Reptiles of Timor Leste

The Republic of Timor-Leste issued a series of stamps featuring the reptiles of Timor Leste in commemoration of the 35th Anniversary of the Proclamation of Independence and the International Year of Biodiversity, and in conjunction with a biodiversity survey conduced by the Timor Lorosa’e National University.

The species featured on six postage stamps are the  Timor river frog, the Snake-necked turtle, the Island pit-viper, the Timor monitor, the Bronze-back serpent, and the Saltwater crocodile.

The 50c stamp  represents a frog species, Timor river frog. The Timor river frog (Limnonectes timorensis) has extremely smooth skin, with the few warts present confined to the flanks of the body beneath a pair of distinctive ridges that separate the dorsum from the flanks.

The Timor river frog is  a large, alert, big-eyed frog, member of the genus Limnonectes and has powerful hind-limbs  for leap a considerable distance to escape a predator. The long toes of the hind-feet are partially webbed for swimming.

Reptiles of Aland - 2002

 

Aland Post issued the stamp set features reptiles series on January 2, 2002. The issue stamps composed of two postage stamps depicted the Smooth snake (Coronella austricia) and the Great crested newt (Triturus cristatus).

 

Smooth snake (Coronella austriaca)

Coronella austriaca ( smooth snake^[) is a harmless colubrid species found in northern and central Europe. but also as far east as northern Iran. In Finland, the species is found only on the Åland Islands. Colubridae is the largest snake family. Colubrid species are found on every continent except Antarctica.

Both sexes grow to an average length of about 50 cm .The head has a rostral scale that is at least as deep as it is wide, creating a triangular indentation between the internasals. The top of the head is covered with 9 large plates. Dorsally, the head has a somewhat heart-shaped marking that resembles an inverted V posteriorly. This shape is where the name Coronella comes from, which means coronet (a small crown).