ANIMALS – BIRDS – WOODPECKERS – GREEN-BARRED WOODPECKER (COLAPTES MELANOCHLOROS)

Animals - Birds - Woodpeckers

Green-barred woodpecker (Colaptes melanochloros)

Scientific Classification:

Kingdom : Animalia
Phylum : Chordata
Class : Aves
Order : Piciiformes
Family : Picidae
Genus : Colaptes
Species : C. Melanochloros

Description:

The Green-barred woodpecker (Colaptes melanochloros) is a species of bird in the Picidae family. The scientific name melanochloros derives from the Greek melanos, meaning "black", and chloros, "pale green", the principal colors of this bird. The golden-breasted woodpecker is sometimes included here as the southern group of subspecies and sometimes treated as a distinct species, C. melanolaimus.

C. melanochloros (including the golden-breasted woodpecker) is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests and subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests.

Binomial Name:

Name : Colaptes melanochloros
Taxonomist : Johann Friedrich Gmelin (Tübingen - Germany)
Year : 1788
Subspecies : None or not data available
Synonyms : None or not data available

Conservation Status by IUCN:

Status : Least Concern

Has been categorized by the International Union for Conservation of Nature as evaluated but not qualified for any other category. As such they do not qualify as threatened, near threatened, or (prior to 2001) conservation dependent.

Philatelic Issues

2009 – Uruguay – Stamp 4 of 4, from Spring Series

Issue information:

Country: Uruguay
Date: October 13th, 2009
Printed: 15.000 Copies
Type: Stamp from Series of 4 Stamps
Value: UYP 12

Stamp: Rectangular
Size: 39 mm. x 27 mm.
Perforation: Circular
Gum: Water Activated

ANIMALS – BIRDS – SONGBIRDS – MANY-COLOURED RUSH TYRANT (TACHURIS RUBRIGASTRA)

Animals - Birds - Songbirds

Many-coloured Rush Tyrant (Tachuris rubrigastra)

Scientific Classification:

Kingdom : Animalia
Phylum : Chordata
Class : Aves
Order : Passeriformes
Family : Tyrannidae
Genus : Tachuris
Species : T. Rubrigastra

Description:

The Many-coloured rush tyrant (Tachuris rubrigastra) or Many-colored rush tyrant is a small passerine bird of South America belonging to the tyrant flycatcher family. It is the only member of the genus Tachuris and its relationships with the other members of the family are uncertain. It inhabits marshland and reedbeds around lakes and rivers. It is particularly associated with stands of Scirpus. The nest is built among plant stems.

There are four subspecies: T. r. rubrigastra is the most widespread, occurring from south-east Brazil to southern Argentina and central Chile. T. r. alticola is found in the Andes of south-east Peru, west Bolivia and north-west Argentina. T. r. libertatis is found in coastal Peru while T. r. loaensis is restricted to Antofagasta Region in northern Chile.

It is a small bird, 10.5 cm in length. The tail is short, the wings are short and rounded and the bill is slender. As the bird's name suggests, the plumage is very colorful. The back and rump are green while the underparts are yellow apart from the white throat, black breastband and red undertail-coverts. The face is dark blue-grey, there is a yellow stripe over the eye and the crown is dark with a red patch that is often concealed. The wings and tail are dark with a white wingbar and white outer tail-feathers. Juveniles are considerably duller than the adults.

Binomial Name:

Name : Tachuris rubrigastra
Taxonomist : Louis Jean Pierre Vieillot (Yvetot - France)
Year : 1817
Subspecies : 4 (Rubigastra, Alticola, Libertatis, Ioaensis)
Synonyms : Sylvia rubrigastra

Conservation Status by IUCN:

Status : Least Concern

Has been categorized by the International Union for Conservation of Nature as evaluated but not qualified for any other category. As such they do not qualify as threatened, near threatened, or (prior to 2001) conservation dependent.

Philatelic Issues

2009 – Uruguay – Stamp 3 of 4, from Spring Series

Issue information:

Country: Uruguay
Date: October 13th, 2009
Printed: 15.000 Copies
Type: Stamp from Series of 4 Stamps
Value: UYP 15

Stamp: Rectangular
Size: 39 mm. x 27 mm.
Perforation: Circular
Gum: Water Activated

ANIMALS – INSECTS – BUTTERFLIES – SCARLET PEACOCK (ANARTIA AMATHEA)

Animals - Insects - Butterflies

Scarlet Peacock (Anartia amathea)

Scientific Classification:

Kingdom : Animalia
Phylum : Arthropoda
Class : Insecta
Order : Lepidoptera
Family : Nymphalidae
Genus : Anartia
Species : A. Amathea

Description:

The Scarlet peacock (Anartia amathea), also named Brown Peacock, is a species of nymphalid butterfly, found primarily in South America. The type locality is probably Suriname, and the species is found from Panama to Argentina; Grenada, Barbados, Antigua. It is reported as common in Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, the Brazilian highlands, the eastern Amazon, the Guianas, Venezuela, and Panama, as well as Trinidad and other Caribbean islands. North American records are either in error or refer to strays.

