Venezuela 1992 Michel #2729 – #2732 Red-footed Tortoise and South American River Turtle Stamps

World Wildlife Fund postage stamps issued Venezuela in 1992. This set of four stamps (Michel #2729 – #2732) depicts the Red-footed Tortoise (Geohelone carbonaria) and the South American River Turtle (Podocnemis expansa), both species found in Venezuela.

Red-footed tortoise (Chelonoidis carbonaria)

Previously classified as Geohelone carbonaria. A medium-sized tortoise (12-16 inches in length) from northern South America, closely related to the yellow-footed tortoise (Chelonoidis denticulata) from the Amazon Basin. The jaguar (Panthera onca) is the main predator of adults of this tortoise species. Both the red-footed and yellow-footed tortoises are a significant food source for the jaguar in some parts of their respective ranges (e.g. Manú National Park in Peru). The red-footed tortoise is popular in the pet trade around the world.

South American river turtle (Podocnemis expansa)

South American river turtle, also known as the Charapa turtle or Arrau turtle, is an endangered species found in the Amazon Basin. This species is the largest of the side-neck turtles with adults reaching nearly three feet in length. This turtle is a vegetarian, feeding entirely on plants. The South American river turtle’s nesting habits are very similar to those of sea turtles. Like sea turtles they gather in huge numbers at suitable nesting areas to lay their eggs.

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Short-beaked echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus)

Found throughout Australia, the short-beaked echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus) is one of four living species of echidna. Short-beaked echidnas can live where there is a good supply of ants and termites. The short-beaked echidna locates its food by smell. The limbs of the short-beaked echidna are short with strong claws, as they have been adapted for rapid digging. They use these limbs to pull apart ant and termite nests to gain access to their prey. They also use their claws to dig burrows for shelter, and when in danger they can rapidly dig themselves into the ground if no other cover can be found.[

Despite its spines, the short-beaked echidna is preyed upon by the dingo, Tasmanian devil, fox, various snakes and lizards, and various birds of prey. The goanna, the generic name for any of several Australian monitor lizards of the genus Varanus, is a common predator of the echidna.

Like other Australian monotremes, the short-beaked echidna is an egg-laying mammal. It is believed that short-beaked echidnas become sexual maturity sometime after four years. The mating season for the short-beaked echidna is usually between the months of May and September.

The short-beaked echidna is an iconic native animal of Australia and appears on several Australian postage stamps and coins.

Duck-billed Platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus)

The duck-billed platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) is an egg-laying mammal endemic to Australia. The platypus lives near rivers and is an excellent swimmer, spending much of its day in the water foraging for food. The platypus feeds on freshwater invertebrates, including insect larvae, annelid worms, shrimps, and crayfish.

The duck-billed platypus is one of five species in the order Monotremata. Monotremes are mammals that lay eggs instead of giving birth to live young. The eggs of monotremes are similar to those of reptiles.

The duck-billed platypus is one of only a handful of venomous mammals. The platypus has a calcaneus spur on its hind foot, and on the male this spur can deliver venom composed largely of defensin-like proteins. While the venom can kill smaller animals, including dogs, it is not lethal to a human; however the pain associated with envenomation can be excruciating. Only the male platypus produces venom and venom production increases during breeding season, suggesting that its primary function is related to breeding activities. The platypus has a single breeding season each year; with mating usually occurring between June and October.

1880 Tasmanian Duty Stamps – Duck-billed Platypus

 
 

The duck-billed platypus(Ornithorhynchus anatinus) has appeared on several Australian postage stamps. First, in 1880 on Tasmanian duty stamps, then in 1937 on the 9d Australian stamp, and again in 1959 on a one shilling Australian Wildlife Definitive. In 1986 the platypus was featured on 36c/50c/$1.00 Australian FRAMA stamps, and on a 36c Australian Wildlife Definitive, and again in 1993 on a 40c Australian Wildlife Definitive and in 1997 on a 45 cent Australian stamp, in the Creatures in the Night series. The platypus was also shown on a 1999 aerogramme. In 2006, the duck-billed platypus was shown on both a 5 cent Australian stamp and a $4.65 Australian stamp. The latter shows a young platypus and is in the Australian Bush Babies stamp series.

