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.

'Vanuatu Colours of Bloom'

On December 7, 2011, Vanuatu Post launched the 'Vanuatu Colours of Bloom' stamp issue which portrays the vibrant flowers found all over Vanuatu. These are typically characterized by having green flower clusters. It is the vibrancy of the splendid blooms which are found all over Vanuatu and their colours stand out, both in the Port Vila market and in other markets and gardens throughout the islands.  Vanuatu Post has chosen Strelitzia reginae (Bird of Paradise) to join three Heliconias - Heliconia psittacorum, Heliconia rostrata and Heliconia caribaea var in this colourful stamp issue.

Heliconia psittacorum  or known as Parrot's  beak, False Bird-Of-Paradise is a perennial herb native to the Caribbean and northern South America. Heliconia psittacorum flowers are actually highly modified leaves and bracts growing up to no more than four feet tall.

The parrot's beaks are exotic, abundantly bloomers all year long. The flower, or inflorescence of the Heliconia stays almost constant, and may last from several days to several months.

Heliconias like places with a lot of water, rich soil, and sunlight. Heliconia psittacorum does not mind cool temperatures, but does best in warm, humid areas. It is often cultivated as a tropical ornamental plant.

New Zealand Sea Lion

New Zealand Post is proud to continue to support Te Puna Whaiora – The New Zealand Foundation for Child and Family Health and Development with its annual Children’s Health stamp issue.The 2012 Children’s Health stamp issue features the New Zealand sea lion. This playful mammal is one of the rarest species of sea lion in the world.

The issue comprises of three postage stamp, one specific shaped miniature sheet, and two First Day Covers. All  issue of stamps features pup and sub-adult of New Zealand Sea Lions.

The New Zealand sea lion (Phocarctos hookeri) also known as Hooker's sea lion or whakahao in Māori is a species of sea lion that breeds around the coast of New Zealand's South Island and Stewart Island/Rakiura to some extent, and to a greater extent around the New Zealand Sub-Antarctic Islands, especially the Auckland Islands.

Fungi of Ireland

Ireland Post has chosen the subject for 2008 flora-fauna stamp to be issued is Fungi. They issued four stamps, one in souvenir sheet and others in single forms on August 1, 2008. Illustrated by Ian Loe, each of the four stamps features a species of fungus found in Ireland, such as: the Pink Waxcap (Hygrocybe calyptriformis), the Parasol (Macrolepiota procera), the Orange Birch Bolete (Leccinum versipelle) and the Scarlet Elfcup (Sacoscypha austriaca).

The parasol (Macrolepiota procera) is a basidiomycete fungus with a large, prominent fruiting body resembling a lady's parasol. The parasol (Macrolepiota procera) is a striking, elegant mushroom reaching height of 40 cm with caps expanded to 25 cm. It is found solitary or in groups and fairy rings in pastures and occasionally in woodland. 

Globally, it is widespread in temperate regions.It is an excellent edible fungus but needs to be distinguished from its look-alike, the Shaggy Parasol, to which some individuals are allergic.

Frogs of Malaysia

Malay Post  has issued regularly the stamp set features of Malayan fauna. On May 3, 2007, they issued  three postage stamps and one souvenir sheet stamp. The Malayan frog depicted  are Kodok Pokok,  Katak Perang, and Katak Tanduk on single stamps and Katak Paya on souvenir sheet stamp.

The souvenir sheet consist of one postage stamp depicts Katak paya (Rana laterimaculata) and have background of another species of frog,  Katak Pokok Terbang Wallace or Wallace's flying frog (Rhacophorus nigroplamatus).

Katak paya (Rana laterimaculata) is a species of frog in the Ranidae family and found in Indonesia,Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, subtropical or tropical swamps, rivers, swamps, rural gardens, and heavily degraded former forest. Katak paya (Rana laterimaculata) is threatened by habitat loss.

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.

Gibraltar Barbary Macaques

The  Barbary  macaque (Macaca Sylvanus) is a macaque without tail, as one of the best-known Old World monkey species. The Barbary macaque is true monkey, not an ape, belong to the subfamily Cercopithecinae. This species found in Algeria, Morocco and Gibraltar.

The Barbary macaques are the only free-ranging monkeys in Europe. Gibraltar Post proudly to launched the stamp series feature this species on September 28, 2011. The issue consist of 6 single postage stamps .

Flora Fauna of Burundi

Burundi Post released the stamp set features the flora fauna of their country on December 24, 2008. The species have depicted on the five postage stamps are Erythrina, Maracuja, Werner, Heron, and Royal Eagle.

The 90F stamp   represented a Erythrina flower. Erythrina  is a genus of flowering plants in the pea family, Fabaceae. It contains about 130 species, which are distributed in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide. Erythrina is tree that can  growing up to 30 m  in height. Many species of Erythrina have bright red flowers, and this may be the origin of the common name.

Not all species of Erythrina have bright red flowers.Many birds visit the nectar-rich Erythrina flowers. Erythrina leaves are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including the swift moth Endoclita damor and the woolly bears Hypercompe eridanus and Hypercompe icasia.