Larval host plants are mostly undetermined, but these include the families Acanthaceae and Labiatae.

Binomial Name:

Name : Anartia amathea
Taxonomist : Carl Linnaeus (Småland - Sweden)
Year : 1758
Subspecies : None, or no data available
Synonyms : None, or no data available

Conservation Status by IUCN:

Status : Not Evaluated, or not data available

Philatelic Issues

2009 – Uruguay – Stamp 2 of 4, from Spring Series

Issue information:

Country: Uruguay
Date: October 13th, 2009
Printed: 15.000 Copies
Type: Stamp from Series of 4 Stamps
Value: UYP 15

Stamp: Rectangular
Size: 39 mm. x 27 mm.
Perforation: Circular
Gum: Water Activated

ANIMALS – INSECTS – BUTTERFLIES – RED CRACKER (HAMADRYAS AMPHINOME)

Animals - Insects - Butterflies

Red Cracker (Hamadryas amphinome)

Scientific Classification:

Kingdom : Animalia
Phylum : Arthropoda
Class : Insecta
Order : Lepidoptera
Family : Nymphalidae
Tribe : Biblidini
Genus : Hamadryas
Species : H. Amphinome

Description:

The Red Cracker (Hamadryas amphinome) is a species of cracker butterfly in the family Nymphalidae. It is found from Argentina, Mexico south to Amazon Basin and in Guianas, Peru, and Bolivia.

The larvae feed on Dalechampia scandens.

Binomial Name:

Name : Hamadryas amphinome
Taxonomist : Carl Linnaeus (Småland - Sweden)
Year : 1767
Subspecies : 4 (Amphinome, Fumosa, Mazai, Mexicana)
Synonyms : Papilio amphinome

Conservation Status by IUCN:

Status : Not Evaluated, or not data available

Philatelic Issues

2009 – Uruguay – Stamp 1 of 4, from Spring Series

Issue information:

Country: Uruguay
Date: October 13th, 2009
Printed: 15.000 Copies
Type: Stamp from Series of 4 Stamps
Value: UYP 15

Stamp: Rectangular
Size: 39 mm. x 27 mm.
Perforation: Circular
Gum: Water Activated

ANIMALS – BIRDS – CUCKOOS – GUIRA CUCKOO (GUIRA GUIRA)

Animals - Birds - Cuckoos

Guira cuckoo (Guira guira)

Scientific Classification:

Kingdom : Animalia
Phylum : Chordata
Class : Aves
Order : Cuculiformes
Family : Cuculidae
Genus : Guira
Species : G. Guira

Description:

The Guira cuckoo (Guira guira) is a social, non-parasitic cuckoo found widely in open and semi-open habitats of eastern and southern Brazil, Uruguay, Paraguay, Bolivia, and north-eastern Argentina. It is monotypic within the genus Guira, and is related to the anis.

The species has whitish-buff underparts and rump, dark brownish upperparts, a broadly white-tipped dark tail that is relatively long, an orange-rufous crest, bare yellow ocular-skin (commonly fades in captivity), and a relatively heavy, orange-yellow bill. It is generally rather shaggy-looking and has a total length of approximately 34 cm (13 in). Like other members of the subfamily Crotophaginae, the guira cuckoo gives off a strong, pungent odour.

The guira cuckoo is arboreal, but can frequently be seen on the ground, usually in flocks of 6 to 18 individuals. It is sometimes seen with other birds such as the smooth-billed ani (Crotophaga ani) whose behavior is similar.

Binomial Name:

Name : Guira guira
Taxonomist : Johann Friedrich Gmelin (Tübingen - Germany)
Year : 1788
Subspecies : 5 (Rufus, Albogularis, Commersoni, Paraguayae, Schumacheri)
Synonyms : None or not data available

Conservation Status by IUCN:

Status : Least Concern

Has been categorized by the International Union for Conservation of Nature as evaluated but not qualified for any other category. As such they do not qualify as threatened, near threatened, or (prior to 2001) conservation dependent.

Philatelic Issues

2010 - Uruguay - Stamp 3 of 4, from Spring Series

Issue information:

Country: Uruguay
Date: September 30th, 2010
Printed: 15.000 Copies
Type: Stamp from Series of 4 Stamps
Value: UYP 12

Stamp: Rectangular
Size: 39 mm. x 27 mm.
Perforation: Circular
Gum: Water Activated

ANIMALS – BIRDS – SONGBIRDS – RUFOUS HORNERO (FURNARIUS RUFUS)

Animals - Birds - Songbirds

Rufous Hornero (Furnarius rufus)

Scientific Classification:

Kingdom : Animalia
Phylum : Chordata
Class : Aves
Order : Passeriformes
Family : Furnariidae
Genus : Furnarius
Species : F. Rufus

Description:

The Rufous hornero (Furnarius rufus) is a medium-sized ovenbird in the family Furnariidae It occurs in eastern South America, and is the national bird in Argentina. Also known as the red ovenbird, it is common in savannas, second-growth scrub, pastures and agricultural land and is synanthropic. Its range includes southeastern and southern Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay and northern and central Argentina, extending as far south as northern Patagonia. The species is most closely related to the crested hornero of Paraguay and Argentina. There are four accepted subspecies.

