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.

 

The Stone crayfish of Slovenia - 2011

 

Slovenia Post has collaborated with WWF organization issued the stamp set features the specific species  of Slovenia, Stone crayfish. The issue comprises of 4 postage stamps and one local official first day cover. All stamp depicted this species in their environment and have marked of WWF logo .

The Local WWF Cover of this stamp series  presented in the other blogs  “Stone crayfish” . This official FDC released together with the issue of  stamps.

Three species of crayfish live in fresh water in Slovenia: the noble crayfish, the stone crayfish and white-clawed crayfish.

The stone crayfish or  Austropotamobius torrentium,  is a European species of freshwater crayfish in the family Astacidae.

It is mostly found in tributaries of the Danube, having originated in the northern part of the Balkan Peninsula..

Its range extends throughout central and southern Europe. In Slovenia it is widespread mainly in the Sava and Drava watersheds, and is less present in the Primorska and Pomurje regions.

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.

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.

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 .

Giant Panda–Ying Ying & Le Le

On July 1, 2008, Hong Kong Post issued the special stamp set to commemorate the handover of the cub pair of giant panda from the Central People's Government (CPG)  to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) . The issue comprises of 4 postage stamps depicted the cub of giant panda, Ying Ying and Le Le.

The giant panda has a very distinctive black-and-white coat, and adults measure around 1.5m long and around 75cm tall at the shoulder. Giant pandas live in mountainous regions, such as Sichuan, Gansu, Shaanxi, and Tibet. The panda has a diet that is overwhelmingly herbivorous. The giant panda eats shoots and leaves, living almost entirely on bamboo. The following  links shown how they are look very like to eat bamboo,  http://youtu.be/tyLrlFq-Jj8.

.The pair of giant pandas given by the Central People's Government (CPG) in celebration of the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) arrived safely in Hong Kong on April 26 , 2007 from Wolong, Sichuan. At the handover ceremony , the "Name the Giant Pandas" were announced. The young male (No. 606) was officially named "Le Le" and the female (No. 610) "Ying Ying". The names were chosen from among 13,000 entries with 6,700 different pairs of names.

Green Snaketail–Belarus

On  August  10, 2010 , Belarus Post collaborated with WWF organization proudly issued the stamp set features the endangered species Green Snaketail, a specific dragonfly that widespread in Europe. The issue consist of 4 postage stamps and one local first day cover depicted Green Snaketail on the bottom part.

Ophiogompus Cecilia is a species of dragonfly from the Gomphidae Family. Its wingspan is up to 7.5 cm and body length up to 5 cm.The Green Snaketail is a very pretty, easily recognizable dragonfly; it combines three colours; Its eyes, head and thorax are green (which becomes deeper and brighter with age), while its abdomen is black and yellow.

New Zealand Native Wildlife

 

New Zealand is famous as a country that has a diverse array of unique flora and fauna that are not owned by other countries. Some native animals are classified as endangered and use as a state icon of New Zealand. On March 7, 2007 , New Zealand Post celebrates the uniqueness  is by issuing the five vibrant stamps featuring  species Tuatara, Kiwi, Hamilton's frog, Yellow-eyed penguin, and Hector’s dolphin.

Tuatara

Wildlife in Norway–Sixth series

On  January 03,  2011,  the Norway Post issued the sixth  wildlife series stamp. This issue stamps comprises of 2 postage stamps which feature the endangered species, Polar bear and Muskox.

Kr 17,00: Polar bear (Ursus maritimus)

Polar Bear (Ursus maritimus) is reckoned to be the largest land predator in the world, rivalled only by the Alaskan Kodiak bear.A full-grown polar bear on Svalbard weighs about 500 kg and usually has a maximum life span of 25 years.

The population there is now estimated at about 1500. The polar bear is the very symbol of the northern polar areas. It is the dream of everyone who visits the Arctic can see this species. Like as penguins are the signature species of Antarctica.

THE ENDANGERED FAUNA OF CROATIA

 

On 15 March 2011, the Croatia Post  issued the endangered species stamp series in 3 postage stamps. This issue depicts the Elenora’s Falcon, the Brown Bear, and Mediterranean Monk Seal.

