Fauna of Hungary 2013

 

Magyar Posta issued the stamps present the breeds and species of animal indigenous to Hungary on stamps on April 09, 2013. The issuance features the protected predatory and insectivorous mammals like : the stoat, pygmy shrew, European lynx and greater mouse-eared bat  on the stamps in the series, and the northern white-breasted hedgehog is shown on a numbered stamp block.

 

Stoat (Mustela erminea) •

 

The stoat (Mustela erminea), also known as the short-tailed weasel, is a species of Mustelidae native to Eurasia and North America, distinguished from the least weasel by its larger size and longer tail with a prominent black tip.

This long, slim animal favours damp habitats and avoids closed forests. It mainly eats small rodents and birds. It is an opportunistic, skilful predator.

Its winter coat is entirely white except for the black tail, and in the summer its coat is sandy brown on the back, white on its belly and chest, and black at the tip of its tail.

The stoat is classed by the IUCN as Least Concern, due to its wide circumpolar distribution, and because it does not face any significant threat to its survival. It is listed among the 100 "world's worst invasive species".

Seafood Creatures of Faroe Islands

 

In Faroes,  the Norwegian Lobster with its elegant and succulent meat is very much sought after by the restaurants, but also new-comers like the Brown Crab and the Deep Sea Red Crab are gaining more and more popularity.

To devoted the specific seafood in the Faroes Island ,  one set  of four stamp series  has been issued on February 25,2013, designed by Astrid Andreasen features the edible popular sea-animal, Brown Crab (Cancer pagurus), Deep Sea Red Crab (Chaceon affinis ), Shrimps ( Pandaulus borealis), Lobster ( Nephrops norvegicus ).

 

Brown Crab - Cancer pagurus

The Brown Crab ( Cancer pagurus) also known as the Edible Crab . The shield is reddish brown and claws have a purple tinge with black tips.  The difference between male and female crabs by the tail below the belly side, which is wider on females. The shield can be 30 cm wide, rarely more than 20 cm, and the crab's total weight can reach up to 5 kg.

It is most often found on hard seabed, that is, rock. The crab's diet consists mostly of benthic invertebrates such as mussels and horse mussels. In summer, the Brown Crab lives on 1 to 30 m depth, and in winter between 30 to 50 meters depth.

When the Brown Crab is 5 - 6 years old, it becomes sexually mature. It changes shield in the summer, and when it has thrown the old shield and got a new one, it will mate.

Endangered Species - Giant Panda

 

In year 2013, continuing the previous edition, Guernsey Post issued special stamps for endangered species, featuring the animal species,  Panda .

 

 

Peaceful and secretive creatures, Giant Pandas have steadily lost their forest habitat to China’s expanding human population. These striking animals, which were once widespread in southern and eastern China, are now confined to fragmented forest patches high in the southwestern mountains. 

Classified by the IUCN as Endangered, the most recent study of Giant Pandas and their habitat revealed there are only around 1,600 left in the wild. Restricted and degraded habitat is the greatest threat to Giant Pandas. The animals’ range has contracted due to the conversion of forests to agricultural areas, poaching, and large-scale development activities such as road and rail construction.

As member of the bear family, the Giant Panda is the only species in its genus. The animals have the digestive system of a carnivore, but have adapted to a vegetarian diet. They depend almost exclusively on bamboo as a food source and can eat up to 80 pounds of this fibrous plant in just one day.

Clivia Flower Plant

Clivia nobilis is only found in the Eastern Cape Province, specifically from the Sundays River Mouth, extending up along the coast to the Mbashe River area, with colonies occurring as far inland as in the vicinity of Grahamstown, the Olifants Kop pass. 

Clivia nobilis is found under evergreen forest, low bush (thicket) and amongst dune vegetation. The inland populations are found in wooded kloofs where they grow on riverbanks, rocky outcrops and along forest margins. 

 

The populations growing primary in coastal dune vegetation and sand are normally more exposed, with the plants near the top of dunes grow in full sunlight.

The inflorescence consists of an umbel of 20-60 florets borne on a peduncle about 300 mm long The florets are pinkish yellow to dark red with green tips . They are pendulous tubular, about 11 mm wide and 25 - 40 mm long.

 

 

South Africa Post proud to released  a miniature sheet consist of six stamps feature the Clivia Flower Plant,  which are found in South Africa, on August 8, 2006.  The sheet depict Clivia miniata, Clivia gardenii, Clivia nobilis, Clivia  robusta , Clavia Mirabilis and Clivia  caulescens .

Clavia miniata, Clavia gardenii, Clavia robusta and Clavia caulescens seedlings flower after four to five years. Clavia nobilis will flower after seven or eight years. It is reported that Clavia mirabilis also takes about 6 years to flower.