The rufous hornero is medium-sized with a square tail and very slightly decurved bill. The plumage is overall reddish brown with a dull brown crown and a whitish throat. Sexes are alike and juvenile birds are slightly paler below (probably because they are cleaner). Rufous horneros feed on insects and other arthropods obtained by foraging on the ground while walking. They sometimes feed on scraps such as bread crumbs. Songs in the rufous hornero are sexually distinct. The rapid trill that is usually heard as part of the duet is faster in the male, slower in the female, and both beat their wings at their sides while singing and the wings beat at the same rate as their trill. Thus, while watching an observer may identify the sex by how fast their wings beat while singing.

Predators of adult and young rufous horneros include birds of prey such as the black-chested buzzard-eagle Buteo melanoleucus, small mammals, domestic cats, and a number of species of snakes and possibly lizards. However, its covered nest probably reduces predation risk.

Binomial Name:

Name : Furnarius rufus
Taxonomist : Johann Friedrich Gmelin (Tübingen - Germany)
Year : 1788
Subspecies : 5 (Rufus, Albogularis, Commersoni, Paraguayae, Schumacheri)
Synonyms : None or not data available

Conservation Status by IUCN:

Status : Least Concern

Has been categorized by the International Union for Conservation of Nature as evaluated but not qualified for any other category. As such they do not qualify as threatened, near threatened, or (prior to 2001) conservation dependent.

Philatelic Issues

2010 - Uruguay - Stamp 2 of 4, from Spring Series

Issue information:

Country: Uruguay
Date: September 30th, 2010
Printed: 15.000 Copies
Type: Stamp from Series of 4 Stamps
Value: UYP 12

Stamp: Rectangular
Size: 39 mm. x 27 mm.
Perforation: Circular
Gum: Water Activated

ANIMALS – BIRDS – PENGUINS – CHINSTRAP PENGUIN (PYGOSCELIS ANTARCTICA)

Animals - Birds - Penguins

Chinstrap Penguin (Pygoscelis antarctica)

Scientific Classification:

Kingdom : Animalia
Phylum : Chordata
Class : Aves
Order : Sphenisciformes
Family : Spheniscidae
Genus : Pygoscelis
Species : P. Antarctica

Description:

The Chinstrap penguin (Pygoscelis antarctica) is a species of penguin which inhabits a variety of islands and shores in the Southern Pacific and the Antarctic Ocean. Its name derives from the narrow black band under its head which makes it appear as if it were wearing a black helmet, making it one of the most easily identified types of penguin. Other common names are "ringed penguin", "bearded penguin", and "stone cracker penguin" due to its harsh call.

Chinstrap penguins have an average body length of 72 centimetres (28 in) and a weight of 3–5 kilograms (6.6–11.0 lb), however their weight can drop as low as 3 kilograms (6.6 lb) depending on the breeding cycle. Males are both larger and heavier than females.

The adult chinstraps' flippers are black with a white edge; the inner sides of the flippers are white. The face is white extending behind the eyes, which are reddish-brown; the chin and throat are white as well, while the short bill is black. The strong legs and the webbed feet are pink. The chinstrap penguin's black-and-white plumage helps camouflage it in the water from predators such as seals. When seen from above, the bird's black back blends into the dark water below, while the bird's underside blends into the sunshine above when seen from below.

Chinstrap penguins have a circumpolar distribution. They breed in Antarctica, Argentina, Bouvet Island, Chile, the Falkland Islands, the French Southern Territories, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands. Vagrant individuals have been found in New Zealand, the islands of Saint Helena and Tristan da Cunha, and South Africa. Global population is estimated at least 8 million.

Binomial Name:

Name : Pygoscelis antarctica
Taxonomist : Johann Reinhold Forster (Tczew - Poland)
Year : 1781
Subspecies : None, or no data available
Synonyms : Pygoscelis antarcticus

Conservation Status by IUCN:

Status : Least Concern

Has been categorized by the International Union for Conservation of Nature as evaluated but not qualified for any other category. As such they do not qualify as threatened, near threatened, or (prior to 2001) conservation dependent.

Philatelic Issues

2010 – Uruguay – Unique Stamp, from Antartic Treaty Series

Issue information:

Country: Uruguay
Date: October 8th, 2010
Printed: 15.000 Copies
Type: Unique Stamp from Series
Value: UYP 37

Stamp: Rectangular
Size: 39 mm. x 27 mm.
Perforation: Circular
Gum: Water Activated

ANIMALS – BIRDS – SEABIRDS – AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHER (HAEMATOPUS PALLIATUS)

Animals - Birds - Seabirds

American oystercatcher (Haematopus palliatus)

Scientific Classification:

Kingdom : Animalia
Phylum : Chordata
Class : Aves
Order : Charadriiformes
Family : Haematopodidae
Genus : Haematopus
Species : H. Palliatus

Description:

The American oystercatcher (Haematopus palliatus), occasionally called the American pied oystercatcher, is a member of family Haematopodidae. The bird is marked by its black and white body and a long, thick orange beak. This shorebird is approximately 19 inches (42 – 52 cm) in length.

