Republic of the Philippines - Stamps & Postal History

RP Issues of 2013

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2013, August 2.  Marine Biodiversity

Digital.  C & C Security Printing Co. (Shenzhen) Ltd.,   Perf 14

Souvenir Sheets of Eight + Label

                

 

10p x 8 - Souvenir Sheets of Eight + Label  (5,000)

10p Lemon Goby – Gobiodon citrinus

10p Three-spot Angelfish - Apolemichthys trimaculatus

10p Dragon Wrasse - Novaculichthys taeniourus

10p White-tailed Damsel Fish - Dascyllus aruanus

10p Orange Sea Perch – Anthias squamipinnis

10p Lemonpeel Angelfish – Centropyge flavissimus 

10p Spotted Puffer – Arothron meleagris

10p Electric Blue Damsel – Pomacentrus coelestis

 

Note:  Total stamp value 80p;  Selling Prince 100p

 

First Day Covers:  Manila

 

 

 

 

PHILIPPINES MARINE BIODIVERSITY

 

Lemon Goby – Gobiodon Citrinus.  Found on coral and rocky reefs often in lagoons, exclusively in heads of Staghorn Corals where they form colonies.  Their skin is covered in a slimy, toxic mucus.  They feed on invertebrates and zooplankton.  Length - 6.5cm, Depth - 1-30m.  Widespread Indo-Pacific.  http://www.whatsthatfish.com/fish/lemon-coralgoby/802

Three-spot Angelfish - Apolemichthys trimaculatus.   Have a yellow body and blue lips. There is a black spot on the forehead and another faint one behind the gill cover. The anal fin has a wide black margin. Juvenile Three-spot Angelfish are similar to adults, but lack the spots around the head. They have a narrow black band through eye and a series of golden bars on the side.   http://australianmuseum.net.au/Three-spot-Angelfish-Apolemichthys-trimaculatus-Cuvier-1831/

Dragon Wrasse - Novaculichthys taeniourus.   Also referred to as the Rockmover Wrasse.  The Rockmover Wrasse is a colorful fish,  27–30 centimetres (11–12 in) in length.  It has an oblong, laterally compressed body and a wedge-shaped head. Their head is scaleless except for two scales on the upper part of the gill coverings and an almost vertical row of small scales behind each eye.  The juvenile has a burgundy body with white markings. The fins are also notable in their appearance, especially the first two dorsal spines that form a "cow-lick." The adult does not have the large dorsal spines and has a light-blue to green body with impressive darker markings.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Novaculichthys_taeniourus

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=15+1379+314&pcatid=314

White-tailed Damsel Fish - Dascyllus aruanus.   Tops out at about 4 inches in total length. Sporting three broad black stripes on a white body, the white-tailed damselfish has a zebra-like appearance. The stripes run slightly off vertical through the eyes and mouth, midbody and bisecting the caudal peduncle, making it half black and half white. The caudal fin is clear, which distinguishes it from the black-tailed which looks nearly identical except for its namesake black caudal fin.  Male and female white-tailed damselfish can be virtually the same size and coloration at maturity.   http://www.fishchannel.com/fish-species/saltwater-profiles/white-tailed-damselfish-2.aspx

Orange Sea Perch – Anthias Squamipinnis.    The Lyretail anthias is known under many different names, such as Squami Anthias, Pink Anthias, Scalefin Anthias, and Jewel Anthias. Lyretail anthias or Orange lyretail anthias are, however, the most commonly used names for this species.   The lyretail anthias is a species that shows extremely large variation. There are almost solid pink lyretail anthias as well as those who display a pink body whit a white yellow band across it. The band is about 1/3 of the body length of the fish. There is also a peach colored strain of this species. The females are yellow with a pink and purple stripe running from the eye towards the pelvic fins. http://www.aquaticcommunity.com/anthias/Lyertail.php

Lemonpeel Angelfish – Centropyge Flavissimus.   Overall color is bright yellow.  Juveniles have a characteristic blue-edged black ocellus in the middle of each side. There is a blue circle around the eye and a blue blotch on the posterior margin of the operculum. Median fins are likewise edged blue. With 44 - 50 lateral scale rows. http://www.fishbase.org/summary/CENTROPYGE-FLAVISSIMUS.html

Spotted Puffer – Arothron Meleagris.  This puffer occurs in two color phases: black with white spots, and golden yellow.  They are up to 48 cm (nearly 19 inches) in length.  Found around shallow coral and rocky reefs.  When threatened, puffers can inflate their body by swallowing water to increase their body volume as a deterrent to predators.  In addition, puffers produce tetraodontoxin in their skin, liver, and gonads.  Some puffers are considered a great delicacy, especially in Japan—but if not prepared by properly trained cooks, eating them can cause serious illness, or death.   http://www.oceanoasis.org/fieldguide/arot-mel.html

Electric Blue Damsel – Pomacentrus Coelestis.  Native to reefs across the Indo-Pacific, is usually busy defending a small territory. Interestingly, the Blue Damselfish has the ability to hide in a hole or crevice and darken to an almost black color. This usually happens when it is threatened.  After the perceived threat is gone, the Blue Damselfish will return to its electric blue color in a matter of seconds. http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=15+28+111&pcatid=111

 

 

TOPICAL CATEGORIES

 

  • Fishes

  • Corals

 

Articles by Dr. Ngo Tiong Tak

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Issues of 2013