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Chioglossa lusitanica


Chioglossa lusitanica
Información de la foto
Copyright: Felipe Mateo and Cristina (extramundi) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1875 W: 339 N: 4174] (12818)
Género: Animals
Medio: Color
Tomada el: 2004-11-21
Categorías: Reptiles
Cámara: Sony DSC-F717
Exposición: f/8, 1/3 segundos
Versión de la foto: Versión original, Workshop
Fecha enviada: 2004-11-22 14:43
Vista: 1750
Puntos: 34
[Normas para las notas] Notas del fotógrafo
Chioglossa lusitanica.

NOTE: There is a GENERAL VIEW of this salamander.

Today I have the chance to share with you a rare subject, not only because this salamander is only found in Portugal and Spain and is the only species in its genus, but because it is a night animal and very rarely seen under day light.

This reptile is rather lizard-like salamander in its movements (skittering side-to-side) and has ability to shed its tail (autotomy) as a defensive measure. The tail accounts for up to two-thirds of the total body length and serves as a fat storage area. If shed, it can be regenerated, but is rather grey compared to the original.
The eyes are rather prominent and the parotid glands quite visible. The head is long with a rounded snout, and there is a gular fold. There are 10-12 weakly defined costal grooves. The limbs are small, having 4 fingers and 5 toes.
Although there are no subspecies, specimens from the southern part of the range tend to be smaller with narrower heads and shorter toes, and shorter tails relative to the body length: the longitudinal lines are often broken up and less distinct.
It lives near mountain streams and is a strong swimmer, often taking to water if in flight.
This water is usually quite oxygen-rich with a pH of 4.5-6.5. The winters in this area (Atlantic hinterland) are fairly mild: hibernation is not always necessary, but instead Chioglossa may estivate in the summer.
Prey consists of very small invertebrates, preferably spiders but including various flies and ants, and items such as springtails.
Coloration: dorsally brown with two coppery longitudinal dorsal stripes which join together in the pelvic region to form a single stripe on the tail: the ventral area is grey or brown.
Reproduction: sexual maturity is reached at about 4 years of age. Males are generally smaller than females but have a swollen cloaca and longer forearms, on which nuptial swellings develop during the breeding season. Interestingly, the breeding season seems to vary from place to place, even within the same area. Males assemble ahead of the females in certain breeding grounds. During this period, both sexes take little or no nourishment. The male moves behind or sideways on to the female and places himself under her: copulation lasts up to 20 minutes. After mating the female lays a clutch of 15-20 in swiftly flowing currents, usually individually: however, several females may select the same spots, thus building up an accumulation of eggs. The eggs take 6-8 (sometimes 10) weeks to develop and hatch. Metamorphosis takes place between July and the end of September, or for those larvae which overwinter in this condition, from the middle of April until the beginning of July.

Hope you like!

F8 - 1/3 - Hand held - Objetive resting on the ground.
PP: crop, S&H, Neat Image, frame, resize
christophe, Robbrown, LordPotty, PDP, JeanMichel, marhowie, gerhardt, AndyB, RAP, Luc, red45, willie, danbachmann, sandpiper2, ObySamKenoby ha puntuado esta nota como útil.
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Secuencias en los foros
SecuenciaIniciador de la secuencia Mensajes Actualizado
Para livios: Non usei tripéextramundi 1 02-09 10:04
Para ornis: Thanks for you words.extramundi 1 11-23 04:55
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Critiques [Translate]

congratulation for the cleanness, 1/3 seconds without tripod, nice color and contrast, great shot Felipe

la felicitación para la limpieza, 1/3 segundos sin el trípode, el color bueno y contrasta, el gran tiro Felipe

Very good Filipe great to see some thing unusual ,the closest we have are the newts, this is a very complete life history which matches the quality of the image. nice one.