 

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.

Niue Shells 2012

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

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.

 

Bumble Bees

Slovenia Post issued a set of four  stamps in three single stamp and one in souvenir sheet stamp  that dedicated to the  bumblebees species, e.g: the Red-tailed bumblebee or Bombus lapidarius, the  Common carderbee or Bombus pascuorum , the  Brown-banded carder-bee or Bombus humilis , the  White-tailed bumble-bee or  Bombus  lucorum on September 28, 2012.

Red-tailed bumblebee or Bombus lapidarius is one of the larger bumblebees in Slovenia. It is covered with black and, at the end of its abdomen, red hairs. They have a medium long tongue, 10-14 mm.

These bees prefer to nest underground and the base of dry stone dykes and walls are popular locations. The size of the nest can vary considerably from over 200 bees to less than 100.

Colonies are strong, with 100 to 300 individuals.Workers fly to forage,as far as several kilometres from the nest. They pollinate over 200 species of,plant, including many cultivated ones such as fruit trees and clover.

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

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.

Corals of Mayotte

 

Mayotte Post released the unique souvenir sheet stamp, consist of four stamps presents corals on July 2, 2007. The species are depicted Acropora palmata, Gorgone eventail, the Staghorn coral, Brain coral which are found in Mayotte. 

Corail corne d’elan or Elk horn coral (Acropora palmata) is a leading corals forming coral reefs of the Caribbean . Acroporas grow in the coral reefs of the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans.

It has a complex structure with many large branches that form a habitat for various reef dwellers such as lobsters , the parrotfish .

 

Coral colonies horned elk grow incredibly fast (5 to 10 cm per year) and can reach a diameter of 3.50 meters. Its color varies from brown to yellowish-brown. The result of a symbiosis with zooxanthellae living within the coral tissues. This alga performs photosynthesis and pourvoie the coral nutrients .

Turtles of Montserrat

 

Montserrat Post issued a set of stamps feature marine turtles on August 8, 2007. The issue stamps depict 5 species of marine turtles,e.g:  Hawksbill turtle, Green turtle, Leatherback turtle, Loggerhead turtle, and Kemps Ridley turtle. 

The present of stamp in a sheetlet comprised of four stamps and one souvenir sheet comprised of one stamp.

Kemp's ridley is a small living sea turtle species, reaching maturity at 60–90 centimetres long and averaging only 45 kilograms . Its colour is olive green above and yellowish below.

Kemp's ridley sea turtles generally prefer warm waters. Their range includes the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico.The Kemp's ridley turtle feeds on molluscs, crustaceans, jellyfish, algae or seaweed, and sea urchins.

The hawksbill's appearance is similar to that of other marine turtles. It has a generally flattened body shape, a protective carapace, and flipper-like arms, adapted for swimming in the open ocean.  

This is a relatively small species of sea turtles. It is identified by its thick, overlapping shell scutes and its four pairs of lateral scutes.

 

The hawksbill sea turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) is a critically endangered sea turtle belonging to the family Cheloniidae.  The species has a worldwide distribution, with Atlantic and Pacific subspecies.

50th Anniversary of WWF – Macao

Macao China Post, has commemorated the 50th Anniversary of WWF by issuing a set of four stamps  on 11th of  September 2011 .

The protected bird species like: Pynonotus sinensis, Streptopelia chinensis, Ixobrychus sinensis and Centropus sinensis.

The 1.50 ptcs stamp shown Pycnonotus sinensis or Chinese bulbul. The Light-vented Bulbul (Pycnonotus sinensis), is a bird and a member of the bulbul family.The bulbul is common in East Asia, including Hong Kong, mainland China, Taiwan, Korea and Japan.

The birds of Taiwan are of an endemic subspecies.The particular characteristic is the large white patch covering the nape and the sides of its black head. It also sings very brightly.the species is evaluated as Least Concern.

 

Red Cardinal Fody

 

Mayotte Post issued  a stamp feature bird species, Red Cardinal Fody on January 12, 2009. It is a common bird found in forest clearings, grasslands and cultivated areas.

The Red Cardinal  Fody , sometimes known as Foudia madagascariensis , is a small bird native to Madagascar. It has been introduced to other areas of the Indian Ocean, included the Amirantes, Comoros, Seychelles, Mauritius and Réunion.The population tend to stable and  species is evaluated as Least Concern. 

 

The Red Fody is about 5 inches in length and weighs 14–19 grams. The male of the species is bright red with black markings around each eye. Its wings and tail are olive-brown. The female fody's upper body is olive-brown and its underbody is greyish-brown.