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

2001 – Uruguay – Bees Series

Issue information:

Country: Uruguay
Date: Septermber 12th, 2001
Printed: 15.000 Copies
Type: Complete 2 Stamp Series
Value: 2 * UYP 12 = UYP 24

Stamp: Rectangular
Size: All 35 mm. x 25 mm.
Perforation: Circular
Gum: Water Activated

ANIMALS – INSECTS – BUTTERFLIES – BANDED ORANGE HELICONIAN (DRYADULA PHAETUSA)

Animals - Insects - Butterflies

Banded orange heliconian (Dryadula phaetusa)

Scientific Classification:

Kingdom : Animalia
Phylum : Arthropoda
Class : Insecta
Order : Lepidoptera
Family : Nymphalidae
Genus : Dryadula
Species : D. Phaetusa

Description:

Dryadula is a monotypic genus of the butterfly family Nymphalidae. Its single species, Dryadula phaetusa, known as the Banded orange heliconian, Banded orange, or Orange tiger, is native from Brazil to central Mexico, and in summer can be found rarely as far north as central Florida. Its wingspan ranges from 86 to 89 mm, and it is colored a bright orange with thick black stripes in males and a duller orange with fuzzier black stripes in females.

It feeds primarily on the nectar of flowers and on bird droppings; its caterpillar feeds on passion vines including Passiflora tetrastylis. It is generally found in lowland tropical fields and valleys.

This species is unpalatable to birds and belongs to the "orange" Batesian mimicry complex.

Prior to their mating season, males of this species congregate by the hundreds on patches of moist soil that contain mineral salts (mud-puddling). When they cannot find such deposits, the insects visit various animals to drink salty secretions from their skin and nostrils.

The genus Dryadula Michner, 1942, is monotypic; the type species is Papilio phaetusa Linnaeus, 1758 (Syst. Nat. 10 ed., 1: 478). The type locality, given as "Indiis", is supposed to refer to the West Indies or northern South America.

Binomial Name:

Name : Dryadula phaetusa
Taxonomist : Carl Linnaeus (Småland - Sweden)
Year : 1758
Subspecies : None, or not data available
Synonyms : None, or not data available

Conservation Status by IUCN:

Status : Not Evaluated, or not data available

Philatelic Issues

2003 – Uruguay – Stamp 3 of 4, from Butterflies Series

Issue information:

Country: Uruguay
Date: March 18th, 2003
Printed: 10.000 Copies
Type: Stamp from Series of 4 Stamps
Value: UYP 12

Stamp: Rectangular
Size: 23 mm. x 35 mm.
Perforation: Circular
Gum: Water Activated

ANIMALS – INSECTS – BUTTERFLIES – RED POSTMAN (HELICONIUS ERATO)

Animals - Insects - Butterflies

Red Postman (Heliconius erato)

Scientific Classification:

Kingdom : Animalia
Phylum : Arthropoda
Class : Insecta
Order : Lepidoptera
Family : Nymphalidae
Genus : Heliconius
Species : H. Erato

Description:

The Red postman (Heliconius erato) is one of about 40 Neotropical species of butterfly belonging to the genus Heliconius. It is also commonly known as the small postman, the red passion flower butterfly, or the crimson-patched longwing.

The species is remarkably variable in colour and form throughout northern South America, depending on location, and its various appearances can be difficult to distinguish from various other Heliconius butterflies such as Heliconius sara, also known as the sara longwing. Particularly hard to distinguish is the related Heliconius melpomene, or "the postman", which mimics almost all the colour forms of Heliconius erato; colour forms are synchronized between the two throughout their common habitats. It is likely the clade containing Heliconius erato radiated first, establishing the wing pattern diversity found in both species of butterfly. Two features found on the underside help to distinguish H. erato from H. melpomene—H. erato has four red dots where the wing attaches to the thorax while H. melpomene has three and the yellowish white stripe on the underside reaches the margin of the hindwing in H. erato but ends early in H. melpomene.

