
Excellent captured on this Baby Viper in good closeness and a good pose of it!
the image is sharp with natural colour and fine details
many thanks for the sharing
greeting
Tony

Superb shot, Big BRO!Love your work!
Goldy

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