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Hardun


Hardun
Photo Information
Copyright: Bayram Gocmen (boreocypriensis) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 731 W: 3 N: 2304] (8204)
Genre: Places
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2009-04-26
Categories: Nature
Camera: Nikon D-80, Sigma 50-500mm f/4-6.3 EX DG APO HSM, @ ISO 200
Exposure: f/8, 1/200 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Lizards (Reptilia) of the Middle East [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2009-07-05 0:17
Viewed: 190
Points: 34
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Laudakia stellio stellio (Spiny Lizard, Starred Agama or Hardun)
[in Turk. Dikenli Keler]

Hi friends, today another shot of the Spiny Lizard from Adana Province (Kurtkulağı, Çeyhan) which I photographed it during our herpetological trip in this year. The name of “Hardun” indeed an Arabic name of the species called by peoples Arabic countries where the species/subspecies is found.

TFL and cheers,

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

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

A middle-sized agamid lizard with a moderately depressed body. Total length reaches up to 35 cm, or slightly longer. The flat and triangular head is covered with asymmetrically distributed small scales and plates. Snout is longer than the distance eye-tympanum. Pupils are round. Spiny scales on the neck and sides of the head. The dorsum is covered with small and large scales. Ventral scales are smooth, callous glands, which are present in males, consist of 3-5 rows of modified scales in pre-cloacal position, and an isolated group of scales in the middle of abdomen, near umbilical scar. The tail is moderately depressed in its proximal part; the distal part is rounded or slightly oval in cross-section. The scales of the tail are arranged into distinct circular segments, each consisting of two whorls of enlarged mucronate (spiny) scales. The coloration is extremely variable, depending on race, sex, age and substrate.

Spiny lizard is widely distributed from Greece, Aegean islands, S Turkey, Cyprus, Lebanon, W Syria, N Iraq, Israel, NW Jordan, to Sinai and northern Egypt. Five subspecies of Laudakia stellio are recognised in addition to the nominotypic form within its wide range. Populations in Turkey belong to the nominotypic subspecies, L. s. stellio (S Turkey except Western parts and S Aegean islands, Syria, W Jordan, Israel and N. Sinai) and to L. s. daani (S Aegean islands and SW Turkey) . Evidently, there are intermediate forms in the contact zones between individual subspecies. Whereas in Cyprus an endemic subspecies, L. s. cypriaca lives. The important diagnostic features of the subspecies , i.e., L. s. stellio, photographed here as follow:

It is characterized by a narrow mid-dorsal zone of enlarged scales with regular offshoots between the flank scales. These enlarged scales are keeled but not very spinose. Adult animals generally have SVL of 9-12 cm. Length of tail in relation to this length averaging 1.43. Coloration is rather variable. Generally a dark grayish, brownish ground colour of head and body, against which a pattern of 4-5 vertebral patches is outlined. Behind the head, at both sides before the shoulders, sometimes a black collar spot is present. Finger and toes are short. [15-18 subdigital scales under the 3rd finger, 17-23 under 4th toe].

The other known subspecies [L. s. picea from N Jordan & NE Israel; L. s. brachydactyla from S. Israel, SW Jordan, E Sinai & adjacent parts of Saudi Arabia; L. s. vulgaris from N Egypt] are distributed in southern Levantine regions.

Frequents stone walls, rocky areas and olive groves, can easily climb both on trees and rocks. Feeds mainly on insects (ants and other hymenopterans, orthopterans, mantids, beetles, butterflies, spiders, scorpions, mollusks), but can also ingest some plant material. it is the most commonly encountered reptile species in the close vicinity of human settlements, dense populations occur even in large cities. It is a diurnal, heliophilous lizard. Both males and females form hierarchies and maintain territories. A dominant male perches on the highest point of his territory. Typical display behaviour consists of series of vertical movements of the head and cranial third of the body. The submissive animals reply by flattening of their bodies and pushing the heads towards the surface. This behaviour of females is often accompanied by lateral undulations of the tail. Seasonal activity depends both on the altitude and latitude. A female lays 8-14 eggs.