Heliconius erato is up to about 5.5–8 cm (2.2–3.1 in) in wingspan with a jerky unelegance in flight.

Like Heliconius charithonia, H. erato is one of the few butterflies that collects and digests pollen, conferring considerable longevity to the adults (several months). Adults roost in groups, returning to the same location each night.

Recent Field work has confirmed the relative abundance of this butterfly.

A recent study, using amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) data sets, places the origins of H. erato at 2.8 million years ago. H. erato also shows clustering of AFLPs by geography revealing that H. erato originated in western South America.

Binomial Name:

Name : Heliconius erato
Taxonomist : Carl Linnaeus (Småland - Sweden)
Year : 1758
Subspecies : Many
Synonyms : Papilio erato

Conservation Status by IUCN:

Status : Not Evaluated, or not data available

Philatelic Issues

2003 – Uruguay – Stamp 1 of 4, from Butterflies Series

Issue information:

Country: Uruguay
Date: March 18th, 2003
Printed: 10.000 Copies
Type: Stamp from Series of 4 Stamps
Value: UYP 12

Stamp: Rectangular
Size: 23 mm. x 35 mm.
Perforation: Circular
Gum: Water Activated

ANIMALS – BIRDS – SEABIRDS – CAPE PETREL (DAPTION CAPENSE)

Animals - Birds - Seabirds

Cape petrel (Daption capense)

Scientific Classification:

Kingdom : Animalia
Phylum : Chordata
Class : Aves
Order : Procellariiformes
Family : Procellariidae
Genus : Daption 
Species : D. Capense

Description:

The Cape petrel (Daption capense), also called the Cape pigeon, Pintado petrel, or Cape fulmar, is a common seabird of the Southern Ocean from the family Procellariidae. It is the only member of the genus Daption, and is allied to the fulmarine petrels, and the giant petrels. They are extremely common seabirds with an estimated population of around 2 million.

The Cape petrel is the only known member of the genus Daption and is in turn a member of the family Procellariidae and order Procellariiformes. There appears to be a subgroup within the family consisting of the giant petrels, the members of Fulmarus, the Antarctic petrel, and the snow petrel.

All Procellariiformes share certain identifying features. First, they have nasal passages that attach to the upper bill called naricorns. The bills of Procellariiformes are also unique in that they are split into between seven and nine horny plates. They produce a stomach oil made up of wax esters and triglycerides that is stored in the proventriculus. This can be sprayed out of their mouths as a defence against predators and as an energy rich food source for chicks and for the adults during their long flights. Finally, they also have a salt gland that is situated above the nasal passage and helps desalinate their bodies, due to the high amount of ocean water that they imbibe. It excretes a high saline solution from their nose.

The Cape petrel is a unique looking petrel. It has a black head and neck, and a white belly, breast, and its underwing is white with a black border. Its back, and upperwings are black and white speckled, as is its tail which also has a band of black. When fully grown, their wings span 86 cm (34 in) and they are 39 cm (15 in) long.

Binomial Name:

Name : Daption capense
Taxonomist : Carl Linnaeus (Småland - Sweden)
Year : 1758
Subspecies : 2 (Capense, Australe)
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

2004 – Uruguay – Stamp 3 of 4, from Seabirds Series

Issue information:

Country: Uruguay
Date: January 22nd, 20
Printed: 15.000 copies
Type : Stamp from Series of 4 Stamps
Value : UYP 14

Stamp : Rectangular
Size: 27 mm. x 39 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 – 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

ANIMALS – REPTILES – TURTLES - GREEN SEA TURTLE (CHELONIA MYDAS)

Animals - Reptiles - Turtles

Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia mydas)

Scientific Classification:

Kingdom : Animalia
Phylum : Chordata
Class : Reptilia
Order : Testudines
Suborder : Cryptodira
Family : Cheloniidae
Genus : Chelonia
Species : C. Mydas

Description:

The Green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas), also known as the green turtle, black (sea) turtle, or Pacific green turtle, is a large sea turtle of the family Cheloniidae. This species is named for the green color of its fat, rather than the color of its skin of shell as most people think. These turtles shells are in fact olive to black. It is the only species in the genus Chelonia. Its range extends throughout tropical and subtropical seas around the world, with two distinct populations in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. The common name comes from the usually green fat found beneath its carapace.