1937 9d Australian stamp – duck-billed platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus)

 
 

1959 one shilling Australian stamp – duck-billed platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus)

 
 

1986 AUSTRALIA FRAMA STAMPS 36c 50c $1.00 – duck-billed platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus)

 
 

1986 AUSTRALIA 36c Platypus Stamp – duck-billed platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus)

 
 

1993 AUSTRALIA 40c Wildlife Definitive (SG#1363) – duck-billed platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus)

 
 

1997 AUSTRALIA 45c CREATURES OF THE NIGHT-MAXI CARD – duck-billed platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus)

 
 

1999 AUSTRALIA Aerogramme – PLATYPUS\WILD RIVERS NATIONAL PARK- duck-billed platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus)

 
 

2006 AUSTRALIA 5c International Postage Stamp – duck-billed platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus)

 
 

2006 AUSTRALIA $4.65 International Postage Stamp – duck-billed platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus)

 
 

The duck-billed platypus is an iconic symbol of Australia, but has also been featured on the postage stamps of other countries, including Laos, Mali, Benin, Hungary and Grenada.

Laos Ausipex 84 Postage Stamps – duck-billed platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus)

 
 

Mali Souvenir Sheet – duck-billed platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus)

 
 

Benin Souvenir Sheet – duck-billed platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus)

 
 

2000 Hungary Souvenir Sheet – duck-billed platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus)

 
 

GRENADA 1988 SYDPEX DISNEY STAMPS – duck-billed platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus)

 
 

There are also other non-postage stamps (referred to as “Cinderella” stamps) that feature the duck-billed platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus). Below are a few examples:

Aussie Blue – Platypus – Trading Stamps – Cinderella Stamp

 
 

AUSTRALIAN OLD POSTER STAMP – SYDNEY 1938 AUSTRALIA’S 150th ANNIVERSARY WITH PLATYPUS – Cinderella Stamp

 
 

Horses On Stamps

Comores 1983 Horse Postage Stamps showing the following breeds:

Arabian (Pur-Sang Arabe) – Anglo-Arabian (Anglo-Arabe) – Lipizzan – Tennessee – Appaloosa – Thoroughbred (Pur-Sang Anglais) – Clysdale – Andalou

Horse Stamps From Around The World

The modern horse (Equus ferus caballus) belongs to the family Equidae. In addition to the horse, there are seven other species of genus Equus in the Equidae family, including the ass or donkey (Equus asinus), also known as the African wild ass, the mountain zebra (Equus zebra), plains zebra (Equus quagga), Grévy’s zebra (Equus grevyi), the kiang (Equus kiang), also known as the Tibetan wild ass, and the onager (Equus hemionus), also commonly known as the Asiatic wild ass.

About 5 million years ago, the modern Equus evolved. About 15,000 years ago, the horse (Equus ferus) was found throughout the northern continents of the world. Fossil horse bones from the late Pleistocene, have been found in Europe, Asia, and North America. However, around 10,000 years ago, the horse became extinct in North America. The reasons for this extinction are not fully known. One theory suggests that extinction of the horse in North America paralleled human arrival on the continent. Another theory notes that climate changes caused vegetation changes, approximately 12,500 years ago, that left the plains covered with unpalatable plant species.

Archaeological evidence dating to approximately 3500–4000 BC has been found in Ukraine and Kazakhstan suggesting that human domestication of the horse first took place in central Asia prior to 3500 BC. However, the DNA of domestic horses suggests that domestication may have occurred in more than one place and from several different wild horse populations. Today there are more than 300 horse breeds in the world.

