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PREHISTORIC CREATURE


PREHISTORIC CREATURE
Photo Information
Copyright: Radomir Jaskula (cicindela) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1223 W: 0 N: 3103] (9226)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-07
Categories: Reptiles
Camera: Nikon Coolpix 5400, 35-105 mm 1:4,5-5,6, @ ISO 50
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Turtles - Tortugas - Tortues, Reptiles of Europe, Reptiles (Reptilia) [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2007-08-04 14:56
Viewed: 7080
Points: 40
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Hello my Friends!
As you can see after almost 3 weeks in Macedonia I am back again to Lodz and to TN gallery :>
It was really a great and fruitful trip and I had oportunity to see a lot of very beautiful places: from mountains to lakes and waterfalls. As always on the Balkans, also this time I met a lot of very friendly people and observed many interesting creatures. And one of them you can see below :>

This is a Spur-thighed Tortoise - Testudo graeca Linnaeus, 1758 (Testudinidae) - one of only a 3 tortoise species occurring in Europe. Of course there are also some other members of Chelonii group in Europe but these are sea and freshwater turtles, not terrestrial species.

It is originally distributed on the Balkan Peninsula: south of Danube river to Macedonia FYR, European Turkey, northeastern Greece and some Aegean islands. It is known also from Majorca, southern France, Sicily,
Italy, Sardinia, and Spain but in many of these places it was introduced by human.


Testudines is a very old group of vertebrates. They are older even from dinosaurs and appeared on the Earth about 250-215 million years ago. Today about 230 species are known, some of them live in seas (turtles), some in freshwaters (terrapines) or on the land (tortoises)
but all of them are ectothermic (their body temperatures depend on weather conditions). Interesting is that in many species sex of turtles depends of temperature in which the eggs were existed.


The picture was taken in Konopiste village where I had oportunity to observe an introduction to mating in this species. Really this specimen was one of a few males which tried to adore the only one female! At first it was a great pleasure to see so many tortoises in one place (8 specimen in about 2-3 hours), at second to observe so unique behaviour :)
Here you can see picture of "habitat".

As always any comments and critiques are welcomed :>
nglen, JoseMiguel, Matt-Bird, livios, vanderschelden, anel, gannu, jmp, marhowie, eqshannon, uleko, grimmel, pierrefonds, cataclysta, boreocypriensis has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To uleko: presence-absence :)cicindela 1 08-05 10:32
To anel: tortoises in Europecicindela 1 08-05 04:29
To Mana: absence on TNcicindela 1 08-05 02:00
To livios: thank you!cicindela 1 08-05 01:56
To Matt-Bird: tortoise-turtle-terrapin :)cicindela 1 08-05 01:54
To Evelynn: tortoise :)cicindela 1 08-05 01:51
To vanderschelden: thank you!cicindela 1 08-05 01:49
To marhowie: many thanks!cicindela 1 08-05 01:48
To JoseMiguel: thanks you!cicindela 1 08-05 01:47
To nglen: tortoise and the trip :)cicindela 1 08-05 01:30
You must be logged in to start a discussion.

Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2883 W: 30 N: 9683] (36145)
  • [2007-08-04 15:07]
  • [+]

Hi Radomir. Glad you had a good and safe trip. My grandmother had a Tortoise when i was a small boy. she had it for years.
excellent shot showing all the detail in the shell. with fine colours. they are very strong and can climb. very well done TFS. very good notes too.
Nick..

Have a good sunday.

Hi Radomir,
I like this tortoise capture!
It's very appropriated the pose, that let us know how this reptile looks like in its own habitat.
Very good and interesting your explanation about the characteristics of this specie.
Well done and thanks for share it with us.
Best regards,
JM

The sharpness and natural color in this shot are just excellent. That camera does well!... in your hands. : ) It's a wonderful shot.

TFS
Evelynn ; )

  • Great 
  • livios Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2150 W: 319 N: 4263] (16942)
  • [2007-08-04 18:13]
  • [+]

Radomir, this is very nice.

Great pov and composition.

I like composition too.

  • Great 
  • Mana Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1772 W: 36 N: 5597] (18598)
  • [2007-08-04 20:43]
  • [+]

Hi Radomir,
A warm welcome back to TN after such a long absence. I was sure you would show us exclusive shots from your visit and you have not dissapointed me. This is a splendid shot of the Tortoise in natural environs. Very sharp image and focus with perfect natural lighting. Excellent POV and a superb composition. Very educative notes too. Kudos.
TFS.
Sumon

Some piece of armor it is carrying...:-)
Well composed, Radomir.
TFS
Annick

  • Great 
  • anel Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 3053 W: 3 N: 8715] (40574)
  • [2007-08-05 2:27]
  • [+]

hello Radomir,
Nice to see you back. I didn't know that we had some European Tortoises until emari put one on the net a few months ago. But yours seems to be another species. So our archives here become more and more complete. Great and interesting post.
Thanks and best regards
Anne

  • Great 
  • gannu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 988 W: 4 N: 3277] (14761)
  • [2007-08-05 2:40]

Radomir, what a nature's wonder and you have taken the wonder superbly. the eye contact is good and also the focus. TFS Ganesh

Interesante ver que estos seres aún viven en algunas zonas y que se respetan ... Buen documento con buena definición y enfoque. Saludos Radomir.

Hi Radomir,
A nice full picture of this tortise, it fills the frame well. The grown pattern on the shell is well defined and easy to see.
regards
Matt.

  • Great 
  • jmp Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1659 W: 95 N: 2273] (8415)
  • [2007-08-05 3:37]

Hi Radomir,
Perfect details, exposure, dof, pov and pose. A great portrait!
TFS, José M.

Hi Radomir
wow what a DOF, every single part of the tortoise sharp, lovely colours too
Tfs
TOM

Hi Radomir,
Nice closeup with great details & an excellent note.
Great job :)
Howard

Well you certainly did not waste any time. This is a well focused, sharp, perfectly colored picture. Amazing creature. A bit larger in girth then some other of this type. Well done and noted.

Bob

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3396 W: 172 N: 3310] (10940)
  • [2007-08-05 10:00]
  • [+]

Hello Radomir,
Sorry, I didn't notice you'd come back in this shape! ;-) Sorry, it's very nice to have you back and I'm glad you enjoyed your trip to Macedonia! Great shot of this Tortoise together with an interesting note.
Great sharpness and a fine composition.
TFS and best wishes, Ulla

hi radomir!

one of the most sympathetic animal on the world that your photographied here excellently!
tfs
caroline

excellent capture of the tortoise, radomir !
very well focused, one can see a lot of details.
great natural colours and good POV.
a very impressive reptile.
interesting notes too !
thanks a lot,
carole

Hi Radomir,

A nice image of the giant turtle, the photo has a good composition, sharpness and nice colors. Thanks for sharing.

Pierre

Czesc Radziu
Zolw tez jest oczywiscie swietny. I chyba to jest raczej rzadki obiekt na treknature. Ujecie z prostej ale ciekawej perspektywy ladnie zakomponowane. Tylko sie jakas wredna trawka wkradla :-)
Pozdrawiam
Krzysiek

Hi Friend Radek,
Thanks for your nice capture and useful information. Really turtles (in sensu lato) are the most arcaic group amongst reptiles. Well done friend!
Greetings,
Bayram

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