Flora - Fauna on stamps: fauna

Showing posts with label fauna. Show all posts

Monday, December 31, 2012

Eels of Fiji

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On October 15, 2008, Fiji Post issued a set of four stamps feature the Fresh Water Eels. The 50 c and $1.50 stamps present Anguilla obscura, meanwhile the 90c stamp presents Anguilla marmorata, and the $2.0 stamp presents Gymnothorax polyuranodon.

Anguilla obscura is belongs to the group of anguillas which have a short dorsal fin which originates slightly before the anus.

Inhabits freshwater streams, lakes and swamps, favouring coastal lagoons and the lower reaches of rivers. Spawning adults occur in marine waters. Sub-adults spend most of their lives in fresh or brackish waters. Found in large turbid rivers and small creeks . Occurs both in running and stagnant waters. Feeds mainly on fishes, crustaceans and mollusks.

Niue Post issued a miniature sheet consist of four stamps feature the Niue’s shells in year 2012.The shells depicted are the map cowrie (Leporicypraea mappa), geography cone (Gastridium geographus), partridge tun (Tonna perdix) and tiger cowrie (Cypraea tigris).

The $ 1.20 stamp represents the Map cowrie is common name of Mauritia mappa.

It is a species of sea snail, a cowry, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Cypraeidae, the cowries.The map cowry was named on the basis of its distinct color pattern, because of the longitudinal lines and the easily distinguishable and sinuous mantle groove, which creates a resemblance to ancient maps

This is considered an economically important species in the Indo-West Pacific, where it is usually collected both for food and for shell trading.

Caribbean Sea Flowers

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Montserrat Post released a set of four stamps feature the Caribbean Sea flowers on May 2, 2006. The species depicted on stamps are Tube dwelling anemone , Giant Caribean Anemone , Beadlet Anemone, Golden Crinoid.

Tube Dwelling Anemone or Pachycerianthus fimbriatus is a mono-chromal anemone that burrows in substrate through a semi-rigid tube. The anemone is often seen in bright orange to red. Like most anemones, the tube-dwelling anemone contains stinging cells or nematocytes along its tentacles, however, the cells are not toxic to humans.They feeds on small crustaceans.

Fish of Tokelau

The three tiny atolls of Tokelau are placed in the vast Pacific Ocean, and are surrounded by a range of fish species, four of which feature on the ‘Fish of Tokelau’ stamp issue.

The fish illustrated in this colourful stamp issue are the kakahi (yellowfin tuna), the palu malau (ruby snapper), the paala (wahoo) and the mahi-mahi (common dolphinfish).

The 40c stamp represents Kakahi (Thunnus albacares) fish. Kakahi (Thunnus albacares) are commonly found at depths of 100 to 120 metres in Tokelau, and are a favourite catch of Tokelauans. They are torpedo-shaped with dark metallic-blue backs, yellow sides and silver bellies.

Kakahi (Thunnus albacares) or The yellowfin tuna is among the larger tuna species, reaching weights of over 400 pounds. Yellowfin tuna prey include other fish, pelagic crustaceans, and squid.

Freshwater Gobies of Fiji

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Freshwater streams and rivers within Fiji and the wider Indo-Pacific are inhabited by the agile and often beautiful fishes from family Gobiidae.

Pay tribute to this species, Fiji post issued a set of four stamps feature Sicyopterus lagocephalus, Stiphodon rutilaurens, Sicyopus zosterophorum , Stiphodon sp on April 5, 2007.

The 20 c stamp represent Sicyopterus lagocephalus species. Sicyopterus lagocephalus is known from the Comoro Islands, Mascarene Islands, Sri Lanka and western of Indonesia in the Indian Ocean, and from Indonesia to the Society Islands and japan to Australia, New Caledonia, Solomon Islands and now Fiji in the Pacific.

Sicyopterus lagocephalus is almost always found in moderate flowing to very swift clear streams with boulder-strewn bottoms often also with smaller gravel, sand and minimum silt. It will be reach a maximum size of about 13 cm. This species appears the most tolerant to a range water qualities and is also widest ranging of Fijian Sicydiinae.

The Swordfish

Swordfish are large , highly migratory, predatory fish characterized by a long, flat bill. They have characteristics are elongated, round-bodied, and lose all teeth and scales by adulthood.