This is a very interesting post Felipe.We don't see many salamanders especially rare ones.The photograph is very clear especially since it is handheld.
Your notes are very comprehensive and informative,although I don't know if I really needed to know what colour its ventral area is,or how long copulation lasts :))

  • Great 
  • PDP Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor [C: 2821 W: 344 N: 3779] (11769)
  • [2004-11-22 16:36]

We don't get these here in UK so it's very nice to see it. Great post and superb note. Very well done.

I have some mixed feelings here, Felipe. This is obviously a rare catch, specially as these are geographically limited as you mention in your great note, and also their living habits. IMO your workshop is a better illustration than the above picture, where i'm distracted by the texture: is it blurred? (I admit 1/3 handheld is a performance), is it oversharpened or over filtered, I dont know, but there is something disturbing. Did you had the chance to shoot a large serie of photos? Nevertheless, a rare contribution. Thanks for posting.

Felipe, A great post of this rarely seen specie with an excellent comprehensive write-up. Very good image under the circumstances & 1/3 shutter. Often nature photography presents very difficult conditions for the shot..This glossy, highly reflective guy must've gave you fits! Well done!!

A rare catch indeed. I think our first on the site. I do think Jean Michel has a point on the two photos. But a nice set of photoson this rare beauty.

  • Great 
  • AndyB Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1391 W: 32 N: 1350] (3982)
  • [2004-11-23 2:08]

A very nice capture of this rare reptile.
Very good composition and colours.
An interesting note too.
Well done.

  • Great 
  • japie Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1814 W: 100 N: 1904] (5187)
  • [2004-11-23 2:41]

Very well done at 1/3! This shot really brings out this guys texture.

Thanks for posting this beauty.

  • Great 
  • RAP Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2524 W: 345 N: 2373] (7405)
  • [2004-11-23 4:02]

Otra instructiva presentacion Felipe... he conocido muchas especies de salamandras, desde pequeñas hasta el gigante japones que llega cerca de los 2 metros, pero nunca había visto una con una cola tan larga como esta (de hecho no entro completa en la imagen complementaria).
Excelente POV con dificil resolucion por el brillo y la textura del animal que dificulta la presentacion.

  • Great 
  • Luc Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1873 W: 304 N: 4300] (14729)
  • [2004-11-23 5:26]

¡ Oh sí! Felipe.
Cual felicidad de ver este reptil. Usted tiene sin duda trabaje fuertemente para obtener tal resultado.
Estoy en desacuerdo con Juan-Miguel. Es verdad que el WS es una buena ilustración de su sujeto pero ésta es muchísimo más évocative y pertinente para TN, creo. Recuerdo, siendo niño, haber ido detrás de salamandras y de haber encontrado de allí a menudo bajo las piedras cerca de pantano o de lagos. Realmente tienen esta apariencia y su macro me acerca a ellas mucho más que su vista general. Y le agradezco por eso.

Oh yes! Felipe.
Which happiness to see this reptile. You doubtless have work strongly to obtain such a result.
I disagree with Jean-Michel. It is true that the WS is a good illustration of your subject but this one is more evocative and relevant for TN, I believe. I remember, being a child, having searched for salamanders and to have found there often under stones near swamp or near lakes. They really have this appearance and your macro moves closer to me to them much more that your overview. And I thank you for it.

  • Great 
  • red45 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2705 W: 74 N: 8864] (30243)
  • [2004-11-23 8:58]

Great shot for 1/3! I like this wet reptile and plants on FG.

  • Great 
  • willie Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1023 W: 61 N: 648] (2083)
  • [2004-11-23 11:25]

Very good capture and nice notes. well done

Drôle de tête !
Elle pourrait inspirer un film d'horreur !

Une bien belle macro !
Bravo !

Felipe, gosto muito de sua foto. Uma curiosidade: 1/3?! Você usou tripé (tripod)?

Belo trabalho e um belo ângulo.

Lívio

I know this is an old image now, but it fascinated me when I accidently found it.
A most curious creature, nothing like that over here. Great notes. Great post, really enjoyed this one.

Very impressive, as is the general view.

Crisp colors and good definition, my compliments.

Samuele

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