Only two non-domesticated horse subspecies, the Przewalski’s Horse and the Tarpan are known to have existed and only the former still survives. A small wild population of Przewalski’s Horse (Equus ferus przewalskii), also known as the Mongolian Wild Horse, exists today in Mongolia, as a result of the wildlife conservation efforts of the world’s zoos in the early 1990s. The Tarpan or European Wild Horse (Equus ferus ferus) at one time was found in Europe and Asia, but became extinct in 1909, when the last Tarpan died in a Russian zoo.

Below are several examples of some of the first horses presented on postage stamps:

Jumping Horse Embossed Cut-square – 1852 Brunswick Germany

United States Scott 1LB8 1857 Government City Dispatch 1 cent black local stamp – Baltimore Horse and Rider

Jumping Horse – 1887 Stuttgart Baden-Wurttemberg Germany 1.5 pf Local Postage Stamp

Some modern stamps featuring the horse are shown below:

Azerbaijan 1993 Horse Souvenir Sheet

Bulgaria 1981 Set of Six Horse Stamps

CENTRAL AFRICA 1999 HORSE STAMP

Great Britain (United Kingdom): British Horses Postage Stamps – 1978 First Day Cover

Shire Horse
Sheltland Pony
Merlyn Cymreig Welsh Pony
Thoroughbred

United States Scott #2155-2158 Set of Four Horse Stamps 1985

Portugal 1986 set of Horse Stamps

Frogs from around the World

1994 Philakorea Frogs and Toads Lesotho First Day Cover

AQUATIC RIVER FROG (Amietia vertebralis, formerly Rana vertebralis), also called the ice frog or large-mouthed frog. This species of frog is found at high altitudes in South Africa, Lesotho, and Natal. This frog lives in cold streams and rivers. Adults are able to breathe efficiently through their skin and can remain submerged for several days at a time. Both adult frogs and tadpoles have been observed living under ice during the winter and this species is intolerant of high temperatures.
Breeding season runs from mid-September to February. Eggs are attached to submerged vegetation in shallow, slow-flowing streams or pools with sandy or stony substrates is. The tadpole has a wide, flat body, a heavy tail, and large sucker-like mouth for obtaining a firm grip on smooth rocks allowing this species to live in fast-moving water.
Adult frogs mainly feed on invertebrates, including gastropods and freshwater crabs, but also eat other prey such as smaller frogs. Tadpoles eat infusoria and detritus.

COMMON RIVER FROG (Amietia angolensis, formerly Rana angolensis), is fairly common in eastern and southern Africa. This frog is found in Angola, Botswana, Burundi, Congo (DRC), Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. The common river frog prefers shallow water, including irrigation ditches, ponds, streams and rivers, often where water lilies, reeds or other aquatic plants are growing in abundance. Adult frogs spend most of the day floating within the vegetation or basking on rocks above the water. This African frog species breeds year around in still water and along the edges of water-filled ditches, pools, dams, streams and slow-flowing rivers. Tadpoles grow for nearly two years, reaching about 4 inches in length before metamorphosing into adult river frogs.

BUBBLING KASSINA (Kassina senegalensis), also called the Senegal running frog, is an African species of frog belonging to the Hyperoliidae family (African Reed Frogs). This frog is widely distribution throughout Africa, and is native to the countries of Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo (DRC), Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. This African frog species lives in a number of different habitats ranging from subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests to dry savannas to swamps and marshes to pastureland and rural gardens. The bubbling kassina feeds on a variety of arthropods, including termites, ants, flies, caterpillars and spiders and has been known to eat small reptiles and amphibians.

Breeding season occurs during the rainy season from spring to late summer. The male frog’s call to the female sounds similar to bubbles rising up from the water, thus its name the bubbling kassina. This frog breeds in both temporary and permanent pools of water, but favors large, well-vegetated pools of water. Eggs are attached to the submerged vegetation and hatch into tadpoles within a week. The tadpole of this species of frog develops a rather high tail fin. The tadpole will complete its development within two to three months, becoming a small frog. During the dry season, frog can be found under logs and rocks and inside burrows of other animals.