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On April 7, 2003, Mayotte Post issued one stamp feature the Swordfish as part of their fauna stamp series. Swordfish found widely in tropical and temperate parts of the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian oceans, and can typically be found from near the surface to a depth of 550 m .They commonly reach 3 m in length.

Mainly the swordfish relies on its great speed and agility in the water to catch its prey. Their speed average of 60 mph .They are a popular sport fish of the billfish category, though elusive.

Swordfish are vigorous, powerful fighters. When hooked or harpooned, they have been known to dive so quickly that they have impaled their swords into the ocean bottom up to their eyes. Although there are no reports of unprovoked attacks on humans, swordfish can be very dangerous when harpooned. They have run their swords through the planking of small boats when hurt.

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Birds of Mayotte

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Mayotte Post issued a set of four stamps features birds species on September 21, 2012. The issues are depicting birds of Mayotte , i.e: Souimanga, Drongo, Faudy, and Oiseau-lunette.

Souimanga

The Souimanga Sunbird (Cinnyris sovimanga) is a small passerine bird of the sunbird family, Nectariniidae.

The Souimanga Sunbird is 10 cm long with a wingspan of 13 cm.The black bill is long, thin and curved. It is native to the islands of the western Indian Ocean where it occurs on Madagascar, the Aldabra Group and the Glorioso Islands.

Males of the nominate subspecies have a metallic green head, back and throat. The breast is blackish with a more or less continuous red band while the belly is yellow and the wings and tail are brown. There are yellow tufts at the sides of the breast which become visible when the birds lift their wings in courtship display

Latvian National Bird

To dedicate the Latvian Bird, Latvia Post pleased to issue one stamp feature the White Wagtail or Motacilla alba as their National Bird on August 30, .2003.

Motacilla alba

The White Wagtail is the national bird of Latvia. This is a slender bird, 16.5–19 cm in length with the characteristic long, constantly wagging tail of its genus. The basic appearance is grey above and white below, with a white face, black cap and black throat.

The White Wagtail (Motacilla alba) is a small passerine bird in the wagtail family Motacillidae which breeds in much of Europe and Asia and parts of north Africa. The major diet of White Wagtails are terrestrial and aquatic insects and other small invertebrates.

Motacilla alba is an insectivorous bird of open country, often near habitation and water. It prefers bare areas for feeding, where it can see and pursue its prey. In urban areas it has adapted to foraging on paved areas such as car parks. It nests in crevices in stone walls and similar natural and man-made structures.

Saturday, November 24, 2012

Fiji's Endemic Fish–Siganus Uspi

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Fiji Post Limited proudly to issue a set of four stamps feature their endemic fish, USP Rabbitfish or Siganus Uspi on August 2003.

USP Rabbitfish or Siganus uspi is known under several different names, Fiji Bicolor Foxface Rabbitfish. USP Rabbitfish lives in the Western Pacific and is considered endemic to the waters of Fiji. Occasional specimens have however been found in New Caledonia.

Classified(discovered) and named by Michael J. Gawel after USP (University of the South Pacific). Siganus uspi has not been evaluated for the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

Dolphins of the Pitcairn Islands

On April 26, 2012, Pitcairn Islands Post has been issued the stamp series feature dolphins which found in their islands. The dolphins species depicted on stamps are Fraser’s dolphin or Lagenodelphis hosei, Spinner dolphin or Stenella longirostris, Spotted dolphin or Stenella attenuata, Spotted dolphin or Stenella attenuata.

Murex Shells of Fiji

Fiji Post Limited pleased to issue a set of four postage stamps feature Fiji’s murex shells on August 20, 2002. The issue stamps are depicting murex shells species : Saul’s murex or Chicoreus saulii, Murex tribulus or Caltrop Murex, Purple Pacific Droop or Drupa morvum , and Ramose Murex or chicoreus ramosus.

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The 69c stamp present Saul’s Murex or Chicoreus saulii. Chicoreus saulii is a species of sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Muricidae, the murex snails or rock snails.

The shell size varies between 60 mm and 142 mm.This species is distributed in the Indian Ocean along the Mascarene Basin; in the Pacific Ocean along Japan and Papua New Guinea.

Chicoreus saulii is found almost exclusively on the seaward reef, either under rocks during the day or in ledges and small caves at night. It is nearly always found covered with its red sponge coat, although it can wear off on some older specimens. The shells with the sponge rarely have any kind of calcareous growths on the shell, but shells that lose the protective red covering quickly become encrusted.