 

 

 Eleonora’s Falcon is a smaller species of falcon, 36 – 42 cm long, weighting 350 – 450 g and with wing span of 87 – 104 cm. It comes in two varieties – light and dark – and sexes are distinguished by the colour of eye ring and vax gland. With mail it is in yellow and with female in blue.

 

 

In Croatia there are 80 – 90 nesting pairs, which is somewhat more than 0,5% of the world’s population.  According to newest estimations total world population is 15.000 nestling pairs, of which more than 80% in Greece. Eleonora’s falcon is listed in Red Book as endangered species in Croatia (EN), and is strictly protected by law.

Eleonora’s falcon nests in colonies, laying two to four eggs on mostly unapproachable cliffs of islands at sea, in August and September. Croatia is an edge area for this species, and entire or almost entire Croatian population mainly inhabits the islands of Vis, Svetac and Biševo and the nearby islets, but single birds have also been spotted on the islands of Palagruža and Jabuka. 

“WHITE - TAILED SEA EAGLE”

On October 08, 2011, Lithuania Post issued a single stamp features the White-tailed Sea Eagle as member of the Red Book of Lithuanian. The stamp has designed by I.Balakauskaitė.

The White-tailed Eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla), also known as the Sea Eagle, is the largest bird of prey breeding in Lithuania, the first nest of which was discovered in 1987 in the Čepkeliai Reserve.

The preferred habitats of white-tailed  eagles are the forests located close to sea bays, large rivers or lakes, or fish farms. These birds build their nests in the trees growing close to open localities such as marshes in bare soils, woodcutting places, or sites in forests. White-tailed eagles feed on fish, seabirds, and mammals.

At present, the white-tailed eagle is included in The Red List of Threatened Species and The Red List of Lithuania. The main reason for the decrease in the population of species is active economic activities in forests. Also, they supplement the trophy collections of poachers, die as a result of careless perching on utility poles or affected by chemical pollutants ingested through prey.

del.icio.us Tags: Lithuania,The White-tailed Eagle

Golden Snub-Nosed Monkey

Guernsey Post has been issued the stamp series features the endangered species, the Golden Snub-Nosed Monkey on January 29, 2004.The Golden Snub-Nosed Monkey lives in the mountainous regions of south-western China and is at the top of the state protection list along with the Giant Panda. 

Breeding in captivity has, however, been successful and it is hoped that new babies will be the beginning of a successful conservation programme for the animal. The adult and sub-adult golden snub-nosed monkey is sexually dimorphic. Adult males ,was estimated at over 7 years of age, have large bodies covered with very long, golden guard hairs on their backs and cape area. The crest is medium brown while the back, crown to nape, arms and outer thighs are deep brown.

The Golden Monkey has a big soft blue muzzle, bare bluish skin around the eyes and the feature that gives them their name, a small turned up nose. The Golden snub-nosed monkey is found in groups ranging in size from 5-10 individuals to bands of about 600.

The Golden snub-nosed monkey eats (from greatest to least in amount) lichens, young leaves, fruits or seeds, buds, mature leaves, herbs, bark, and flowers. This diet varies from season to season, showing a correlation once again between food availability and home range.

Technorati Tags: Golden Snub-nosed monkey,Guensey,endangered species

Endangered Fishes of Macedonia

On Febraury 28, 2007, Macedonia Post issued the stamp series depicts the endangered fishes of Macedonia, Cobitis vardarensis, Chondrostoma vardarense, Barbus macedonicus, Zingel balcanicus, and Leuciscus cephalus-Chub .

Cobitis vardarensis is a species of ray-finned fish in the Cobitidae family.The range of distribution is Aegean Sea basin, from Pinios to Gallikos drainages(Greece, Macedonia).

Their habitat are still waters of lakes, oxbows and backwaters, rarely in flowing water. On mud to silt bottom.The population is very abundant.

Chondrostoma vardarense is a species of ray-finned fish in the Cyprinidae family. It is found in Bulgaria,FYROM, Greece, the Republic of Macedonia, and Turkey. Its natural habitat is rivers. It is threatened by habitat loss.

