Фолклендские о-ва, 16.11.2011 Марки
Субантарктический пингвин Pygoscelis papua. Пингвины выходят на берег
Номинал: 0.27 Gentoo Penguins Pygoscelis papua coming ashore
The Northern Gentoo is among the most terrestrial of all the penguins. In the Falklands, for most of their adult lives, they commute daily between their traditional, colonial homes ashore and the ocean from which they get their food. In general, they fish during the day and sleep on land at night. Therefore the beach from which they enter and depart the sea each day forms a central and integral part of their lives.
Young birds which have just left the nest in the autumn spend a great deal of time repeatedly going in and out of the surf. It is as if they are memorizing the area and learning about the differing conditions that they will encounter during their lives. And well they might. For it is along these traditional landing zones that they will be most vulnerable to predation by sealions, orcas, fur seals, or leopard seals. In the Falklands, the resident Southern Sealion is the main threat with its ability to move quickly both in and out of the water.
Therefore, Gentoos must be particularly careful when approaching the landing zone. Once they have decided the area is safe they make their entry or departure very quickly and usually en masse for added safety. Of all the penguins they are the fastest running, and amongst all but the two largest species (the King and the Emperor) they are also the fastest swimming. They have been recorded as swimming underwater at 22mph (36 kph). Their speed is best observed when they are being chased by a predator.
Each evening during the summer months, irrespective of conditions and particularly at the height of the breeding season, Gentoos perform a spectacular matinee performance as they pour out of the waves like shoals of sardines before waddling up to their colonies to feed hungry chicks.
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Субантарктический (папуанский) пингвин. хищники и жертвы
Номинал: 0.70 Leopard Seal Hydrurga leptonyx underwater
The Leopard Seal is a large, bold and muscular shallow-water hunter, second only to the orca among the southern oceans’ top predators. It feeds on a wide variety of creatures ranging from krill to other seals. They are dark grey on the back and light grey underneath and have a whitish throat dotted with the black spots which give rise to their common name.
Females are generally slightly larger than the males. The overall length of this seal is 2.4-3.5 m (7.9-11.7 ft) and weight is from 200 to 591 kg (440-1302 lbs).
They are generally quiet and solitary creatures which come together in small groups only when it is time to mate.
Compared to most phocids, the leopard seal is highly evolved for its role as a top predator. Although it is a true seal and swims with its hind limbs, it has powerful and highly- developed forelimbs similar to the sea lions, giving it a similar maneuverability. It also has an unusually loose jaw that can open more than 160 degrees, allowing it to bite large prey.
The Leopard Seal lives mostly in the cold waters surrounding Antarctica. During the summer months, it hunts among the pack ice surrounding the continent, spending almost all of its time in the water. In the winter, it ranges north to the sub-Antarctic islands. Occasionally, individuals may be spotted on the southern coasts of South America, Australia, and New Zealand, and the Falkland Islands.
When hunting penguins, a Leopard Seal will patrol the waters near the edges of the ice or along landing beaches. It will often remain almost completely submerged, waiting for the birds to enter or leave the ocean. It attacks and kills the swimming bird by grabbing the feet, then shaking the penguin vigorously and repeatedly beating its body against the surface of the water. Lacking the teeth necessary to slice its prey into manageable pieces, it flails its prey from side to side with tremendous power to tear and rip it into smaller pieces.
Leopard Seals are potentially dangerous towards humans. They readily follow small boats and inflatables. Although attacks are rarely reported, one attacked and killed a snorkeling researcher, Kirsty Brown, in Antarctica in 2003
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Кальмар гонатус антарктический - Gonatus antarcticus
Номинал: 0.95 Gonatus Squid Gonatus antarcticus
The squid Gonatus antarcticus is one of only two species of the family Gonatidae that live in the southern oceans, although numerous other species of the same family inhabit open oceanic waters of the northern hemisphere. This squid has circum-antarctic distribution, and lives in the water column from the surface down to a depth of 1300m. It reaches a mantle length of 47 cm and has a lifespan of just two years. These squid are abundant but, because they do not aggregate in schools, they are commercially unimportant. Gonatus antarcticus makes extensive migrations throughout its life.