The American oystercatcher has distinctive black and white plumage and a long, bright orange beak. The head and breast are black and the back, wings and tail greyish-black. The underparts are white, as are feathers on the inner part of the wing which become visible during flight. The irises are yellow and the eyes have orange orbital rings. The legs are pink. Adults are about 19 inches (480 mm) in length.

The American oystercatcher is found on the Atlantic coast of North America from New England to northern Florida, where it is also found on the Gulf coast, and south to Brazil, Uruguay and Argentina. It is found also in the Pacific coast of California, Mexico, Central America, Peru, and Chile. In the 19th century they became locally extinct in the northeast of the United States due to market hunting and egg collecting. After receiving protection under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, their range extended northward to re-occupy historical habitat in New England.

Oystercatchers are closely tied to coastal habitats. They nest on beaches on coastal islands and feed on marine invertebrates. The large, heavy beak is used to pry open bivalve mollusks. Oystercatchers raise a clutch of two or three eggs. In winter, they are found in flocks along the coast from central New Jersey to the Gulf of Mexico.

Binomial Name:

Name : Haematopus palliatus
Taxonomist : Coenraad Jacob Temminck (Amsterdam - Netherlands)
Year : 1820
Subspecies : None or not data available
Synonyms : None or not data available

Conservation Status by IUCN:

Status : Least Concern

Has been categorized by the International Union for Conservation of Nature as evaluated but not qualified for any other category. As such they do not qualify as threatened, near threatened, or (prior to 2001) conservation dependent.

Philatelic Issues

2011 – Uruguay – Unique Stamp, from “Isla de Flores” National Park Series

Issue information:

Country: Uruguay
Date: November 16th, 2011
Printed: 15.000 copies
Type : Unique Stamp from Series
Value : UYP 12

Stamp : Rectangular
Size: 47 mm. x 32 mm.
Perforation: Circular
Gum: Water Activated

ANIMALS – BIRDS – SEABIRDS – KELP GULL (LARUS DOMINICANUS)

Animals - Birds - Seabirds

Kelp gull (Larus dominicanus)

Scientific Classification:

Kingdom : Animalia
Phylum : Chordata
Class : Aves
Order : Charadriiformes
Family : Laridae
Genus : Larus
Species : L. Dominicanus

Description:

The Kelp gull (Larus dominicanus), also known as the Dominican gull, is a gull which breeds on coasts and islands through much of the southern hemisphere. The nominate L. d. dominicanus is the subspecies found around South America, parts of Australia (where it overlaps with the Pacific gull), and New Zealand (where it is known as the southern black-backed gull or by its Māori name karoro). L. d. vetula (known as the Cape gull) is a subspecies occurring around southern Africa.

The specific name comes from the Dominican Order of friars, who wear black and white habits.

The kelp gull superficially resembles two gulls from further north in the Atlantic Ocean, the lesser black-backed gull and the great black-backed gull and is intermediate in size between these two species. This species ranges from 54 to 65 cm (21 to 26 in) in total length, from 128 to 142 cm (50 to 56 in) in wingspan and from 540 to 1,390 g (1.19 to 3.06 lb) in weight. Adult males and females weigh on average 1,000 g (2.2 lb) and 900 g (2.0 lb) respectively. Among standard measurements, the wing chord is 37.3 to 44.8 cm (14.7 to 17.6 in), the bill is 4.4 to 5.9 cm (1.7 to 2.3 in) and the tarsus is 5.3 to 7.5 cm (2.1 to 3.0 in). The adult kelp gull has black upperparts and wings. The head, underparts, tail, and the small "mirrors" at the wing tips are white. The bill is yellow with a red spot, and the legs are greenish-yellow (brighter and yellower when breeding, duller and greener when not breeding). The call is a strident ki-och. Juveniles have dull legs, a black bill, a dark band in the tail, and an overall grey-brown plumage densely edged whitish, but they rapidly get a pale base to the bill and largely white head and underparts. They take three or four years to reach maturity.

Binomial Name:

Name : Larus dominicanus
Taxonomist : Martin Hinrich Carl Lichtenstein (Hamburg - Germany)
Year : 1823
Subspecies : 5 (Dominicanus, Vetula, Judithae, Melisandae, Austrinus)
Synonyms : None or not data available

Conservation Status by IUCN:

Status : Least Concern

Has been categorized by the International Union for Conservation of Nature as evaluated but not qualified for any other category. As such they do not qualify as threatened, near threatened, or (prior to 2001) conservation dependent.

