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Banded / Bridled Skink


Banded / Bridled Skink
Photo Information
Copyright: Bayram Gocmen (boreocypriensis) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 747 W: 3 N: 2333] (8300)
Genre: Places
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-08
Categories: Nature
Camera: Olympus C-5060WZ
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Lizards (Reptilia) of the Middle East [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2008-12-28 14:12
Viewed: 377
Points: 52
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Trachylepis vittata (Banded / Bridled Skink) (in Turk. Şeritli Kertenkele)

Banded skink is a diurnal, robust skink with a total length up to 20 cm (-females are usually slightly bigger than males-), or slightly longer, with well-developed relatively long extremities. However, it has a more slender body than the closely related species, T. aurata (Golden Skink) which is found sympatrically in some areas (such as W & S. Anatolia). Lower eyelid has a transparent scale. Dorsal scales are nearly equal in size. Nostril within a single plate; nuchal scales keeled; usually 32, rarely 31, 33 or 34 rows of tricarinate body scales around mid-trunk. Although the dorsal scales distinctly tricarinate, general appearance is smooth. The original tail is nearly one and half as long as the body, regenerated tails stay often shorter. It is extremely variable in both colour and pattern. The dorsum usually changes from olive green to brown, with three longitudinal lighter coloured bands, the vertebral band wider than the laterals. Also a light coloured longitudinal stripe on each flank. There may be dark rough maculations between the bands. Some or all of the bands and stripes may be lacking, dorsum homogenously coloured without a pattern. The belly is yellowish-white or light green, without maculations. The juveniles possess a distinct striped pattern.

This species is active mainly early in the morning. It is difficult to approach, if disturbed, it hides very quickly. It lives in bushy-scrubby and rocky places of open areas or forests, hiding among the roots of bushes or under stones. Autotomy of the tail is well developed. It feeds on insects and other small invertebrates. Itraspecific predation (i.e., cannibalism) has also been reported. It is a ovoviviparous species, a female gives birth to 5-10 young in summer months.

It is known from N Africa (Algeria to Egypt), Turkey (W, S, and partly C Anataolia) and E Mediterranean countries (Israel, W Jordan, Lebanon, W. Syria, N Iraq & W Iran), including N and S Cyprus plus Rhodes; with a vertical distribution to 1000 m. Occurs everywhere in N Cyprus.

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. Göçmen, B., Kasot, N., Yildiz, M.Z., Sas, I., Akman, B., Yalçinkaya, D. & Gücel, S. (2008). Results of the Herpetological Trips to Northern Cyprus. North-Western Journal of Zoology, 4 (1): 139-149.
4. Atatür, M. K & Göçmen, B. (2001). Amphibians and Reptiles of Northern Cyprus (1st Edition), Ege Üniversitesi, Fen Fakültesi Kitaplar Serisi, No. 170, Ege Üniversitesi Basimevi, Bornova-Izmir, 63 pp.
5. Grzimek, B., (2003). Grzimek’s Animal Life Encyclopedia, Second Edition Volume 7 Reptiles Schlager Group Inc. 571 pp
6. Disi, A. M., Modry, D., Necas, P. & Rifai, L. (2001). Amphibians and Reptiles of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. Edition Chimaira, 408 pp.
7. Baran, I. & Atatür, M. K. (1998). Turkish Herpetofauna (Amphibians & Reptiles). Ministry of Environment, Ankara. 214 pp.

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

TFL! and:
“I wish a prosperous and happy New Year to everyone!”
Cheers,

Bayram
.
tanburi, tsesler, burak28, boomcat, juyona, neusser0204, Fortuna, milas, tatarovisk, bucanas, CallMeMaria, flashpoint, zulfu, ayse51, MLINES, hester, jusninasirun has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To alliturnam: Selamboreocypriensis 1 12-29 07:33
To tsesler: Teşekkürboreocypriensis 1 12-29 07:15
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Critiques [Translate]

selam Bayram Hoca,
Bir hayli oldu görüşmeyeli. Yine hoş bir sürrpriz bizi bekliyormuş. Yine güzel bir kompozisyon ve netlikte. Ne kadar çok farkına varmadığımz sürüngen türü varmış.
Teşekkürler
Selahattin E

  • Great 
  • Saba Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 594 W: 0 N: 1628] (9289)
  • [2008-12-28 15:18]

Hello Bayram!
Wonderful composition and presentation.
Beautiful picture, colors, light and focus!
Fantastic execution!!!
Congratulations!