AFRICAN GUTTURAL TOAD (Amietophrynus gutturalis formerly Bufeo gutturalis ) is a common species of toad found in the countries of Angola, Botswana, Congo (DRC), Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Réunion, Somalia, South Africa, Ethiopia, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
The African guttural toad is an highly adaptable species living in a variety of habitats including savannahs, grassland, agricultural land and near human settlement. The African guttural toad is nocturnal, hiding under rock or logs, or within a hole dug into the ground, during the day and feeding at night. This African toad feeds on a variety of invertebrates, including worms, insects, centipedes, scorpions and spiders and has also been known to eat small reptiles and amphibians.

The African guttural toad is part of the diet of a number of African snakes, including the Black-necked Spitting Cobra (Naja nigricollis), red-lipped snake (Crotaphopeltis hotamboeia), Common Night Adder (Causus rhombeatus), Angola Green Snake (Philothamnus angolensis). When attacked by predators guttural toad will exude a toxin contains epinephrine from its parotid glands. Although this can be fatal to small mammals, the African civet (Viverra civetta) also preys on this toad. Generally only the ventral parts are eaten to avoid the toxic parotid glands on the toad’s back.

This African toad breeds in permanent waterholes, such as streams and garden ponds. Eggs are laid in long strings of over ten thousand eggs. The tadpoles emerge after several days and metamorphosis into small toads in about two months.

Burundi 2011 Stamps – six different frogs

Burundi 2011 Stamps – Four different frogs

Four species of frog found in the subtropical or tropical moist montane forests, grassland and swamps of Burundi, Congo (DRC), Rwanda, and Uganda. KISENYI FOREST TREE FROG (Leptopelis kivuensis), Hyperolius castaneus and Hyperolius discodactylus are three frog species in the Hyperoliidae family. Phrynobatrachus versicolor is a species of frog in the Petropedetidae family.

AMERICAN BULLFROG (Lithobates catesbeianus formerly Rana catesbeiana) on 1974 North Korean Stamp.

Australia 1999 self adhesive postage stamp booklet – FROGS

Chad Tropical Frogs Souvenir Sheet

WALLACE’S FLYING FROG (Rhacophorus nigropalmatus) is found in Southeast Asia and using its webbing this frog can parachute to the forest floor from high in the trees. The ARUM FROG (Hyperolius horstockii) is a member of the Hyperoliidae family and is endemic to South Africa.
The LESSER BANANA FROG (Afrixalus stuhlmanni brachycnemis) is a subspecies of frog in the Hyperoliidae family found in Malawi, Mozambique, and Tanzania.
The MARBLED SNOUT-BURROWER (Hemisus marmoratus) is a species of frog in the Hemisotidae family found in Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo (DRC), Ivory Coast, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Senegal, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

Mozambique 2011 Michel catalog #4307 Stamp Dendrobates is a genus of poison dart frogs native to Central and South America.

The BLUE POISON ARROW FROG (Dentrobates tinctorius) “azureus” is a poison arrow frog found in the forests of southern Suriname and northern Brazil.
The STRAWBERRY POISON DART FROG (Oophaga pumilio, formerly Dendrobates pumilio) is a species of small poison arrow frog found in the forests of eastern central Nicaragua, Costa Rica and northwestern Panama.
The GOLDEN POISON FROG(Phyllobates terribilis) is endemic to the rainforests of the Pacific coast of Colombia.

Montserrat 2006 WWF Stamps – GIANT DITCH FROG (Leptodactylus fallax) is a large frog native to the Caribbean islands of Dominica and Montserrat. Known locally as the Mountain Chicken because of its large size and the fact that this frog is hunted for food. The Giant Ditch Frog is one of the largest frogs in the world reaching nearly 10 inches in length.