References:

1. Göçmen, B. (Unpub. results). The results of herpetological trips.
2. Göçmen, B., Tosunoglu, M. & Taskavak, E. (2003). A Taxonomic Comparison of the Hardun, Laudakia stellio (Reptilia, Agamidae), Populations of Southern Turkey (Hatay) and Cyprus. Zoology in the Midle East, 28: 25-32
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. 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. Üçüncü, N., Göçmen, B. & Üçüncü, S. (2001). Protozoa Living in the Rectum of the Spiny-Lizard, Laudakia stellio stellio (Linnaeus, 1758) (Reptilia:Lacertilia) and Their Structures. T. Parazitol. Derg. (Acta Parasitologica Turcica), 25 (1): 78-82.
7. Atatür, M. K. & Göçmen, B. (2001). Amphibians and Reptiles of Northern Cyprus [Kuzey Kibris'in Kurbaga ve Sürüngenleri], Ege Üniversitesi Fen Fakültesi Kitaplar Serisi, No. 170, Ege Üniversitesi Basimevi, Bornova-Izmir, 63 pp (ISBN 975-483-486-5) [In Turkish & English, 63 pp.].
hay_kes, burak28, tanburi, moli, Sharpshooter, mesquens1, cirano, Fortuna, kanton, jjanczyk, colvert has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

Merhaba Hocam,
Mükemmel ve son derce etkileyici bir çekim.Işık ve detaylar muhteşem olmuş.Eline sağlık.
Selamlarımla..

hAyAti

Merhaba Bayram hocam
Harika yakalamışsınız
Not süper
İyi Pazarlar
Burak

Selam Bayram Hoca,
Canlıların üzerinde ışık benim için çok çekici bir görüntü oluşturuyor. Burada da en güzel formlarından birini görüyorum. Netlik ve kompozisyon da göz alıcı
Ellerine sağlık
Selahattin E

  • Great 
  • moli Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1424 W: 275 N: 1984] (12226)
  • [2009-07-05 0:52]

Hello Bayram.
Superb shot and great presentation of Spiny Lizard.
Well composed and presented with good sharo detalis.
Regards
Janek Kloss

Hi Bayram,
Great spotting, the focus and clarity are excellent. He almost seems to be posing for the camera, very nicely exposed from the sun. Well photographed.

TFS,
Scott.

Olá Bayram,
Very good capture from this cute lizard.
Excellent POV, colors, lights and sharpness.
Great one,
Raimundo

Merhaba,
İyi bir açıdan oldukça keskin ve kaliteli bir çekim olmuş.Ellerine sağlık.

Hello MF Bayram,

Excellent close opf this beautiful lizard!
Beautiful colors and excellent lighting and contrast!
Congratulations and TFS
Sergio

Merhaba Bayram Bey

muhteşem bir çakim.
Özellikle netlii harika olmuş.
Kadraj da çok iyi.
Elinize sağlık
Selamlar

Faruk

Ciao Bayram, splendid light on this wonderful lizard, fantastic portrait with great colors, fine details and excellent sharpness, very well done, ciao Silvio

  • Great 
  • buse Silver Star Critiquer [C: 13 W: 0 N: 0] (101)
  • [2009-07-05 11:48]

Merhaba Bayram bey

sizin yakın ilginizden olmalı tüm bu sevimli modelleriniz sanki sizin için poz veriyor.. çekim açısı ,kadraj içi yerleşim ve netlik mükemmel..

elinize sağlık

  • Great 
  • kanton Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 722 W: 5 N: 1291] (5368)
  • [2009-07-05 13:14]

Merhaba Hocam!
Nice capture and presentetion
of Spiny Lizard,great lighting
clarity and sharp details!
Tfs Selamlar
Kostas

Hello,
Another excellent shot!
Great sharpness and light.
Excellent note - as usual.
TFS

Bonjour Bayram
Not specially my kind of pets , though they don't afraid me, buta nice shot with beautiful use of light
Good sharpness and colours meeting
Cheers
Henri

  • Great 
  • ayse51 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1703 W: 124 N: 1454] (20538)
  • [2009-07-06 23:17]

Merhaba Bayram bey,
dikenli keleri ne güzel bir konumda yakalamışsınız.Mükemmel ışığıyla nefis bir çekim olmuş.Tebrikler.Necla.

  • Great 
  • soe Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 402 W: 0 N: 107] (2461)
  • [2009-07-09 21:56]

Salam Bayram
Great shot with detail, sharpness , lighting and color. Nice presentation.
Tin Soe

wonderful taken, Bayram.. love the POV and sharpness.. well composed and frame.. tfs..

regards, terry

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