Eels of Fiji

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.

Freshwater Gobies of Fiji

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.

Fiji's "Teri" Purple Swamp

Fiji Post Limited issued a special souvenir sheet stamp consist of two stamps that features the endemic bird of Fiji, Fiji's "Teri" Purple Swamp, or the Purple Swamphen (Porphyrio porphyrio) on July 20, 2006.

The Purple Swamphen (Porphyrio porphyrio), is a large bird in the family Rallidae (rails).  This chicken-sized bird, with its huge feet, bright plumage and red bill and frontal shield is easily-recognizable in its native range.

This species is sedentary, nomadic or partially migratory, with many populations making local seasonal movements in response to changing habitat conditions .

The species is mainly crepuscular and forages in the early-morning and late-evening.It breeds in solitary territorial pairs (especially in pastures)  or in small communal groups containing several breeding males, breeding females and non-breeding helpers (especially in swamps) .

Fiji's Endemic Fish–Siganus Uspi

 

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.

Passion Fruit of Fiji

Dedicated to the Passion Fruit plants, Fiji Post Limited issued a set of four stamps features these specific fruit on September 29, 2009. The species depicted on stamps are Passiflora foetida, Passiflora edulis, Passiflora maliformis.

The 20c stamp present fruit Passiflora foetida.

Passiflora foetida is a species of passion flower that is native to the southwestern United States , Mexico, the Caribbean, Central America, and much of South America. It has been introduced to tropical regions around the world

The stems are thin and wiry, covered with minute sticky yellow hairs. Older stems become woody. The leaves are three- to five-lobed and viscid-hairy. When crushed, these leaves give off a pungent odor that some people consider unpleasant.

The flowers are white to pale cream coloured, about 5–6 cm diameter. The fruit is globose, 2–3 cm diameter, yellowish-orange to red when ripe, and has numerous black seeds embedded in the pulp; the fruit are eaten and the seeds dispersed by birds

Passiflora foetida contains high levels of saponins and is used as a substitute for soap in the manufacture of (soap-free) detergents .

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.

 

 

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.

 

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.

Barred-winged Rail

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).

 

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.

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.

Pacific Year of the Coral Reef

 

1997, as part of a global campaign has been designated Pacific Year of the Coral Reef. Coral reefs with their immense diversity and myriad of colours are among the most productive and important ecosystems in the world .Coral reefs are home to a huge array of fish, crustaceans, molluscs and worms.Coral reefs are important as a resource to island nations. The increasing pressure on the reef ecosystems however, has made it necessary to implement an awareness campaign to highlight the importance and fragility of coral reefs.

There are over 148 species of hard coral (Sceractinians) and soft coral (Alcyonarians) within the waters of the Fiji Islands. Several species have depicted on the stamps which are issued for commemorating the Pacific Year of the Coral Reef.

 

63 cents - Pocillopora verrucosa (Ellis and Solander, 1786)

 This species has a wide geographic distribution, being found from the Red Sea and Eastern Africa throughout the Pacific.This hard coral is common in the shallow waters of the lagoon and reflect, but occurs as thickly branched colonies in the wave affected areas of the reef slope.Colonies are characterised by branches with small protuberances (verrucae) on them. The branches are thicker and more compact where there is wave action, with a more open appearance in protected areas such as lagoons.

87 cents - Favia rotumana (Gardiner, 1899)

It was hard coral found on the upper reef slopes and in the pools on the flat reef. Its growth form is messy and usually hemispherical or rounded. The corallites are irregular in shape, with the polyps often containing more than one centre or mouth. Its robust growth form makes it resistant to wave action. Tolerance of the environmental variation (turbidity, temperature and salinity fluctuations) in the shallow reef flat zone allow colonisation of a variety of reef habitats. Its range extends from the South China Sea throughout the Eastern Pacific to the Samoas.

$1 - Sinularia sp.

  This is soft coral. They can be distinguished from hard corals from their large fleshy colonies, which are soft or leathery in nature without a rock-like skeleton.The living polyp has eight tentacles (Octocorals), for feeding, whereas the hard corals have six or multiples of six (Hexacorals). They are common on the back reef margin of the barrier and inshore on fringing reefs where there is a silt or turbid environment. They are the dominant organism on some reefs, completely covering large areas to the exclusion of all else.

 
$3 - Dendronephthya sp.

This is the most colourful of soft corals appearing as iridescent reds, pinks and yellows. Their bright colour is due, in part, to the lack of the small, unicellular algae which live in the tissues of most hard and soft corals. As a consequence, the preferred habitat is deeper water, in shaded areas under overhangs and the entrance to caves. They occur on offshore reefs where there is clear water and good circulation. The colonies from branching tree-life colonies where the polyps are borne on the end of the branches. They have prominent skeletal spicules or sclerites which provide defence and give the colony a spiky appearance.

 

LiveJournal Tags: Coral reef,Fiji

The life circle of Hawksbill Turtle on stamps.

The Green Turtle and Hawksbill Turtle species are relatively common in Fiji, whereas the Loggerhead and the Leatherback are quite rare.