Philatelic Issues

2011 – Uruguay – Unique Stamp, from “Isla de Flores” National Park Series

Issue information:

Country: Uruguay
Date: November 16th, 2011
Printed: 15.000 copies
Type : Unique Stamp from Series
Value : UYP 12

Stamp : Rectangular
Size: 47 mm. x 32 mm.
Perforation: Circular
Gum: Water Activated

ANIMALS – BIRDS – SEABIRDS – SNOWY EGRET (EGRETTA THULA) #2

Animals - Birds - Seabirds

Snowy egret (Egretta thula)

Scientific Classification:

Kingdom : Animalia
Phylum : Chordata
Class : Aves
Subclass : Neornithes
Infraclass : Neognathae
Superorder : Neoaves
Order : Pelecaniformes
Family : Ardeidae
Genus : Egretta
Species : E. Thula

Description:

The Snowy egret (Egretta thula) is a small white heron. It is the American counterpart to the very similar Old World little egret, which has established a foothold in the Bahamas. At one time, the beautiful plumes of the snowy egret were in great demand by market hunters as decorations for women's hats. This reduced the population of the species to dangerously low levels.[citation needed] Now protected in the United States by law, under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, this bird's population has rebounded.

Adults are typically 61 cm (24 in) long and weigh 375 g (0.827 lb) They have a slim black bill and long black legs with yellow feet. The area of the upper bill, in front of the eyes, is yellow but turns red during the breeding season, when the adults also gain recurved plumes on the back, making for a "shaggy" effect. The juvenile looks similar to the adult, but the base of the bill is paler, and a green or yellow line runs down the back of the legs.

Snowy Egrets nest in colonies on thick vegetation in isolated places—such as barrier islands, dredge-spoil islands, salt marsh islands, swamps, and marshes. They often change location from year to year. During the breeding season Snowy Egrets feed in estuaries, saltmarshes, tidal channels, shallow bays, and mangroves. They winter in mangroves, saltwater lagoons, freshwater swamps, grassy ponds, and temporary pools, and forage on beaches, shallow reefs, and wet fields.

Binomial Name:

Name : Egretta thula
Taxonomist : Juan Ignacio Molina (Guaraculén, Chile)
Year : 1782
Subspecies : 2 (Thula, Brewsteri)
Synonyms : Ardea thula, Egretta candidissima, Ardea candidissima

Conservation Status by IUCN:

Status : Least Concern

Has been categorized by the International Union for Conservation of Nature as evaluated but not qualified for any other category. As such they do not qualify as threatened, near threatened, or (prior to 2001) conservation dependent.

Philatelic Issues

2011 – Uruguay – Unique Stamp, from “Isla de Flores” National Park Series

Issue information:

Country: Uruguay
Date: November 16th, 2011
Printed: 15.000 copies
Type : Unique Stamp from Series
Value : UYP 12

Stamp : Rectangular
Size: 47 mm. x 32 mm.
Perforation: Circular
Gum: Water Activated

ANIMALS – AMPHIBIANS – FROGS – ROCOCO TOAD (RHINELLA SCHNEIDERI)

Animals - Amphibians - Frogs

Rococo toad (Rhinella schneideri)

Scientific Classification:

Kingdom : Animalia
Phylum : Chordata
Class : Amphibia
Order : Anura
Family : Bufonidae
Genus : Rhinella
Species : R. Schneideri

Description:

The Rococo Toad (Rhinella schneideri), sometimes referred to as Schneider's Toad, is a large toad native to the South America countries of Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay. It is frequently mistaken for the Cane Toad, and gets nearly as large. The easiest way to distinguish the two species, is that R. schneideri has poison glands on its back legs, as well as on either side of its head, as other toads.

Binomial Name:

Name : Rhinella schneideri
Taxonomist : Franz Werner (Vienna - Austria)
Year : 1894
Subspecies : None or not data available
Synonyms : Chaunus schneideri, Bufo paracnemis, Bufo schneideri

Conservation Status by IUCN:

Status : Least Concern

Has been categorized by the International Union for Conservation of Nature as evaluated but not qualified for any other category. As such they do not qualify as threatened, near threatened, or (prior to 2001) conservation dependent.

Philatelic Issues

2015 - Uruguay - Stamp 4 of 4, from Spring Series

Issue information:

Country: Uruguay
Date: August 31st, 2012
Printed: 15.000 Copies
Type: Stamp from Series of 4 Stamps
Value: UYP 12

Stamp: Rectangular
Size: 39 mm. x 27 mm.
Perforation: Circular
Gum: Water Activated

ANIMALS – INSECTS – BEES – YELLOW MANGANGÁ (XYLOCOPA AUGUSTI)

Animals - Insects - Bees

Yellow Mangangá (Xylocopa augusti)

Scientific Classification:

Kingdom : Animalia
Phylum : Arthropoda
Class : Insecta
Order : Hymenoptera
Suborder : Apócrita
Superfamily : Apoidea
Family : Apidae
Subfamily : Xylocopinae
Tribe : Xylocopini
Genus : Xylocopa
Species : X. Augusti

Description:

The Yellow Mangangá (Xylocopa augusti) is a species of carpenter bee, genus Xylocopa, that can reach a length of about 25–30 millimetres (0.98–1.18 in). These large and robust carpenter bees show a black body integument with conspicuous lateral ferruginous setae. Wings are dark brown with violet iridescence. Males are tawny, with two tufts of setae on the ventral surface of the metatibia. They can be encountered from December to March. They nest in wood and tree trunks.