Happy New 2009 Year Bayram!!! :):)

Greetings.
Barbara

Günaydın Dostum,
bu şeritli kertenkelenin başının üzerindeki desenler ne kadar güzel öyle,
harika yakalamışsın yine,
ellerine ve gören gözlerine sağlık,
selamlar,
Taner

Merhaba Bayram Hocam
Harika bir makro
Doğum gününüz kutlu olsun
Nice yıllara
Burak

hello Bayram,

beautiful shot again of this lizard to me.. hehehe.. :) very sharp and coming out from the dry leaves.. nice composition and detail.. tfs..

regards, terry

  • Great 
  • juyona Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 2646 W: 1 N: 1267] (15455)
  • [2008-12-29 1:28]

Hola Bay,
Fine focus and beautiful lizard,
excellent details and composition.
camuflage perfect ...
saludos amigo.

Hello Bayram,
Great shot ! I like his pose and the setting. The sharpness and DOF is very good.

Very well done and thanks for posting.
Regards Siegfried

Hello my dear friend Bayram,

Great capture at the right moment!
Excellent definition, colors, lighting!
Great work!
Congratulations and TFS.
Um grande abraço,
Sergio

Merhaba Bayram Bey,yine harikulade bir kare.Çekimdeki ustalığınız süper.Sizin sayenizde bende de algıda şeçicilik olayı gelişti.Sizin karelerinizi izlemenin çok çok büyük bir katkısı oldu.Ama çok ürkek olduklarını farkettim.Bu zamana kadar boşuna ben onlardan uzak kalmışım.Artık daha çabuk farkediyorum,çok teşekkürler,selamlar:)

  • Great 
  • milas Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2740 W: 412 N: 2987] (32929)
  • [2008-12-29 6:48]

Hocam merhaba...
kaç gündür yoktunuz, doğum günü için eklediğim fotonuza bile yorum yapmadınız, merak ettim, doğum günü kutlamaları bu kadar sürdüyse mesele yok...Yine harika bir macro çalışması ve açıklayıcı notunuz...tebrikler...selam ve saygılarımla...

A wonderful sharp shot of this shy guy, Bayram, very pretty, thanks
Sabine - wishnugaruda

Ciao Bayram, great capture of beautiful skink, fantastic details and excellent sharpness, very well done, Happy new year to you:), ciao Silvio

Merhaba Bayram hoca,
Netlik, renkler ve detayları ile muhteşem bir macro...
Yoğun işlerinizde kolaylıklar diliyor, teşekkür
ediyoruz. Selam,sevgiler.
Dr.Seyfettin Güner

Olá Bayram.

This is a great Macro. Just love the details.
Your shot is so clear! My congratulations!
Best regards

Marco

  • Great 
  • ayse51 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1716 W: 124 N: 1465] (20702)
  • [2008-12-30 14:18]

Merhaba Bayram Bey,
yarın yeni yıla merhaba diyoruz.2008 de sizden çok şeyler öğrendik.Bu yıl dahada fazlsını öğreneceğimize inamıyorum.Fotoğraflarınızla,açıklamalarınızla Tl ye bilimsellik getirdiniz.Her şey için çok teşekkürler.Mutlu yıllar.Necla.

Hi Bayram,
Very good capture,very sharp,congratulation,
Best regards,
Abracos,
Ralf

Merhaba Bayram Bey,
Mükemmel bir zamanlama ve harika bir kertenkele portresi.Işık, detaylar ve netlik süper.
Elinize sağlık.

hAyAti

  • Great 
  • foozi Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 595 W: 0 N: 957] (4612)
  • [2008-12-31 1:33]

Hi Bayram,
a lovely and cute creature. you have given its great details and pattern of this skink.
Very sharp and lighting is excellent.

Regards,
Foozi

Hi Bayram,
Magnificent capture and composition.
Wonderful details and colors and such an interesting creature!
TFS
Happy New Year!
Lurdes

ciao Bayram!
the skin of this lizard finely embroidered captured so good while it moves between the leaves of the undergrowth.... fine details ..
best wishes for 2009 sERGIO

Hi Bayram
Fun how he sticks out his head. Very sharp image.
Cheers
David

  • Great 
  • zulfu Gold Star Critiquer [C: 150 W: 0 N: 7] (44)
  • [2009-01-04 8:10]

Kertenkelelerin en zerafetlisi bu olsa gerek Bayram hocam. Duruşu bakışı ayrı bir güzel.
Teşekkürler.
Mehmet

  • Great 
  • MLINES Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1310 W: 96 N: 1024] (8494)
  • [2009-01-10 21:10]

Hi Bayram, Good clear close up of this skink. Your notes are very accurate as we have these little guys living in our garden. Champion sun bathers for sure. Excellent image. TFS. Murray.

  • Great 
  • hester Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1320 W: 31 N: 1634] (9994)
  • [2009-01-15 10:34]

Hi Bayram

What an attractive fellow this skink is. I always love the detail you capture in the textures and paaterns of the scales. Lovely bright eye and pin sharp too.

TFS

Karan

Hi Bayram,

Fine showing of this signature image of yours. So sharp and very well exposed details. TFS and well done indeed.

Regards,
Jusni

Hello Bayran.

Excellent image, nice composition and colors.
Very good details.

Rgards.
Jose Luis.

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