Fiji Scott #591-#594 1988 WWF Stamps – FIJI GROUND FROG (Platymantis vitianus)

Maldives 2014 Frogs Souvenir Sheet – BLUE-LEGGED MANTELLA (Mantella expectata) is a species of frog in the Mantellidae family that is endemic to Madagascar

Comoro Islands 2009 Coelacanth Stamp – African Coelacanth (Latimeria chalumnae)

Comoro Islands 2009 African Coelacanth (Latimeria chalumnae) Postage Stamp

The Comoro Islands celebrated this living fossil, the African coelacanth (Latimeria chalumnae), on their 300 Comorian franc postage stamp issued in 2009. This was one of several postage stamps issued by the Comoros Islands in 2009 that depicts the African coelacanth, including a 125 Comorian franc postage stamp and several different 450 Comorian franc postage stamps. The first postage stamp ever issued featuring the African coelacanth was a 40 franc stamp issued by the Coromo Islands in 1954. There were also other coelacanth postage stamps issued by the Coromo Islands in 1954, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1998, 1999 and 2006. The African coelacanth is an important symbol to the Coromo Islands, where more than 200 coelacanths have been captured in nearby waters.

The African Coelacanth, also known as the West Indian Ocean coelacanth, was once thought extinct and was first known from fossils dating back more than 300 million years. The African Coelacanth was rediscovered in the late 1930s in seas off South Africa. Since 1938, the African Coelacanth (Latimeria chalumnae) has been found in the waters off the Comoros Islands, Kenya, Madagascar, Mozambique, and Tanzania, as well as South Africa.

The Comoro Islands are made up of the four major islands in the volcanic Comoros archipelago. These islands were formed by volcanic activity and contact several active volcanos. The Comoro Islands provide an ideal underwater habitat for the cave-dwelling coelacanths. The island’s underwater volcanic slopes form a system of caves and crevices. During the day, the African coelacanth will rest in these caves at depths exceeding 100 meters. Here the cooler waters reduces the African coelacanth’s metabolic activity and the caves offer protection from strong currents, both help this prehistoric fish conserve its energy. The caves presumably also offers this fish protection from potential predators.

The African coelacanth is a nocturnal piscivore, feeding at night, largely on benthic fish, which are numerous around the Coromo Islands. A night the African coelacanth comes out of its cave and drifts along the volcanic sands feeding on whatever prey fish that it encounters This is another energy conserving strategy used by the African coelacanth.

The African Coelacanth is a primitive lobe-finned fish reaching about five feet in length and weighing over one hundred pounds. Due to recent overfishing by local fisherman, this fish is a critically endangered species.

Marine Fishes – Complete 10 Fish Stamp Set – Fujeira 1972

1972 Complete Set of Marine Fishes Stamps From Fujeira

Fujeira, known also as Fujairah, is one of the seven emirates, or states, that comprise the United Arab Emirates (“UAE”). The United Arab Emirates is located in the Middle East, between Oman and Saudi Arabia. UAE borders both the Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf.

10dh – Ocelka – Emperor Angelfish (Pomacanthus imperator)
20dh – Emperor Angelfish (Pomacanthus imperator) [This is not an Emperor Angelfish, but do not have correct ID at this time]
30dh – Clown triggerfish (Balistoides conspicillum)
40dh – Koran Angelfish (Pomacanthus semicireculatus) – juvenile
50dh – Raccoon Butterflyfish (Chaetodon lunula)
1rl – Red Sea Butterflyfish (Chaetodontoplus mesoleucus) this should be Arabian Butterflyfish (Chaetodon melapterus)
1.50rl – Picasso Triggerfish (Rhinecanthus aculeatus)
2rl – Orange-Striped Triggerfish (Balistapus undulatus)
3rl – Saddle Butterflyfish (Chaetodon ephippium)
4rl – Black-back Butterflyfish (Chaetodon melanotus)