It is restricted to eastern Greece, Bulgaria and Turkey. It inhabits the following river basins: Aoos, Pinios, Aliakmon, Axios (Vardar), Strymon, Nestos and Evros.

It lives in all sized rivers in fast to strong currents. It is, however, declining and it is suspected that the future impact of dams and sedimentation may result in close to a 30% decline in the next 10 years. On this basis of suspected future population decline the species is assessed as Near Threatened.

Barbus macedonicus is a species of ray-finned fish in the Cyprinidae family. It is found only in rivers in northern Greece and the Republic of Macedonia.

Its status is insufficiently known.Although this species has a small range living in rivers where there is habitat destruction, water extraction and pollution there are currently insufficient data to determine the impacts of the known threat to the species.

Range of distribution are restricted to the Axios and Pinios river basins in Greece and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) and the Loudias and Aliakmon river basins in Greece.

Zingel balcanicus is a species of fish in the Percidae family. It is found in Greece and Macedonia. Its natural habitat is rivers. It is threatened by habitat loss.

Leuciscus cephalus-Chub

The European chub (Squalius cephalus), sometimes called the round chub, fat chub, chevin, pollard or simply "the" chub, is a freshwater fish of the family Cyprinidae. It frequents both slow and moderate rivers as well as canals and still waters of various kinds in Europe.This species synonym with Leuciscus cephalus-Chub

European chub are popular with anglers due to their readiness to feed, and thus to be caught, in almost any conditions.Small chub are freely-biting fish which even inexperienced anglers find easy to catch.

Technorati Tags: Macedonia. Fishes,Endangered fishes,Cobitis vardarensis,Chondrostoma vardarense,Barbus macedonicus,Zingel balcanicus,Leuciscus cephalus-Chub .

Fauna of Armenia- Caucasian Otter and Brown Bear

Armenia Post has issued the sixteenth series of Flora and Fauna features Caucasian otter and Brown Bear on December 16, 2009. The both species are described in the following paragraph are listed in the Armenian Red Book.

Caucasian otter (Lutra Lutra meridionalis), (120),is typical of freshwater otters. It may also be known as the Eurasian river otter, common otter.An otter's diet mainly consists of fish but can also include birds, insects, frogs, crustaceans and sometimes small mammals. In general this opportunism means they may inhabit any unpolluted body of freshwater, including lakes, streams, rivers, and ponds, as long as there is good supply of food. Otters may also live along the coast, in salt water, but require regular access to freshwater to clean their fur. Otters are strongly territorial, living alone for the most part, with individual's home ranges varying between 1-40 km, with about 18 km being usual, depending on the density of food available.

It is in front of the danger of elimination. In Armenia it was met everywhere, from dry subtropics and semi-deserts to forest and mountainous steppes, 550-2100 meters high above the sea level. It settled in fresh- watered reservoirs of all landscape zones. It settled in holes burrowed on the shores of reservoirs and in the cracks of rocks more rarely. Over the last years, its quantity has had a considerable fall, mainly due to the decrease of the level of Lake Sevan,decrease of marshland area and rivers, and general decrease of quality of environment. Other reason is the soiling of rivers and lakes by industrial and agricultural waste which decreases the number of fish in the rivers.

Brown bear (Ursus Arctos Syriacus, (160), is a large bear as member of Brown Bear that occurs in the trans-Caucasus, Syria, Iraq,Turkey (Asia Minor), Iran, Afghanistan, western Himalayas and the Pamir-Alai and Tien Shan mountains.It is a light coloured, moderate to small-sized subspecies with light claws. It can weigh from 300 to 780 kilograms .

It can be met in southeastern part of Armenia. Sometimes it reaches Aragats mountain slopes. It appears 550-2450m high above the sea level.
It lives in deciduous, mixed and juniper forests, rocks, shrubs, caves, ravines and chaotic stone conglomerations. Periodically it rises to small meadows in alpine. Over the last ten years the bear location districts are penetrating into the sphere of the human activity.

Endangered Species of Canada.

Canada post has issued the stamps series of the endangered species in one miniature sheet.The species are Prothonotary Warbler, Taylor’s Chekerspot, Roseate Tern, and Burrowing Owl. All stamps have same face value.

