jellyfish

blue

In 2014, tragically, nine blue whales died in the Gulf of St Lawrence. This exhibit from 2017 tells their story with an unprecedented chance to see the skeleton of one of them.

P

I love these 'road trip Australia' series.
Here we have a sideways placed stamp for a platypus and a 'road trip' to see the penguins in Australia. For an extra P the penguins live on Phillip Island. The platypus lives in freshwater streams and rivers of eastern Australia from Queensland to Tasmania.
I never had the good fortune to see a platypus, but I have seen the penguins of Phillip Island, near Melbourne. There you can see the penguin parade as the precious little guys waddle back to land at sunset.

for the final Sunday Stamps of 2019.

whale sounds

from China

Sunday Stamps - W

Continuing from last week's theme, here is a humpback whale. This one, however, is of least concern on the conservation status. They live in all of the oceans and are known to have some of the longest migrations of any mammal.  Locally, there are about 4,000 in the Northwest Atlantic and 18,000 in the North Pacific (though, because of their travels, it is hard to know for certain). Their scientific name "Megaptera novaeangliae" translates to "large winged from New England".

for the letter W - whale

... as we are nearing the end of this round, I would like to ask if there is still interest in continuing? We seem to have lost a few people along the way, but I am happy to keep going. I enjoy seeing your postings and would be sad to have this end. 

Ripley's

A pair of Pirhana

Sunday Stamps - V

This North Atlantic Right Whale stamp was issued as part of a set for endangered species in 2013 when there was thought to be only 500 individuals left. They are vanishing at a rapid rate and are now estimated to be only 400 left. So far this year eight right whales have died in the Gulf of St Lawrence plus only this weekend two others were disentangled from fishing gear by a hard working rescue team who may or may not survive.

for the letter V - vanishing

Sunday Stamps - U

Greece

Issued in 2015 as part of a series for diving tourism, this underwater stamp shows off 'treeshaped sponges' or achaia.

for the letter U - underwater

from jellies to sharks

Continuing on with yesterday's stamp, here is another jellyfish (as well as a shark).  These postcards are available at the Ripley's Aquarium in Toronto (a must see destination for anyone who is interested, or needs to become interested, in marine life.)  It is unfortunate that the 'correspondence' side of the postcard has already been filled in with a description and advertising for the aquarium.

Sunday Stamps - P

2007, Canada, International Polar Year
designed by Gildo Martino

Eight countries issued stamps for International Polar Year in 2007.  The left stamp shows a male eider duck, while the right stamp shows a jellyfish.  In the centre is a cutout maple leaf.  Each stamp is 40mm X 30mm and the jelly fish is an actual size (apparently about the size of an average thumb!)  It had only recently been discovered on a subarctic polar expedition. The eider duck's migratory pattern was being studied as part of the 2007 IPY. It is considered circumpolar and is native to Greenland, Canada and Alaska.

for the letter P - Polar

just looking around

sent, 2018
Harp Seal

Sunday Stamps II - 143

1961, Republic of Congo
engraver: Rene Cottet

Argyropelecus gigas, or giant hatchetfish can be found in tropical waters of all the oceans and is native to around 90 countries, including the Republic of Congo. Giant Hatchetfish aren't really all that giant - they usually reach only 4-6 inches, but that is much bigger than many of the other 40 species of hatchetfish. They have big eyes that are extremely sensitive to light and shadow in depths of 400-4,000 feet. Their eyes are also focused upwards which helps them find food. Another interesting feature is their ability to fly by fluttering their pectoral fins.

for the letter F - fish, flying, fins

I am away on an internet free holiday for a week, so will visit you all next Sunday

Sunday Stamps II - 70

 

1968, Canada, Narwhal

designer: John Alexander Crosby

The Narwhal is a small whale that is found only in the Arctic Ocean and mainly in Baffin Bay.  Unlike some whales that migrate, these will spend the winter under the sea ice and can dive as deep as 1.5 miles. The narwhal can grow up to 16', but add to that its tusk which can be as long as 10'. They have been called "the unicorns of the sea" for their solitary tusk that is spiral. Only the males have these tusks; most have only one, but sometimes two will grow. There has been no evidence seen that this tusk is used for fighting, so it may be something to attract the females.

for mammals of the seas

Sunday Stamps II - 37

issued 1969, one of a series of eight fish stamps
each of the stamps has the same shell border

The Moonfish, or Monodactylus argenteus, is a disc shaped silvery fish with a flattened body. They can reach as big as 11" (27cm). They are found in the Red Sea (and east coast of Africa) and seem to like fresh water tidal pools and inshore reefs where they are known to feed on insects, plant matter and detritus.