They are commonly associated to flowers of Passiflora species, but also of Agapanthus praecox, Alstroemeria pulchra, Cleome spinosa, Parkinsonia aculeatam, Quillaja saponaria, Robinia pseudoacacia, Solanum crispum, Styphnolobium japonicum, Eucalyptus sp. and Amaryllis sp.

This species can be found in Argentina, Chile, Brasil, Paraguay and Uruguay.

Binomial Name:

Name : Xylocopa augusti
Taxonomist : Amédée Louis Michel le Peletier, comte de Saint-Fargeau (Paris - France)
Year : 1841
Subspecies : None or not data available
Synonyms : Xylocopa ferruginea, Xylocopa augusti pterochloris, Xylocopa guaranitica Brèthes

Conservation Status by IUCN:

Status : Not Evaluated, or not data available

Philatelic Issues

2015 - Uruguay - Stamp 4 of 4, from Spring Series

Issue information:

Country: Uruguay
Date: August 31st, 2012
Printed: 15.000 Copies
Type: Stamp from Series of 4 Stamps
Value: UYP 12

Stamp: Rectangular
Size: 39 mm. x 27 mm.
Perforation: Circular
Gum: Water Activated

ANIMALS – MAMMALS – CETACEANS – LA PLATA DOLPHIN (PONTOPORIA BLAINVILLEI)

Animals - Mammals - Cetaceans

La Plata dolphin (Pontoporia blainvillei)

Scientific Classification:

Kingdom : Animalia
Phylum : Chordata
Class : Mammalia
Subclass : Eutheria
Order : Cetacea
Suborder : Odontoceti
Superfamily : Inioidea
Family : Pontoporiidae
Genus : Pontoporia
Species : P. Blainvillei

Description:

The La Plata dolphin or Franciscana (Pontoporia blainvillei) is found in coastal Atlantic waters of southeastern South America. It is a member of the river dolphin group and the only one that actually lives in the ocean and saltwater estuaries, rather than inhabiting exclusively freshwater systems.

The La Plata dolphin is the only species in its genus, and is often placed in its own family, the Pontoporiidae. It was first described by Paul Gervais and Alcide d'Orbigny in 1844 (the species epithet blainvillei commemorates the French zoologist Henri Marie Ducrotay de Blainville).

The La Plata dolphin is also widely known as the Franciscana - the Argentine and Uruguayan name that has been adopted internationally. Other common names are the toninha (the Brazilian name) and cachimbo.

The La Plata dolphin has the longest beak (as a proportion of body size) of any cetacean — as much as 15% in older adults. Males grow to 1.6 m (5 ft, 3 in) and females to 1.8 m (5 ft, 10 in). The body is a greyish brown colour, with a lighter underside. The flippers are also very large in comparison with body size and are very broad, but narrow on joining the body, so are almost triangular in shape. The trailing edges are serrated. The crescent-shaped blowhole lies just in front of a crease in the neck, giving the impression that dolphin forever has its head cricked upwards. The dorsal fin has a long base and a rounded tip.

The La Plata dolphin weighs up to 50 kg (110 lb), and lives for up to 20 years. The gestation period is around 10–11 months and juveniles take just a few years to mature. Females may be giving birth by the age of five.

Binomial Name:

Name : Pontoporia blainvillei
Taxonomist : Paul Gervais (Paris - France) and Alcide d'Orbigny (Couëron - France)
Year : 1844
Subspecies : None or not data available
Synonyms : None or not data available

Conservation Status by IUCN:

Status : Vulnerable

A Vulnerable species is one which has been categorised by the International Union for Conservation of Nature as likely to become endangered unless the circumstances threatening its survival and reproduction improve.

Vulnerability is mainly caused by habitat loss or destruction. Vulnerable habitat or species are monitored and can become increasingly threatened. Some species listed as "vulnerable" may be common in captivity.

Philatelic Issues

2015 - Uruguay - Stamp 3 of 4, from Spring Series

Issue information:

Country: Uruguay
Date: August 31st, 2012
Printed: 15.000 Copies
Type: Stamp from Series of 4 Stamps
Value: UYP 12

Stamp: Rectangular
Size: 39 mm. x 27 mm.
Perforation: Circular
Gum: Water Activated

ANIMALS – REPTILES – CROCODILES – BROAD-SNOUTED CAIMAN (CAIMAN LATIROSTRIS)

Animals - Reptiles - Crocodiles

Broad-Snouted Caiman (Caiman latirostris)

Scientific Classification:

Kingdom : Animalia
Phylum : Chordata
Class : Reptilia
Order : Crocodylomorpha
Order : Crocodilia
Family : Alligatoridae
Genus : Caiman
Species : C. Latirostris

Description:

The Broad-snouted caiman (Caiman latirostris) is a crocodilian reptile found in eastern and central South America, including southeastern Brazil, northern Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, and Bolivia. It is found mostly in freshwater marshes, swamps, and mangroves, usually in still or very slow-moving waters. It will often use man-made cow ponds.

In the wild, adults normally grow to 2 to 2.5 m (6.6 to 8.2 ft) in length, but a few old males have been recorded to reach up to 3.5 m (11 ft). Captive adults were found to have weighed 29.2 to 62 kg (64 to 137 lb). Most tend to be of a light olive-green color. A few individuals have spots on their faces. The most notable physical characteristic is the broad snout from which its name is derived. The snout is well adapted to rip through the dense vegetation of the marshes. Due to this, they swallow some of the dense vegetation while foraging for food.