Prothonotary Warbler,is a small songbird of the New World warbler family and as the only member of the genus Protonotaria.The Prothonotary Warbler has characterized by 13 cm long and weighs 12.5 grams. They have an olive back with blue-grey wings and tail, yellow under parts, a relatively long pointed bill and black legs. They breeds in hardwood swamps in southern Canada and the eastern United States, nesting in a cavity, sometimes using old Downy Woodpecker holes.

Taylor’s Chekerspot or Euphydryas editha taylori, is a subspecies of Edith’s checkerspot, is a striking, red-, black- and white-checked butterfly. They are so named because of the checkerboard pattern on the dorsal side of the wings.The females can be larger than the males. Taylor’s checkerspots have been recorded in the Pacific Northwest from south-eastern Vancouver Island, through the Puget Trough (San Juan Islands to Tenino, Washington) and to the Willamette Valley in Oregon. In spite of intensive searching in 2001, there have been no confirmed sightings of this butterfly since 2000. This subspecies may be close to extirpation.

The Protected Fishes of Croatia

Croatia Post Office has issued the one set of 3 stamps featured species of the Protected Fish on the first of September 2009. The species are the Adriatic Sturgeon on 3.50 of value, the Visovac Goby on 5.00 of value, and the Danubian Bream on 5.00 of value.

The Adriatic Sturgeon (Acipenser naccarii Bonaparte)

The Adriatic Sturgeon is an endemic species of the Adriatic Sea and the sub-Adriatic rivers. Its habitats are the rivers of northern Italy and in Croatia it is found in the river mouths of the rivers flowing into the Adriatic Sea. The Adriatic Sturgeon is a demersal species inhabiting freshwater, brackish water and seawaters of the Adriatic. It lives in the sea, at places with silty or sandy bottom. It mostly stays close to the river mouths, up to a depth of 40 m, although it sometimes goes deeper.

Its body is elongated and spindle-shaped and is not covered with scales but with bony plates or scutes, extending along the body in five rows.Their back is olive-green and brown, the sides are lighter in colour and their belly is white. The top of the head is a projecting wedge-shaped snout, broad and relatively short, and with the rounded tip. The Adriatic Sturgeon has a subterminal moth (mouth posterior to the tip of the snout). The dorsal fin is located far on the back and the caudal fin is asymmetric (heterocercal).

The Adriatic Sturgeon feeds on invertebrates from the bottom and small fishes. The Adriatic Sturgeon is an anadromous species: it lives in the sea and migrates to fresh water (rivers) to breed. It is a long-living species that grows slowly.The Adriatic Sturgeon may grow up to 2000 mm in length and reach the weight of 25 kg, although it is usually considerably smaller.

The Adriatic Sturgeon is threatened by the pollution of watercourses and partition of rivers, which prevents their migrations and the overfishing of still growing fishes.Pursuant to the existing protection based on the law, the Adriatic Sturgeon is a strictly protected species.

The Visovac Goby (Knipowitschia mrakovcici Miller)

The Visovac Goby occurs only in Croatia, in Visovac Lake on the Krka river. This fish was discovered and recognised it as a new species in 1989. The Visovac Goby has the elongated body and laterally flattened to the tail. There are few scales, only on the sides and the tail. Males are slightly bigger and heavier than females on average and have more than 10 transversal stripes on the sides. Dimorphism is very visible during the spawning season, when the males have darker heads and fins. The Visovac Goby can reach 45 mm in length. The Visovac Goby feeds on nutrients found on the bottom, mostly small water invertebrates. Its life span is short. The Visovac Goby is a demersal, freshwater fish inhabiting the silty, sandy and gravel bottom of Visovac Lake on the Krka river. It has a small movement range.They have limitation of their habitat.

The Visovac Goby belongs to the category of endangered species ,due to sensitive to eutrofication, i.e. the quantity of nutrients in the water, pollution and all other changes in its habitat. According to the IUCN Red List, this species is Endangered (EN) in Croatia. Pursuant to the existing protection based on the law, the Visovac Goby is a strictly protected species.