The Hawksbill turtle is one of the smaller species and has a distinctive and very beautiful shell made up of overlapping plates. It is most easily recognised by the notched edges or 'spurs' to the 22 edge plates of its shell. The adult turtle is about 90cm long. Hawksbill turtles feed on sponges and soft corals, which are found on the reef. Hawksbill turtles live near the shore and the females come ashore on many small islands in the Fiji group between November and February to lay eggs.

The following stamps have issued by Fiji Post on 1997, depicted a stage in the turtle's life cycle that very little is known about on 4 stamps and one souvenir sheets. The issues are very helpful to human for learning the Hawksbill life.

63 cents - Female Hawksbill

The stamp has depicted a female Hawksbill turtle, laying her eggs after having struggled up the beach to dig out her nest by using the front flippers and back flippers to form a vertical tunnel, the egg chamber. Turtles lay eggs every 2-3 years.The number of eggs laid, is generally between 100-200.

81 cents - Group of baby hawksbill This stamp depicted a group of Baby Hawksbill turtles emerging from the nest, and scrambling towards the sea. It is hard to tell the sex of a small turtle just by looking at it. An adult male can be identified by its long tail and long claws on the front of the flippers.

$1.06 - Hawksbill at adolescence

After leaving the nest and entering the ocean, turtles are seldom seen until their carapace is 35-40cm long when they move to live and feed in shallow waters.Those hatchlings, which survive to cross the reef, swim until they reach deep water where ocean currents help the turtles drift for the first few years.

$2 - The adult Hawksbill

The stamp depicted the results of many years of seclusion and a life fraught with danger.After mating, the males return to the feeding grounds, while the females stay near the nesting beaches, where a month later she clambers out of the sea and up to the beach to lay her eggs.

Papilio Schmeltzii Swallowtail - Fiji

Schmeltzi's Swallowtail, is Fiji's largest butterfly and is one of some 44 species of butterfly that inhabit Fiji.

The caterpillar or larva molt several times as they grow.It was depicted on (85c) value of stamp.They feed on poisonous plants and are toxic themselves and will actually advertise their presence by being brightly colored. Predator recognize these colors and will not touch them.

The pupa stage is when the most dramatic changes happen and metamorphosis is taking place. It is the most vulnerable stage so mimicry is highly developed. Chrysalis will look like an emerging bud or fruit or like a dead leaf. Butterfly support itself by a silk threat that is spun by the larva before it pupates. It will remain in this form for weeks. It is all shown on ($3) value of stamp.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

The newly emerged adult butterfly from its chrysalis is called metamorphosis. This process has been depicted on (58c) value of stamp. It will take 20 minute for the wing to unfold and will take up to 1 hour for the wing to be harden before its attempt to fly.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The stamp with $1.41 value, depicted adult butterfly that has function to mate and perpetuate the species. Figure on stamp shown butterfly feeding nectar of a flower.

Endangered bird of fiji, Re-throated Lorikeet.

Red-throated Lorikeet or Charmosyna amabilis , has 18 cm long and entirely green but for red cheeks, throat and thighs. Red throat bordered with yellow. Mustard-yellow undertail and tail tips.High-pitched squeaks uttered whilst feeding or in flight.
This species qualifies as Critically Endangered lorikeet because a tiny population which is continuing to decline as a result of predation from introduced rats and loss of habitat. It is endemic to Fiji and found in the islands of Viti Levu, Vanua Levu, Taveuni and Ovalau. Population estimated is less than 50 .

This last stamp of endanger bird series of Fiji which collaborated with Bird Life International.

Endangered bird of Fiji, Pink-billed parrotfinch

Pink-billed Parrotfinch , Erythrura kleinschmidti ,is approximately 11 cm long, robust, greenish finch with outsized bill . The species has olive-green with black face, bluish crown and nape and red rump. This species is restricted to a single subpopulation on the island of Viti Levu in Fiji and qualifies as Vulnerable because recent surveys have shown that even though it has a larger population than previously estimated, the population is still small, and declining owing to habitat loss. The population estimated between 2,500-9,999. It is mainly found in mature, wet forest up to 1,000 m, sometimes found in secondary scrub and plantations.

To be continue in next of last species.

Engangered Birds of Fiji, Silktail

Silktail, Lamprolia victoriae is a small black bird 12cm with rounded long wings, iridescent metallic blue crown and breast, silky white lower-back patch and white rounded pattern of short tail. The Silktail is endemic to forests of Taveuni and Vanua Levu islands of Fiji. 12 cm. This species is classified as Near Threatened because it has a moderately small population within a very small range, and numbers are declining owing to losses of mature forest through continuing logging, plantation establishment and clearing for agriculture. Population estimated between 16,000 - 28,000.

To be continue in next species of bird.

Endangered birds from Fiji, Long legged Warbler

Long legged warbler, or Trichocichla rufa have characteristic are 17 cm in length with a long-tailed secretive warbler of the forest floor. Upperparts rather warm brown with a distinct long fine silvery supercilium. White throat contrast with buffy-rufous breast-sides and flanks, fading into an off-white belly. Fairly long bluish legs, and medium-short black bill.This species is endemic Viti Levu and Vanua Levu on Fiji. This species was recently rediscovered and has been listed as Endangered because it is estimated to have a very small population, approximately 50 – 249.

To be continue in the next issue.