Binomial Name:

Name : Caiman latirostris
Taxonomist : François Marie Daudin (Paris - France)
Year : 1801
Subspecies : None or not data available
Synonyms : None or not data available

Conservation Status by IUCN:

Status : Least Concern

Has been categorized by the International Union for Conservation of Nature as evaluated but not qualified for any other category. As such they do not qualify as threatened, near threatened, or (prior to 2001) conservation dependent.

Philatelic Issues

2015 - Uruguay - Stamp 2 of 4, from Spring Series

Issue information:

Country: Uruguay
Date: August 31st, 2012
Printed: 15.000 Copies
Type: Stamp from Series of 4 Stamps
Value: UYP 12

Stamp: Rectangular
Size: 39 mm. x 27 mm.
Perforation: Circular
Gum: Water Activated

ANIMALS – BIRDS – SEABIRDS – RUFOUS-CHESTED PLOVER (CHARADRIUS MODESTUS)

Animals - Birds - Seabirds

Rufous-Chested Plover (Charadrius modestus)

Scientific Classification:

Kingdom : Animalia
Phylum : Chordata
Class : Aves
Order : Charadriiformes
Family : Charadriidae
Genus : Charadrius
Species : C. Modestus

Description:

The Rufous-chested plover or Rufous-chested dotterel (Charadrius modestus) is a species of bird in the Charadriidae family. It breeds in southern parts of Argentina and Chile and on the Falkland Islands. Some birds migrate north in winter, reaching as far as Uruguay, southern Brazil and occasionally Peru. Its natural habitats are temperate grassland and sandy shores.

Binomial Name:

Name : Charadrius modestus
Taxonomist : Martin Hinrich Carl Lichtenstein (Hamburg - Germany)
Year : 1823
Subspecies : None or not data available
Synonyms : None or not data available

Conservation Status by IUCN:

Status : Least Concern

Has been categorized by the International Union for Conservation of Nature as evaluated but not qualified for any other category. As such they do not qualify as threatened, near threatened, or (prior to 2001) conservation dependent.

Philatelic Issues

2015 - Uruguay - Stamp 2 of 4, from Spring Series

Issue information:

Country: Uruguay
Date: August 31st, 2012
Printed: 15.000 Copies
Type: Stamp from Series of 4 Stamps
Value: UYP 12

Stamp: Rectangular
Size: 39 mm. x 27 mm.
Perforation: Circular
Gum: Water Activated

ANIMALS – BIRDS – SONGBIRDS – VERMILION FLYCATCHER (PYROCEPHALUS RUBINUS)

Animals - Birds - Songbirds

Vermilion flycatcher (Pyrocephalus rubinus)

Scientific Classification:

Kingdom : Animalia
Phylum : Chordata
Class : Aves
Order : Passeriformes
Family : Tyrannidae
Genus : Pyrocephalus
Species : P. Rubinus

Description:

The Vermilion flycatcher (Pyrocephalus rubinus) is a small passerine bird in the Tyrannidae, or tyrant flycatcher family. Most flycatchers are rather drab, but the vermilion flycatcher is a striking exception. It is a favorite with birders, but is not generally kept in aviculture, as the males tend to lose their vermilion coloration when in captivity.

When Pieter Boddaert first described the vermilion flycatcher in 1783, from a specimen collected in Tefé, Brazil, he assigned it to the genus Muscicapa, believing it to be related to the many Old World flycatchers already belonging to that genus. By the 1830s, however, taxonomists realized that Old World and New World flycatchers were not closely related, and the New World birds were moved from their former genera. In 1839, John Gould created the current genus Pyrocephalus for the vermilion flycatcher. While it is considered a monotypic genus by many authorities, some taxonomists believe that one or both of the vermilion flycatcher subspecies found on the Galápagos Islands merit species status.

There are 12 widely recognized subspecies, which differ primarily in the color and saturation of the male's plumage and the color and amount of streaking of the females. The boundaries between some of the subspecies are not well defined.

The vermilion flycatcher is a small bird, measuring 13–14 cm (5.1–5.5 in) in length, with a mass between 11 and 14 g (0.39 and 0.49 oz). It strongly dimorphic; males are bright red, with dark brown plumage. Females have a peach-colored belly with a dark gray upperside, and are similar to Say's phoebe.

Binomial Name:

Name : Pyrocephalus rubinus
Taxonomist : Pieter Boddaert (Middelburg - Netherlands)
Year : 1783
Subspecies : 12 (Ardens, Blatteus, Cocachacrae, …)
Synonyms : None or not data available

Conservation Status by IUCN:

Status : Least Concern

Has been categorized by the International Union for Conservation of Nature as evaluated but not qualified for any other category. As such they do not qualify as threatened, near threatened, or (prior to 2001) conservation dependent.

