Republic of the Philippines - Stamps & Postal History

 

RP Issues of 2010

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2010, March 29.  Philippine Marine Biodiversity - Definitives 

Litho Offset.  Amstar Company, Inc.  Perf. 13.5

Singles, Sheets of 100  (10 x 10)

         

      

       

 

     1p  -  Christmas Tree Worm - Singles  (1,200,000)

   10p  -  Mandarinfish - Singles (800,000)

   26p  -  Spotted Porcelain Crab - Singles (1,000,000)

 

Designer:  Darwin A. Marfil

Graphic Artist:  Jiomer E. Dacaymat

Design Coordinators:  Victorino Z. Serevo;  Elenita D.L. San Diego

Source:  Coral Reef Animals of the Indo-Pacific by Dr. Terence Gosliner

 

 

First Day Covers:  Manila

 



The Philippines forms an ocean region that has long been recognized as the world’s center of marine biodiversity. With the Malay archipelago, Papua New Guinea and Australia, the country forms the ‘Coral Triangle,’ so-called because of the abundance of its coral reef life. Some 400-500 species in 90 genera of reef-forming corals are believed to exist in this region. Sulu-Sulawesi Sea, a 900,000-square-kilometer marine eco-region that lies at the apex of the Coral Triangle (70% in the Philippines, 20% Indonesia, 10% Malaysia), is home to some 2,500 species of fish.  The Philippine center of diversity was found to have the highest species richness for all distributions combined as well as when shore fish distributions were treated separately.


1p CHRISTMAS TREE WORM (SPIROBRANCHUS GIGANTEUS).  Commonly known as Christmas tree worms, are small, tube-building polychaete worms belonging to the family Serpulidae. The worms’ most distinct features are the two "crowns" that are shaped like Christmas-trees. These "crowns" are actually highly modified prostomial palps which are specialized mouth appendages of the worm. Each spiral is actually composed of feather-like tentacles called "radioles", which are heavily ciliated which allows any prey that are trapped in them to be transported straight towards the worm's mouth. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spirobranchus_giganteus)

10p MANDARINFISH (SYNCHIROPUS SPLENDIDUS). The mandarinfish or mandarin dragonet (Synchiropus splendidus), is a small, brightly-colored member of the dragonet family, which is popular in the saltwater aquarium trade. The mandarinfish is native to the Pacific and was first described as Callionymus splendidus in 1927 by Albert William Herre, an American ichthyologist working in the Philippines. To date, S. splendidus is one of only two animal species known to have blue colouring because of cellular pigment. They are reef dwellers, preferring sheltered lagoons and inshore reefs. While they are slow-moving and fairly common within their range, they are not easily seen due to their bottom-feeding habit and their small size (reaching only about 6 cm). They feed primarily on small crustaceans and other invertebrates. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mandarinfish).

26p SPOTTED PORCELAIN CRAB (NEOPETROLISTHES MACULATA). The Spotted Porcelain Crab is an exquisite reef safe crab. They are reef safe, peaceful, and will not harm other invertebrates or corals. Very interesting invertebrates for the marine aquarium. Common throughout the tropical oceans of the world, they have a flat, round body with two large claws and a pair of maxillipeds which are used to catch plankton in the water column. They are also algae eaters and enjoy lots of live rock to graze and hide, and do well in groups. They are light blue in color and covered in small red spots, with orange tipped legs; a very unique addition to the reef aquarium. Safely concealed by rocks or coral, the Porcelain Crab constantly filters the water for planktonic food, but will also scavenge for larger meaty portions. (http://www.aquacon.com/crabs.html)

TOPICAL CATEGORIES

 

  • Marine Biodiversity

  • Marine Life

 

Articles by Dr. Ngo Tiong Tak

 

 

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Issues of 2010