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Holy Black Beauty-II


Holy Black Beauty-II
Photo Information
Copyright: Bayram Gocmen (boreocypriensis) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 734 W: 3 N: 2314] (8234)
Genre: Places
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2009-05-25
Categories: Nature
Camera: Nikon D-5000, AF-S VR Micro-NIKKOR 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED, @ ISO 800, SIGMA 62MM EX DG MC UV Filter
Exposure: f/10.0, 1/1250 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Snakes (Reptilia) of the Middle East [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2009-07-08 22:36
Viewed: 257
Favorites: 1 [view]
Points: 40
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Dolichophis jugularis (Black Whip Snake) (in Turk. Kara Yılan)

Hi Friends, today another portrait shot of the holy black beauty from Anavarza Castle) (Tumlu, Ceyhan).

TFL and Have a nice day!
Cheers,

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

*****************************
Black Whip Snake, up to maximum 2.5 -even 3 m in Cyprus -total length, black when adult but grey peppered black and white when young (up to approx. 1 m), is an active diurnal snake with its ferocious, “relatively docile” behaviour. It is widespread in Cyprus, Turkey, Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, Jordan and Israel with a vertical distribution up to 1400 m. and represented with three subspecies in known distribution area:

• D. j. jugularis, with red throat, in Anatolia and northern Syria,
• D. j. asianus, with black and white throat, in southern Syria, Lebanon, Jordan and Mediterranean Israel, and
• D. j. cypriacus, with mostly black venter, anteriorly speckled with some red, which is an endemic subspecies of the island of Cyprus.

It lives in dry, open places, rocky river banks, rocky-stony slopes, fields and swamps; can also be seen in gardens, vineyards and cemeteries. It shelters under stones and in rodent galleries. It is known to feed mainly on rodents (especially mice and rats) and lizards; sometimes even on other snakes. Since it consumes crop-harming rodents, it was used in agricultural pest control in Cyprus.

This snake species is, despite of its virtual harmlessness, one of the most feared snakes by the natives, thanks to its large size, diurnal lifestyle, intense hissing and striking when cornered. Therefore, it is often confused with uniform black venomous snake, Walterinnesia morgani (=W. aegyptia) (Desert/Egyptian Cobra) in some distribution areas (such as SE Anatolia, Syria and Jordan) where they were found in sympatric. It can be distinguished by the presence of a loreal scale on the head and the only divided subcaudal plates, also bigger eyes, diurnal life and different striking behaviour. In Desert cobra the loreal plate is lacked on the head, there is the mixture of divided and undivided subcaudals. Also the later is mostly nocturnal with a smaller size around 1 meter, and in comparison with Black whip snake, it moves slowly and mostly strikes with closed mouth.

Ps. This beauty is accepted as "holy" by Cypriots. And that many old people believe that each Black Whip snake represent "the spirit of the late son". Thus when they a black whip snake around their home, a dish full up with milk is put on the near of the threshold for its drinking.

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., Franzen, M., Yildiz, M. Z., Akman, B. & Yalçinkaya, D. (2009). New locality records of eremial snake species in southeastern Turkey (Ophidia: Colubridae, Elapidae, Typhlopidae, Leptotyphlopidae). Salamandra, 45 (2): 110-114.
4. Göçmen, B., Werner, Y. L. & Elbeyli, B. (2008). Cannibalism in Dolichophis jugularis (Serpentes: Colubridae): More than Random?. Current Herpetology, 27 (1): 1-7 [In English with English Summary].
5. 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.].
beyza, hay_kes, eungbong, mesquens1, jjanczyk, tanburi, BTCozer, Fortuna has marked this note useful
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To hay_kes: Günaydın Dostumboreocypriensis 1 07-08 23:09
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Critiques [Translate]

Merhaba Hocam,
Bu tür karelerin kralı bir tek sizde var üstadım.Mükemmel bir çekim ve sunum.Işık, renk ve detaylar mükemmel.Eline sağlık.
Selamlarımla..

hAyAti

Hello Bayram,

It is a great close up of the black snake. Splendid sharpness, Beautiful texture, Fine colors, Attractive and amazing details. I really appreciate your perfect capture.

Thanks for sharing and greetings,
Eungbong

  • Great 
  • willie Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 209 W: 8 N: 306] (3101)
  • [2009-07-08 23:33]

Waauw, great macroshot of this snake. Good sharpness and natural colours. The light is superb and i like your composition. Good job !

gr., willemien

  • Great 
  • soe Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 402 W: 0 N: 107] (2461)
  • [2009-07-08 23:51]

Salam Bayram
Wonderful micro shot of black snake. Nice color and detail with wonderful lighting.Nice texture.
Tin Soe

Hello Byram,

Focus is pin sharp, great detail and subject

My compliments

Hi Bayram,
Perfect timing! The clarity is phenomenal in this photo, the snake looks intensely focused against any BG distractions, shows every detail nicely. Well done.

TFS,
Scott.

Olá Bayram,
A great suite taken from a new angle.
Perfect capture, great colors and details.
Special sharpness and presentation.
Abraço,
Raimundo

  • Great 
  • AndroK Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor [C: 1492 W: 23 N: 0] (11816)
  • [2009-07-09 2:08]

Merhaba my friend...
Beautiful texture...
Beautiful colors...
Amazing details...
Regards...
Andro

Hello,
Excellent shot!
Perfect sharpness and great presentation.
Interesting note.

  • Great 
  • ayse51 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1705 W: 124 N: 1455] (20570)
  • [2009-07-09 3:15]

Merhaba Bayram bey,
serinin ikinci fotoğrafı daha bir çarpıcı.Tebrikler.Ellerinize sağlık.Necla.

Super shot! NIce

Selam Bayram Hocam,
İnsanın canı araziye çıkıp bu güzellikleri yakalamak istiyor çalışmalarınızı görünce.
Netlik, derinlik ve renk doygunluğu harika
Selahattin E

Ciao Bayram, an other fantastic portrait of splendid dark beauty, wonderful details and superb sharpness, very well done my friend, ciao Silvio

Vahşi güzel hep olduğu gibi yine harika.
Emeğine sağlık.
Dûrzan

Hi Bayram,

Superb focus of this wonderful snake. Splendid in all details. Fantastic colours, light and sharpness with good job contrasting with blurred background.
Regards.
Elisabete

Hello MF Bayram,

Excellent focus, light and sharpness!
Very good job, well presented!
Congratulations adn TFS
Sergio

... sounds like they are very fast, which makes this shot even more remarkable!
Cheers
Otto

Hi Bayram,
I look at your gallery and I learn.
I think that my children at school will also learn.
Perfect capture!
Ciao dear friend
da Mari

  • Great 
  • foozi Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 595 W: 0 N: 957] (4612)
  • [2009-09-04 8:12]

Merhaba MF Bayram,
a very exciting stance by the snake. the sharpness is so wonderful nd the eys are very threatening.
Well presented shot.

Regards,
Foozi

  • Great 
  • S-moon Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 375 W: 89 N: 377] (2353)
  • [2009-09-09 11:02]

Almost scary close, but a beautiful photo. Great colours and I realy like the lighting. Perfect sharpness!
Well done!

TFS Greetings

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