Seashells of Malaysia

In year 2008, Malay Post issued the stamp set features seashells of Malaysia that comprises of one souvenir sheet and 4 single postage stamps. The species of seashells have depicted are Venus comb murex (Murex pecten), Horned helmet (Cassis cornuta), Burnt murex (Chicoreus brunneus), Frog shell (Tutufa rubeta), and Triton’s trumpet (Charonia tritonis).

The Venus comb murex, or  Murex pecten, is a species of large predatory sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Muricidae, the rock snails or murex snails. The shell of this Indo-Pacific species has a very long siphonal canal, and numerous spines.

The shell has over one hundred spines, which provide protection from predation, and prevent the snail from sinking in the soft mud. 

Like many other murex snails, it feeds on other mollusks. The Venus comb murex is a common species, but perfect specimens of the shell are not easily found because of the fragility of the numerous long spines. The species grows to between 10 and 15 cm in length.

Aromatic plants – Comoros

The Post of Comoros issued the stamp series of aromatic plants on  October 9,  2003 . The issue comprises of two postage stamps depicted Ylang-Ylang (Cananga odorata ), and Vanille (Vanilla planifolia).

Ylang-Ylang or Cananga odorata,  kenanga (Indonesian), fragrant cananga, Macassar-oil plant  is a tree valued for its perfume. The essential oil derived from the flowers is used in aromatherapy.

Cananga  odorata is a fast-growing tree of the custard-apple family, Annonaceae and attains an average height of 12 m . It grows in full or partial sun, and prefers the acidic soils of its native rainforest habitat.

The evergreen leaves are smooth and glossy, oval, pointed, with wavy margins, and 13–20 cm  long. The flower is drooping, long-stalked, with six narrow, greenish-yellow (rarely pink) petals, rather like a sea star in appearance, and yields a highly fragrant essential oil.

SEAL III of Iceland

On September 13, 2012,  Iceland Post issued the third stamp series of Seal. The issue comprises of two postage stamps features the Walrus (Odobenus rosmarus) and the Hooded seal (Cystophora cristata).

Seals are an aquatic carnivorous mammal of the families Otariidae and Phocidae (sometimes placed in a separate order, the Pinnipedia). The eared seals or sea lions (Otariidae) have small external ears, unlike the true seals (Phocidae). Seals have a streamlined body with thick blubber for insulation, and front and hind flippers.

The walrus (Odobenus rosmarus) is a large pinniped with distribution in the Arctic and sub-Arctic seas. Adult males reach a length of approx. 3 meters and weigh 800-1000 kg. The females are smaller than the males.

The most prominent feature of the walrus is its long tusks which can reach a length of 100 cm. The walrus occasionally catches fish but it grazes mainly along the sea bottom. Its only natural enemies are humans, killer whales and polar bears.

Walrus can reach an age of around 50 years. In current times they are rare around Icelandic coasts but were much more frequent up until the 19th century.

Wildflower of Ireland

Ireland Post issued the sixth definitive stamp series of Wildflowers of Ireland on March 1, 2007. The issue comprises of four postage stamps with denomination value 3c, 55c, 78c, and 95c. 

The species of wildflower depicted  are Yellow flag (Iris pseudacorus) on the 3c stamp,  Large-flowered butterwort (Pinguicula grandiflora) on the 55 c stamp, Black bog-rush (Schoenus nigricans) on the 78 c stamp, Lythrum salicaria (Purple loosestrife) on the 95 c stamp.

Yellow flag or Iris pseudacorus is an herbaceous flowering perennial plant, native to Europe, western Asia and northwest Africa, growing to 1-1.5 m (or a rare 2 m) tall, with erect leaves up to 90 cm long and 3 cm broad. The flowers are bright yellow, 7-10 cm across, with the typical iris form.

The fruit is a dry capsule 4-7 cm long, containing numerous pale brown seeds. Yellow flag is a species in the genus Iris, of the family Iridaceae.

The Land Crabs of Christmas Island

The land crabs of Christmas Island are remarkable for their abundance and the role they play in the ecology of the island's rainforest. Christmas Island is home to twenty-three land or freshwater crabs.

Australia Post issued the fauna stamp set for their territory , Christmas Island, on June 7, 2011 and features the specific species the Land Crabs which available in Christmas Island. The issue comprises of 4 postage stamps which depicted   Red crab (Gecarcoidea natalis),  Robber crab (Birgus latro), Jackson's crab (Karstarma jacksoni), and Blue crab (Discoplax hirtipes) .

Red crab  or Gecarcoidea natalis, is a species of land crab that is endemic to Christmas Island and the Cocos (Keeling) Islands in the Indian Ocean.

Its carapace is up to 116 mm wide, rounded, and encloses the gills. The claws are usually of equal size, unless one becomes injured or detached, in which case the limb will regenerate.The male crabs are generally larger than the females, while adult females have a much broader abdomen (only apparent above 3 years of age) and usually have smaller claws.