Coral Reef Shrimps of Fiji

Fiji Post Limited released a set of 4 postage stamps feature the Fiji’s Coral reef shrimps on June 30, 2004 . The shrimp species depicted on stamps are Boxer shrimp or Stenopus tenuirostris, Bumblebee shrimp or Gnathophyllum americanum, Mantis shrimp or Odontodactylus scyllarus, Anemone shrimp or Peroclimenes brevicarpalls.

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The 58 c stamp presents Blue Coral Shrimp, or Blue Boxing Shrimp , also known as Stenopus tenuirostris . Blue Coral Shrimp, are also sometimes referred to as "Boxing Shrimp". Both males and females have very large front claws that can be close to their entire body length in size. They also have long, whisker-like antennae.

This tough and hardy critter is frequently seen cleaning parasites off of fish but is also capable of eating them as it grows larger. It is best known for wiping out complete populations of bristle worms. It will likely attack other shrimps and crustaceans; including snails.

Tree Top Walk

To dedicated the Care for Nature, Singapore Post issued a set of four stamps feature the “Tree Top Walk” species on October 19, 2005 . The species depicted on stamps are Red-crowned Barbet, Singapore Adenia, Colugo, and Common Tree Nymph.

Red-crowned Barbet

The Red-crowned Barbet (Megalaima rafflesii) is a species of bird in the Ramphastidae family. It is found in Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, and Thailand.

Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and plantations. It is threatened by habitat loss.

Singapore Adenia or Adenia macrophylla var. singaporeana

The Singapore Adenia is a botanical variety of the species Adenia macrophylla. This variety occurs only in Johor and Singapore. Here, this nationally rare forest-edge species is found in Chek Jawa and along the pipeline in the Central Catchment Nature Reserve.

Barred-winged Rail

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Fiji Post dedicated to the extinct bird species by issuing a set of two stamps series which represented in one beautiful miniature sheet on December 3, 2007. The species featured on stamps is the Barred-winged Rail (Nesoclopeus poecilopterus).

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The Barred-winged Rail (Nesoclopeus poecilopterus) was a species of bird in the Rallidae family. It was endemic to Fiji. It has not been recorded since 1973 and is now Extinct.

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Nesoclopeus poecilopterus was a flightless island ground-nesting forest/freshwater swamp dweller and is believed to have disappeared after the introduction of the mongoose and cats to the islands.

Friday, November 9, 2012

Birds of Latvia - 2011

Latvia Post has issued a set of two stamps series feature Latvian Birds, following the previous series “Birds of Latvia 2010” on September 23, 2011. The issued stamps depict Icterine Warbler and Snake Eagle, design by artist Ģirts Grīva .

Hippolais icterina

The Icterine Warbler (Hippolais icterina) is a small songbird, found in the territory of Latvia from early spring to fall. The bird is most frequently found in bushes of woodland, as well as in parks and gardens; it loves being near water. The Icterine Warbler is insectivorous, but also takes other food items, such as berries. The Icterine Warbler's song sounds like a fast murmur.

The Icterine Warbler (Hippolais icterina) is an Old World warbler in the tree warbler genus Hippolais. The term icterine refers to its yellowish colouration. It breeds in mainland Europe except the southwest.It is migratory, wintering in sub-Saharan Africa.

The stamps are accompanied by a release of two first-day envelopes and special cancellations. The envelopes show the Icterine Warbler and the Snake Eagle in their typical environment, while the cancellation depicts each bird graphically.

Snails of Algerie

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Algerie Poste pleased to release a set of two stamps feature snails, Rumina decollata and Helix aspersa, on May 21, 2003.

Rumina decollata is a medium-sized predatory land snail, and feeds readily upon common garden snails and slugs and their eggs.

Rumina decollata, or Decollate snail, is a species of terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Subulinidae. It is a European species that has been introduced in a number of areas worldwide.Decollate snails are tolerant of dry and cold conditions, during which they burrow deep into the soil. They are most active during the night and during rainfall.

Its shell is long and roughly cone-shaped. Rumina decollata grows to approximately 40 mm in length, and upon reaching mature size, grinds or chips off the end of its own shell by moving its body roughly against hard surfaces, so that the shell takes on a decollate shape, tapering to a blunt end.

