Tropical Fish I

On May 12, 2008, the Marshall Islands Postal Service issued stamps featuring colourful Tropical Fish , i.e: the Common Longnose Butterflyfish, the Longfin Bannerfish and the Emperor Butterflyfish. Featuring artwork by noted artist Gordon Drummond.

The $0.94 stamp depicts the Common Longnose Butterflyfish. The Yellow Longnose Butterflyfish lives alone, in pairs or in small groups consisting of less than six individuals. Adult fish usually live in pairs. The Yellow Longnose Butterflyfish has a bright yellow body adorned with a black eye-spot on the anal fin (close to the caudal peduncle). The head is black above and silvery-white below. Over the eye, you can see a disruptive black bar.The Yellow Longnose Butterflyfish inhabits the Indo-Pacific and Eastern Pacific. In the Indo-Pacific, the species is found from East Africa and the Red Sea to Hawaii and the Easter Islands . Northwards, their range proceeds up to southern Japan.

The $4.80 stamp depicts the Longfin Bannerfish. The Longfin bannerfish has a white and black striped body. The stripes or bands are wide and vertical. The dorsal fin is extremely elongated extending upwards and then backwards. It ends far behind the tail fin. The tailfin is yellow.The "Poor Man's Moorish Idol" or Longfin bannerfish is suitable for community tanks with other peaceful species. They should not be kept with aggressive species.The Longfin bannerfish originates from Indo Pacific Ocean. It can be found from the coast of east Africa in the Indian Ocean to the Society Islands in the Pacific Ocean. The northern distribution limit is located in southern Japan and the southern distribution limit is situated at Lord Howe Island.

The $ 16.50 stamp depicts the Emperor Butterflyfish.The latin name is Chaetodontoplus mesoleucos. This species is belong of the genus Chaetodontoplus.The alternate common name is Red sea butterflyfish. Found singly or in pairs in coral rich areas of coastal reefs and lagoons.They feed on sponges, algae and benthic invertebrates.The length of body  is 18 cm .They live in depth of the sea ranges from 2 – 20 m and wide spread in the Asian Pacific .

LiveJournal Tags: Emperor butterflyfish,Longfin Bannerfish,Common Longnose butterflyfish,Tropical fish,Marshall Islands

Tropical Fish II

On June 24, 2008, the Marshall Islands Postal Service issues two new stamps each on its own sheet featuring colourful Tropical Fish, the Threadfin Butterflyfish and the Copperband Butterflyfish. Featuring artwork by noted artist Gordon Drummond.

The US$ .42 stamp shown the Threadfin Butterflyfish .The Threadfin Butterflyfish, Chaetodon auriga, is a species of butterflyfish (family Chaetodontidae). It is found in the Indo-Pacific region from the Red Sea and eastern Africa  to the Hawaiian, Marquesan, and Ducie islands, north to southern Japan, south to Lord Howe Island and Rapa Iti, at depths of between 1 and 35 m.Length is up to 23 cm. Chaetodon auriga has a neck patch of ascending and a belly patch of descending oblique dark lines.

The US$ .27 stamp shown the  Copperband Butterflyfish. The Copperband Butterflyfish, or Chelmon rostratus, also commonly called the Beak Coralfish, is found in reefs in both the Pacific and Indian Oceans. This butterflyfish is one of the three species in the genus Chelmon, all being known for having longer beaks.These fish are easily identified by the yellow banding and long snout, juveniles being similar to adults. They grow up to 20 cm in length.Found at depths of 1-25 metres either singly or in pairs, forming monogamous pairs during breeding. They are usually found on coral reefs or rocky shorelines, and also in estuaries and silty inner reefs. This species is territorial and oviparous

LiveJournal Tags: tropical fish,Marshall Islands,threadfin butterflyfish,Copperband butterflyfish