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Cat-eyed Beauty on a branch


Cat-eyed Beauty on a branch
Photo Information
Copyright: Bayram Gocmen (boreocypriensis) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 718 W: 3 N: 2270] (8096)
Genre: Places
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2009-09-16
Categories: Nature
Camera: Nikon D-5000, AF-S VR Micro-NIKKOR 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED, @ ISO 400, SIGMA 62MM EX DG MC UV Filter
Exposure: f/10.0, 1/1000 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Theme(s): Snakes (Reptilia) of the Middle East [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2009-10-24 23:09
Viewed: 146
Points: 22
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Telescopus fallax (Common Cat Snake) [in Turk. Kedi Gözlü Yılan]

Appox. a month ago, we have conducted a daily photographic adventure to the Nature (Karaburun, Izmir) with my students and we encountered an elegant couple of Common Cat Snake on a tree while they were in sunbathing! I took some shots and will share some of them with you today and subsequent days. Today I am presenting a total appearance…

I also attached a WS while I was photographing them taken by one of my students, Bahadır.

TFL!
Cheers,

©Bayram GÖÇMEN, Ege University, Faculty of Science. All Rights Reserved.

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

Common Cat Snake is one of the member of the family Colubridae (Whip snakes) and a middle sized slender snake, reaching maximum total length of nearly 1 m. The head is flattened, clearly distinct from neck; the eyes are relatively large, with a vertical pupil and yellow iris. The ground colour is creme brown to grey, with a mid-dorsal series of oval brown spots (beginning with an irregular, sometimes triangular spot on the neck) of about the same size of the interspaces and alternating, somewhat paler blotches or transversal to oblique streaks on the flanks. The head is of a distinct colour than the body, mostly greyish with fine black spotting or vermiculation. The belly is creme with irregular black spotting.

Common Cat Snake is distributed in Coastal Balkan, Mediterranean islands, east to Caucasus and Iran, south to Israel. It prefers dry stony habitats, xeric woodland, stony walls, ruins. It is nocturnal, predominantly terrestrial but climbs well. A relatively quiet snake, but under stress ready to bite. The toxin is harmless for humans. The food consists mainly of lizards; occasionally snakes and small rodents are eaten as well.

The taxonomy of this extremely polytypic species with many described forms of uncertain status requires major revision. At present, following subspecies are listed: T. f. fallax (NE Italy, Malta, Balkan Peninsula, W & S Turkey to Amanos Mts ); T. f. iberus (E Europe of the Black Sea, N Anatolia, Caucasus and Iran); T f multisquamatus; T f pallidus; T. f. rhodicus (all from Greek islands); T. f. cyprianus (endemic to Cyprus island) and T. f. syriacus (from the Levant: SE Anatolia, Syria, N Iraq and Israel).

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. 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. Baran, I. & Atatür, M. K. (1998). Turkish Herpetofauna (Amphibians & Reptiles). Ministry of Environment, Ankara. 214 pp.
6. Arnold, N.E. (1978). A Field Guide to the Reptiles and Amphibians of Britain and Europe.Collins, London, UK, 288 pp.
Saba, cunejo200, gaillarde, milas, mesquens1, ayse51 has marked this note useful
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ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To milas: Selamboreocypriensis 1 10-26 22:52
To cunejo200: Hiboreocypriensis 1 10-25 10:58
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Critiques [Translate]

Ciao Bayram, wonderful TL version too with this fantastic snake, fine details and excellent sharpness, very well done, have a good Sunday my friend, ciao Silvio

WoW nice colors focus and contrast.
Zoran

  • Great 
  • Saba Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 559 W: 0 N: 1542] (8985)
  • [2009-10-25 8:32]

Hello Bayram!

Splendid camouflage...snake made similar
to twig round which wrapped around.
Very pretty effect, though I fear snakes...brrr

I congratulate and I greet.
Barbara

Hello Bayram,
I must confess that snakes give me the creeps. The creepness factor is intensified here for me..which means that this is a realistic depiction of the snake especialy with its hissing tongue. Your tech settings are mighty fine. Best regards...
Danilo

Bonsoir Bayram,
Très intéressant le WS concentration maximum!!!
Une image magnifique un serpent chat très souple il fait un huit(8) remarquable.
Bravo Monsieur le professeur un très beau talent de photographe.
Bonne soirée.
Yolande

Hocam merhaba
Benim için hafif ürkütücü bir çalışma
Ama netlik, sunum ve detaylar muhteşem
Teşekkürler
Burak

Hi Bayram
Long time no see, must be my fault! I love the lines of the snake! Good sharpness and colors.
For four years we never saw snakes around here and now suddenly there are some! One was crossing the grass when I was walking my PE class.
Cheers
David

  • Great 
  • milas Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2726 W: 412 N: 2985] (32789)
  • [2009-10-26 7:02]
  • [+]

merhaba hocam...
güzel çalışmalarınıza bir süre ayrı kaldım,
teker teker incelemek gerek, bu güzel kedi gözlü yılan ne arar ağaç tepelerinde, deri bırakacak galiba, güzel bir çekim ve paylaşım, selam ve saygılarımla...

Bom dia Bayram,
Shot from high precision and from artistical composition too. Very good POV, crisp, good colors and an amzing shallow DOF. Bood non distracting BG. Effective framing.
Cheers,
Raimundo

  • Great 
  • ayse51 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1688 W: 124 N: 1438] (20372)
  • [2009-10-30 10:10]

Merhaba Bayram bey,
bu ne güzel bir çekim.Işığa,netliğe hayran kaldım.Ne güzel bir an yakalamışsınız.Ağaçla o kadar uyum içindeki,oralarda yürüyüş yapan bir kişinin çok dikkatli olmadığı sürece onu farketmesi imkansız.Çok sevimli görünüyor.Tebrikler.Necla.

Buen documenta de esta Cat eyed que parece haber hecho un nudo con las ramas dificil de desatar ,buen color nitidez y naturalidad
Buen trabajo
un saludo

Buen fin de semana

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