Birds of Latvia - 2010

In regularly, Latvia Post commenced the Birds of Latvia series in 2010 by issuing the stamps European Roller and Eagle-owl on June 18, 2010.

European Roller

The European Roller is a stocky bird, the size of a Jackdaw at 29–32 cm in length with a 52–58 cm wingspan; it is mainly blue with an orange-brown back.

The European Roller often perch prominently on trees, posts or overhead wires, like giant shrikes, whilst watching for the large insects, small reptiles, rodents and frogs that they eat.

The European Roller (Coracias garrulus) is the only member of the roller family of birds to breed in Europe. Its overall range extends into the Middle East and Central Asia and Morocco.

The European Roller is striking in its strong direct flight, with the brilliant blue contrasting with black flight feathers. Sexes are similar, but the juvenile is a drabber version of the adult. It nests in an unlined tree or cliff hole, and lays up to six eggs.

The European Roller has a large global population, including an estimated 100,000-220,000 individuals in Europe. In Latvia and Lithuania populations have decreased from several thousand of pairs in the 1970s to under 30 pairs in 2004.

Tiger Moths and Ermines of Alderney

Alderney Post pleased to present a beautifully stamps, illustrated by renowned international artist Petula Stone, features six of the distinctive Tiger Moths which can be found in Alderney on July 25, 2012. The issues are a wonderful edition to the Alderney Invertebrates series which depicts Garden Tiger Moth (Arctia caja), Cream Spot Tiger Moth (Arctia villica), Buff Ermine (Spilosoma lutea), Ruby Tiger Moth (Phragmatobia fuliginosa), Jersey Tiger Moth (Euplagia quadripunctaria) , and Cinnabar (Tyria jacobaeae) .

Birds in Winter

The Isle of Man Post is pleased to present a set of six stamps feature the birds found in their islands during winter season on the 28th September 2011. The featured birds are depicts by artist Jeremy Paul, the Isle of Man artist. The issue stamps also encompassed the 2011 Europa theme forest (68p stamp) and the SEPAC theme of Scenery (58p stamp).

Robin

The Robin is a plump bird with bright orange-red breast, face, throat and cheeks edged with grey, a white belly and olive-brown upper parts. The sexes are very similar.They have a brown bill and legs.This bird is almost synonymous with winter appearing on countless Christmas cards.

The Robin's diet is principally insects and worms, which it will normally catch by swooping, that is to say, snatching its prey on the ground after watching for movement from a perch above. They will also often follow a gardener that is digging the soil over for any easy pickings

In the winter, resident birds are joined by immigrants from continental Europe, mostly from Scandinavia. The immigrants are also generally less tame because they skulk in woodlands, only British Robins are a tame garden bird.

Insects and spiders of Iceland

The fifth stamp series of insects and spiders has issued by Iceland Post on January 29,2009. The issue consist of two stamps designed by Arnar Snorrason and depict two species are Moth flies (psychodidae) and Field spider (Gnaphosidae)

Moth flies (Psychodidae) are common around farms and outhouses. These are strange little flies with a short hairy torso and hairy wings. At least two species of moth flies can be found in Iceland.

Moth flies (Psychodidae) are small true flies (Diptera) with short, hairy bodies and wings giving them a "furry" moth-like appearance.Adult Psychodidae are typically nocturnal , mostly active at night and prefer wetlands and other moist places.

Monday, December 31, 2012

Sunday, December 30, 2012

Tuesday, December 25, 2012

The 40c stamp represents Kakahi (Thunnus albacares) fish. Kakahi (Thunnus albacares) are commonly found at depths of 100 to 120 metres in Tokelau, and are a favourite catch of Tokelauans. They are torpedo-shaped with dark metallic-blue backs, yellow sides and silver bellies.

Kakahi (Thunnus albacares) or The yellowfin tuna is among the larger tuna species, reaching weights of over 400 pounds. Yellowfin tuna prey include other fish, pelagic crustaceans, and squid.

Monday, December 24, 2012

Friday, November 30, 2012

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Sunday, November 25, 2012

Saturday, November 24, 2012

Friday, November 23, 2012

Sunday, November 18, 2012

Saturday, November 17, 2012

Friday, November 16, 2012

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Friday, November 9, 2012

Thursday, November 8, 2012

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Saturday, October 27, 2012

Friday, October 26, 2012

Friday, October 19, 2012