Younger squid are abundant in shallow waters on the shelf, being a common prey of penguins, including the gentoo, as well as albatross and numerous fishes. As they grow they descend to depths of around 1000m. Mature males and, initially, females are active muscular animals. After spawning, females brood their egg masses in their arms and don't eat. During brooding, they become progressively gelatinous and passive.
Despite retaining some capacity for swimming, these relatively immobile females become easy prey, and this is why egg brooding takes place in the water column about one kilometre off both the bottom and surface. However, it is within the usual diving range of whales and elephant seals and so these squids may provide an easy target for these particular mammals. After brooding and hatching the larva, females die and float to the surface of the ocean, thus becoming a source of food for albatross and other sea birds.
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Пингвины демонстрируют себя
Номинал: 1.15
Northern Gentoos breed in colonies which may be situated up to a mile from the sea. During the summer these “penguin cities” are noisy and full of activity. Courtship generally begins, in early spring, with both visual and auditory displays. There are three distinct types of displays:-
Ecstatic. Also called trumpeting, head-swinging, or advertisement, this display establishes possession of a nest site, attracts females, and warns other males to stay away. Males at the nest site commonly exhibit the ecstatic display before females arrive. The male may dip its head low and then stretch its head and neck upward with flippers outstretched and “bray”.
Mutual. Once paired off, male and female penguins perform the mutual display together. This display seems to strengthen the pair bond. The mutual display is similar to the ecstatic display; head and neck stretched upward with a braying vocal. Gentoos stand facing each other, performing the action in unison. Mutual displays continue throughout the breeding season, often taking place at the nest when parents switch places for egg incubation and chick feeding.
Bowing. Bowing displays may lessen the likelihood of aggression and strengthen recognition between partners. One or both of the penguins dips its head and points its bill at the nest or at the other bird's feet. The call is a low hiss or growl | Artist: Tony Chater
Printer: BDT International
Process: Stochastic Lithography
Perforation: 14 per 2cms
Stamp size: 30.56 x 38mm
Sheet Layout: 50 (2 x 25)
Release date: 16 November 2011
Production Co-ordination: Creative Direction (Worldwide) Ltd
Pygoscelis papua
Penguins, Predators and Prey is a series of stamp issues featuring, in turn, each of the familiar Falkland penguins, together with some of their respective predators and prey.
Five species representing four genera of penguins breed regularly in the Falkland Islands.
This issue features the Northern Gentoo Penguin and includes one predatory species, the Leopard Seal, and one prey species, the Gonatus Squid.
The Gentoo Penguin is one of three modern species in the genus Pygoscelis. Evidence suggests the genus split from other penguins around 38 million years ago, about 2 million years after the ancestors of the genus Aptenodytes. Adelie Penguins split off from the other members of the genus around 19 million years ago, and the Chinstrap and Gentoo finally diverging around 14 million years ago. In turn, two sub-species of Gentoo are recognised: Pygoscelis papua papua (the Northern Gentoo) and the smaller Pygoscelis papua ellsworthii (the Southern Gentoo).
Adult Gentoos reach a height of 51 to 75cm (20–30in), making them the third largest penguin behind the Emperor Penguin and the King Penguin. Males achieve a maximum weight of about 8.5kg (19lb) just before moulting. For females the maximum weight is 8.2kg (18lb), but their weight drops to as little as 4.5kg (10lb) when guarding the chicks in the nest. Birds from the north are on average 700 g (1.5lb) heavier and 10cm (4in) taller than southern birds.
Text by Tony Chater
Text describing the Gonatus Squid written by Alexander Arkhipkin. |
| | Конверт первого дня (c серией марок) [9178] |
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| | Серия марок (чист.) [9177] | 205.70 руб.
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