The Danubian Bream (Ballerus sapa )

The Danubian Bream inhabits big lowland rivers, estuaries and backwaters.They live in schools and are more active during the night. Its habitats in Croatia include the rivers flowing into the Danube: the Sava, the Drava and the Danube itself, as well as its bigger tributaries.Its favourite spawning locations are more peaceful places in rivers with thick aquatic plants.

The body of the Danubian Bream is laterally flattened and relatively high. The most conspicuous on its small head is the size of the eyes. The mouth is small and semi-inferior. The back is dark blue to greenish and the sides and the belly is silver. The anal fin is extremely long and extends to the tail and its base is three times longer than the base of the dorsal fin. The length of the anal fin covers one third of the body length. The outer edge may be darker. The Danubian Bream usually reaches the length of 15 to 25 cm, or maximum 40 cm, and the mass of approximately 1 kg.

The Danubian Bream is endangered by partitions, regulation and channelling of water streams, as well as by their pollution.Pursuant to the existing protection based on the law, the Danubian Bream is a strictly protected species.

Protected Wild life of China on stamps

China is a country with the greatest variety of wild animals in the world. The Wild life is a part of the harmony of the human life which will a value gift of Nature to humans. In order to keep the balance of ecology and save the endangered animal, in 1989 China Government issued the list of wild animal which have to be protected and establish nature reserves. To appeal this program China Post issue the special stamps as shown above “Key Wild Animal Under First-Grade State Protection (I)”

Stork on China stamps 1992

Both The White Stork and the Black Stork, are listed on the Conservation of African Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds. China featured the both Storks on the 1992 stamp edition with different value.

The White Stork (Ciconia ciconia) is a large wading bird in the stork family Ciconiidae. It is a huge bird, 100–125 cm tall, with a 155–200 cm wingspan and a weight of 2.3-4.5 kg .It is completely white except for the black wing flight feathers, and its red bill and legs, which are black on juveniles. It walks slowly and steadily on the ground. It often forms small colonies. It feeds on fish, frogs and insects but also eats small reptiles, rodents and smaller birds.
White storks breed in open farmland areas with access to marshy wetlands, building a stick nest in trees, on buildings, or special platforms. Because it is viewed as bird of good luck, it is not persecuted, and often nests close to human habitation.
White Storks rely on movement between thermals of hot air for long distance flight, taking great advantage of them during annual migrations between Europe and Sub-Saharan Africa. They breed in the warmer parts of Europe (south to Estonia), northwest Africa, and southwest Asia (east to southern Kazakhstan.

The Black Stork (Ciconia nigra) is a large wading bird in the stork family Ciconiidae. This is a large bird, nearly 1 m tall with a 1.8 m wingspan, weighing around 3 kilograms. It is all black except for the white belly and axillaries, and its red bill and legs. It walks slowly and steadily on the ground. It flies with its neck outstretched. This is a shy and varies species.
It breeds in large marshy wetlands with interspersed coniferous or broad lived woodlands, but also inhabits hills and mountains with sufficient network of creeks. The Black Stork feeds on amphibians, fishes and insects. It builds a stick nest high in trees. The Black Stork is a broad-winged soaring bird, which relies on thermals of hot air for long distance flight. The Black Stork is a strong migrant, wintering in tropical Africa and India .They fly approximately 100 to 250 km a day with daily maxima up to 500 km.

Chinese White Dolphin

Hong Kong post collaborated with WWF organization  issued the stamp series of Chinese White Dolphin in 1999. The issued stamp in 4 denomination values with marked WWF logos. Another issue are maxi cards that depicted more detail of this species and local FDC.

The Chinese White Dolphin (Sousa chinensis chinensis), also called Indo-Pacific Humpback Dolphin, is a species of the Humpback dolphin and is one of eighty cetacean species.

The adult dolphin is usually white or grey in colour. They exhibit a pink-coloured skin. This colour of the skin is not a result of colour pigmentation, but is actually from blood vessels.

The adult's body length is about 200 - 350 centimetres and the infant's body length is about 1 metre. The average weight of an adult is around 150 to 230 kilograms.