This sea turtle's dorsoventrally flattened body is covered by a large, teardrop-shaped carapace; it has a pair of large, paddle-like flippers. It is usually lightly colored, although in the eastern Pacific populations parts of the carapace can be almost black. Unlike other members of its family, such as the hawksbill sea turtle, C. mydas is mostly herbivorous. The adults usually inhabit shallow lagoons, feeding mostly on various species of seagrasses. The turtles bite off the tips of the blades of seagrass, which keeps the grass healthy.

C. mydas is listed as endangered by the IUCN and CITES and is protected from exploitation in most countries. It is illegal to collect, harm or kill them. In addition, many countries have laws and ordinances to protect nesting areas. However, turtles are still in danger due to human activity. In some countries, turtles and their eggs are hunted for food. Pollution indirectly harms turtles at both population and individual scales. Many turtles die caught in fishing nets. Also, real estate development often causes habitat loss by eliminating nesting beaches.

Binomial Name:

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

Conservation Status by IUCN:

Status : Endangered

An Endangered (EN) species is a species which has been categorized by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List as likely to become extinct. "Endangered" is the second most severe conservation status for wild populations in the IUCN's schema after Critically Endangered (CR).

Many nations have laws that protect conservation-reliant species: for example, forbidding hunting, restricting land development or creating preserves. Population numbers, trends and species' conservation status can be found in the lists of organisms by population.

Philatelic Issues

2013 – Uruguay – Stamp 2 of 2, from Tourist Sites:Atlantic Coastline Series

Issue information:

Country: Uruguay
Date: December 4th, 2015
Printed: 15.000 Copies
Type: Stamp from Series of 2 Stamps
Value: UYP 15

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

ANIMALS – BIRDS – SEABIRDS - RED KNOT (CALIDRIS CANUTUS)

Animals - Birds - Seabirds

Red Knot (Calidris canutus)

Scientific Classification:

Kingdom : Animalia
Phylum : Chordata
Class : Aves
Order : Charadriiformes
Family : Scolopacidae
Genus : Calidris
Species : C. Canutus

Description:

The Red knot (Calidris canutus) (just knot in Europe) is a medium-sized shorebird which breeds in tundra and the Arctic Cordillera in the far north of Canada, Europe, and Russia. It is a large member of the Calidris sandpipers, second only to the great knot. Six subspecies are recognised.

Their diet varies according to season; arthropods and larvae are the preferred food items at the breeding grounds, while various hard-shelled molluscs are consumed at other feeding sites at other times. North American breeders migrate to coastal areas in Europe and South America, while the Eurasian populations winter in Africa, Papua New Guinea, Australia, and New Zealand. This species forms enormous flocks when not breeding.

This Red Knot was first described by Linnaeus in the landmark 1758 tenth edition of his Systema Naturae as Tringa canutus. One theory is that it gets its name and species epithet from King Canute, Knot being another form of Canute; the name would refer to the knot's foraging along the tide line and the story of Canute and the tide. Another etymology is that the name is onomatopoeic, based on the bird's grunting call note.