Philatelic Issues

2015 - Uruguay - Stamp 1 of 4, from Spring Series

Issue information:

Country: Uruguay
Date: August 31st, 2012
Printed: 15.000 Copies
Type: Stamp from Series of 4 Stamps
Value: UYP 15

Stamp: Rectangular
Size: 39 mm. x 27 mm.
Perforation: Circular
Gum: Water Activated

ANIMALS – BIRDS – SONGBIRDS – RED-CRESTED CARDINAL (PAROARIA CORONATA)

Animals - Birds - Songbirds

Red-crested cardinal (Paroaria coronata)

Scientific Classification:

Kingdom : Animalia
Phylum : Chordata
Class : Aves
Order : Passeriformes
Family : Thraupidae
Genus : Paroaria
Species : P. Coronata

Description:

The Red-crested cardinal (Paroaria coronata) is a songbird with a prominent red head and crest. Some disagreement exists as to whether this species belongs in the family of the tanagers (Thraupidae) or the buntings (Emberizidae, known in North America as sparrows). Notwithstanding its similar name, this bird is not closely related to the true cardinal family (Cardinalidae). It is called the Red Kramer, named after the character on Seinfeld, due to its similar "hairdo".

It is found in northern Argentina, Bolivia, southern Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry shrubland and heavily degraded former forest. Among other regions, it is found in southern part of the Pantanal.

It has also been introduced to Hawaii and Puerto Rico. In Brazil, it has been introduced to various places outside its historical range, as in the Tietê Ecological Park in São Paulo, alongside its very similar-looking close relative, the red-cowled cardinal (P. dominicana).

The yellow-billed cardinal (P. capitata) could be easily confused with the red-crested cardinal; both the red-cowled and yellow-billed have a very short crest that is not visible except in excited birds, and in the case of the latter, a black throat, darker upper parts and a bright yellow bill.

Binomial Name:

Name : Amblyramphus holosericeus
Taxonomist : Gerrit Smith Miller, Jr (Peterboro - United States)
Year : 1776
Subspecies : None or not data available
Synonyms : None or not data available

Conservation Status by IUCN:

Status : Least Concern

Has been categorized by the International Union for Conservation of Nature as evaluated but not qualified for any other category. As such they do not qualify as threatened, near threatened, or (prior to 2001) conservation dependent.

Philatelic Issues

2015 - Uruguay - Stamp 1 of 4, from Spring Series

Issue information:

Country: Uruguay
Date: August 31st, 2012
Printed: 15.000 Copies
Type: Stamp from Series of 4 Stamps
Value: UYP 15

Stamp: Rectangular
Size: 39 mm. x 27 mm.
Perforation: Circular
Gum: Water Activated

ANIMALS – INSECTS – BEES – WESTERN HONEY BEE (APIS MELLIFERA)

Animals - Insects - Bees

Western Honey Bee (Apis mellifera)

Scientific Classification:

Kingdom : Animalia
Phylum : Arthropoda
Class : Insecta
Order : Hymenoptera
Family : Apdae
Genus : Apis
Species : A. Mellifera

Description:

The Western honey bee or European honey bee (Apis mellifera) is a species of honey bee. The genus name Apis is Latin for "bee", and mellifera means "honey-bearing". It has a defined social caste system and complex communication behaviors, such as intricate dance routines to indicate food availability. It is frequently maintained by beekeepers for its honey product. This species is widely distributed and an important pollinator for agriculture, though it is currently threatened by colony collapse disorder. It is also an important organism for scientific studies on social insects, especially as it now has a fully sequenced genome.

The western honey bee is native to Europe, Asia and Africa. During the early 1600s it was introduced to North America, with other European subspecies introduced two centuries later. Since then, it has spread throughout the Americas.

Western honey bees evolved into geographic races as they spread from Africa into Eurasia, and 28 subspecies based on these geographic variations are recognized. All races are cross-fertile, although reproductive adaptations may make interbreeding unlikely. The subspecies are divided into four major branches, based on work by Ruttner and confirmed by mitochondrial DNA analysis. African subspecies belong to branch A, northwestern European subspecies branch M, southwestern European subspecies branch C and Mideastern subspecies branch O. These subspecies are listed and grouped in the sidebar. Regions with local variations may be identified as subspecies in the future; A. m. pomonella, from the Tian Shan, would be included in the Mideastern subspecies branch.

Geographic isolation led to adaptation as honey bees spread after the last ice age. These adaptations include brood cycles synchronized to the blooming period of local flora, forming a winter cluster in colder climates, migratory swarming in Africa and enhanced foraging behavior in desert areas.

Binomial Name:

Name : Apis mellifera
Taxonomist : Carl Linnaeus (Småland - Sweden)
Year : 1758
Subspecies : Many
Synonyms : Apis Mellifica

Conservation Status by IUCN:

Status : Not Evaluated, or not data available

Philatelic Issues

2013 – Uruguay – Stamp 4 of 4, from Spring Series

Issue information:

Country: Uruguay
Date: August 30th, 2013
Printed: 15.000 Copies
Type: Stamp from Series of 4 Stamps
Value: UYP 15

Stamp: Rectangular
Size: 39 mm. x 27 mm.
Perforation: Circular
Gum: Water Activated