The Giant Sea Fan of Niue - Annella mollis

The Giant Sea Fan or Annella mollis is a soft coral that found throughout Niue’s picturesque coral reef. To tribute this species, Niue Post collaborated with WWF organization released a set of four stamps, one miniature sheet, and two of official First Day Cover on September 05, 2012.

The giant sea fan is a soft coral (Octocorallia) and belongs to the class of flower animals (Anthozoa). Its fans measure up to two metres and are always placed transverse to the sea current, making it easier for it to fish its food (small plankton) out of the water. Most soft corals have no true skeleton and so their bodies are flexible. Some soft corals have spikes very similar to rose thorns which may help to protect against predators.

The first of local  FDC have attached set of four single stamps and have background image of this species on the left cover. Also marked logo of WWF and has special post marks a picture of a diver exploring Niue’s waters. This unique datestamp reflecting the large number of tourists who experience Niue’s breathtaking diving environment.

Stone crayfish (Austropotamobius torrentium)

 

Slovenia Post have issued the local WWF first day cover  along with the launched the stamp series of  Stone crayfish (Austropotamobious torrentium) on September 23, 2011.   The First Day Cover has image of this species on the left-bottom side . The issued of  four  postage stamps has placed on the top rows of FDC and  cancelled with  postmark of WWF logo.

The stone crayfish is a member of the order Decapoda, or ten-legged crustaceans. Three species of crayfish live in fresh water in Slovenia: the noble crayfish, the stone crayfish and white-clawed crayfish.

 

The stone crayfish (Austropotamobius torrentium) is smaller than the noble crayfish. It grows up to 10 cm and lives primarily in small streams and also at higher elevations. It lives in streams that have mainly rocky beds, where it hides beneath the rocks. Its carapace is usually brown, and the underside of the claws is lighter and never red as are those of the noble crayfish. 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. Due to its small size it was never very interesting economically and was never bred or used as a food source.  

Due to the regulation of watercourses and water pollution, all of these crayfish species are highly threatened and therefore also protected. Natura 2000 protection areas have been established in order to protect the stone crayfish.

BLUE CORAL - TUVALU 1992

On September 01, 1992, Tuvalu Post released the local FDC which have attached with the WWF stamp series of Blue Coral.  Image of Blue Coral  shown in the left side and has a post mark of logo WWF.

Blue coral or Heliopora coerulea is a coral and as  the only species in the family Helioporidae and the only Octocoral known to produce a massive skeleton that formed of aragonite. Individual polyps live in tubes within the skeleton and are connected by a thin layer of tissue over the outside of the skeleton.

Sea Life – Alderney 1993

The beautiful first day cover of Alderney  has sealed with the  WWF stamps issued  on November 2, 1993. The local FDC has post mark of WWF logo. The issue stamps are depicts 4 (four) species of sea life ,  Spiny Lobster (Palinurus elephas ), Plumose Anemone (Metridium senile), Seven-Armed Starfish (Lucida ciliaris), and Green Urchin ( Psammechinus milliaris).

Plumose Anemone, sea anemones found mostly in the cooler waters of the northern Pacific and Atlantic oceans. They are characterized by their numerous threadlike tentacles extending from atop a smooth cylindrical column, and can vary from a few centimeters in height up to one meter or more. In larger specimens, the oral disk becomes densely curved and frilly.

Pronghorn Spiny Lobster – Kiribati 1998

This official FDC as local WWF cover depicts spiny lobster and seal with 4 postage WWF stamps  including post marked with logo of WWF. The post marked is not specific represented this species and dated  February 02, 1998.

Pronghorn Spiny Lobsters or  Panulirus penicillatus, are a family (Palinuridae)and found in almost all warm seas, including the Caribbean and the Mediterranean Sea, but are particularly common in Australasia, where they are referred to commonly as crayfish or sea crayfish .