Binomial Name:

Name : Calidris canutus
Taxonomist : Carl Linnaeus (Småland - Sweden)
Year : 1758
Subspecies : 6 (Roselaari, Rufa, Canutus, Islandica, Rogersi, Piersmai)
Synonyms : Tringa canutus

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

2013 – Uruguay – Stamp 1 of 2, from Tourist Sites:Atlantic Coastline Series

Issue information:

Country: Uruguay
Date: December 4th, 2015
Printed: 15.000 Copies
Type: Stamp from Series of 2 Stamps
Value: UYP 15

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

ANIMALS - BIRDS - RATITES - GREATER RHEA (RHEA AMERICANA)

Animals - Birds - Ratites

Greater Rhea (Rhea americana)

Scientific Classification:

Kingdom : Animalia
Phylum : Chordata
Class : Aves
Subclass : Neornithes
Infraclass : Palaeognathae
Order : Rheiformes
Family : Rheidae
Genus : Rhea
Species : R. Americana

Description:

The Greater rhea (Rhea americana) is a flightless bird found in eastern South America. Other names for the greater rhea include the grey, common, or American rhea; ñandú (Guaraní); or ema (Portuguese). One of two species in the genus Rhea, in the family Rheidae, the greater rhea is endemic to Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay. It inhabits a variety of open areas, such as grasslands, savanna or grassy wetlands. Weighing 20–27 kilograms (44–60 lb), the greater rhea is the largest bird in South America. In the wild, the greater rhea has a life expectancy of 10.5 years. It is also notable for its reproductive habits, and for the fact that a group has established itself in Germany in recent years. The species is listed as Near Threatened by the IUCN.

The greater rhea derives its scientific name from Rhea, a Greek goddess, and the Latinized form of America. It was originally described by Carolus Linnaeus in his 18th-century work, Systema Naturae under the name Struthio camelus americanus. He identified specimens from Sergipe, and Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil, in 1758. They are from the family Rheidae, and the order Struthioniformes, commonly known as ratites. They are joined in this order by emus, ostriches, cassowaries, and kiwis, along with the extinct forms moas, and elephant birds.

The adults have an average weight of 20–27 kg (44–60 lb) and often measure 127 to 140 cm (50 to 55 in) long from beak to tail; they usually stand about 1.5 m (4.9 ft) tall to the top of the head. The males are generally bigger than the females. Large males can weigh up to 40 kg (88 lb), stand nearly 1.83 m (6.0 ft) tall and measure over 150 cm (59 in) long, although this is rare.

Binomial Name:

Name : Rhea americana
Taxonomist : Carl Linnaeus (Småland - Sweden)
Year : 1758
Subspecies : 5 (Americana, Intermidia, Nobilis, Araneipes, Albescens)
Synonyms : Struthio camelus americanus, Struthio americanus

Conservation Status by IUCN:

Status : Near-threatened species

A Near-threatened species is a species which has been categorized as "Near Threatened" (NT) by the International Union for Conservation of Nature as that may be considered threatened with extinction in the near future, although it does not currently qualify for the threatened status. The IUCN notes the importance of re-evaluating near-threatened taxa at appropriate intervals.

Philatelic Issues

2014 – Uruguay – Unique Stamp, from “Tranqueras” Centenary Series

Issue information:

Country: Uruguay
Date: July 22nd, 2015
Printed: 15.000 Copies
Type: Unique Stamp from Series
Value: UYP 15

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

ANIMALS - MAMMALS - RODENTS - CAPYBARA (HYDROCHOERUS HYDROCHAERIS)

Animals - Mammals - Rodents

Capybara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris)

Scientific Classification:

Kingdom : Animalia
Phylum : Chordata
Subphylum : Vertebrata
Class : Mammalia
Order : Rodentia
Suborder : Hystricomorpha
Family : Caviidae
Subfamily : Hydrochoerinae
Genus : Hydrochoerus
Species : H. Hydrochaeris

Description:

The Capybara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) is a large rodent of the genus Hydrochoerus of which the only other extant member is the lesser capybara (Hydrochoerus isthmius). The capybara is the largest rodent in the world. Close relatives are guinea pigs and rock cavies, and it is more distantly related to the agouti, chinchillas, and the coypu. Native to South America, the capybara inhabits savannas and dense forests and lives near bodies of water. It is a highly social species and can be found in groups as large as 100 individuals, but usually lives in groups of 10–20 individuals. The capybara is not a threatened species and is hunted for its meat, hide and also for a grease from its thick fatty skin which is used in the pharmaceutical trade.

Its common name is derived from Tupi ka'apiûara, a complex agglutination of kaá (leaf) + píi (slender) + ú (eat) + ara (a suffix for agent nouns), meaning "one who eats slender leaves", or "grass-eater". The scientific name, both hydrochoerus and hydrochaeris, comes from Greek ὕδωρ (hydor = water) + χοίρος (choiros = pig, hog)

The capybara has a heavy, barrel-shaped body and short head, with reddish-brown fur on the upper part of its body that turns yellowish-brown underneath. Its sweat glands can be found in the surface of the hairy portions of its skin, an unusual trait among rodents. The animal lacks under hair, and guard hair differs little from over hair. Adult capybaras grow to 106 to 134 cm (3.48 to 4.40 ft) in length, stand 50 to 62 cm (20 to 24 in) tall at the withers, and typically weigh 35 to 66 kg (77 to 146 lb), with an average in the Venezuelan llanos of 48.9 kg (108 lb). The top recorded weights are 91 kg (201 lb) for a wild female from Brazil and 73.5 kg (162 lb) for a wild male from Uruguay. Capybaras have slightly webbed feet and vestigial tails. Their hind legs are slightly longer than their forelegs; they have three toes on their rear feet and four toes on their front feet. Their muzzles are blunt, with nostrils, and the eyes and ears are near the top of their heads. Females are slightly heavier than males.

Its karyotype has 2n = 66 and FN = 102.

Binomial Name:

Name : Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris
Taxonomist : Carl Linnaeus (Småland - Sweden)
Year : 1766
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 6 of 10, from Wetland Animals Series

Issue information:

Country: Uruguay
Date: June 5th, 2015
Printed: 10.000 Copies
Type: Stamp from Series of 10 Stamps
Value: UYP 15

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

ANIMALS - BIRDS - SEABIRDS - BLACK SKIMMER (RYNCHOPS NIGER)

Animals - Birds - Seabirds

Black skimmer (Rynchops niger)

Scientific Classification:

Kingdom : Animalia
Phylum : Chordata
Class : Aves
Order : Charadriiformes
Family : Rynchopidae
Genus : Rynchops
Species : R. Niger

Description:

The Black skimmer (Rynchops niger) is a tern-like seabird, one of three very similar birds species in the skimmer family. It breeds in North and South America. Northern populations winter in the warmer waters of the Caribbean and the tropical and subtropical Pacific coasts, but the South American races make only shorter movements in response to annual floods which extend their feeding areas in the river shallows.

The black skimmer is the largest of the three skimmer species. It measures 40–50 cm (16–20 in) long with a 107–127 cm (42–50 in) wingspan. This species ranges from 212 to 447 g (7.5 to 15.8 oz), with males averaging about 349 g (12.3 oz), as compared to the smaller female’s 254 g (9.0 oz).[3] The basal half of the bill is red, the rest mainly black, and the lower mandible is much-elongated. The eye has a dark brown iris and catlike vertical pupil, unique for a bird. The legs are red. The call is a barking kak-kak-kak.

Adults in breeding plumage have a black crown, nape and upper body. The forehead and underparts are white. The upper wings are black with white on the rear edge, and the tail and rump are dark grey with white edges. The underwing colour varies from white to dusky grey depending on region.

Non-breeding adults have paler and browner upperparts, and a white nape collar. Immature birds have brown upperparts with white feather tips and fringes. The underparts and forehead are white and the underwings as the adult.

Binomial Name:

Name : Rynchops niger
Taxonomist : Carl Linnaeus (Småland - Sweden)
Year : 1758
Subspecies : 3 (Niger, Cinerescens, Intercedens)
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 10, from Wetland Animals Series

Issue information:

Country: Uruguay
Date: June 5th, 2015
Printed: 10.000 Copies
Type: Stamp from Series of 10 Stamps
Value: UYP 15

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