Category: Animals & Plants

Mountain Verditer-Flycatcher ( Eumyias panayensis )
Common in forest, it is popularly called "Lito-lito" in Pilipino. Forehead, lores and chin, deep black; feather bordering black, face bright verditer blue, rest of upperparts verditer blue; belly and undertail coverts white; wing and tail feathers dark grey edged in brighter verditer blue.

The 14 birds featured are:

1. Mindanao Bleeding Heart Pigeon (Gallicolumba criniger)
2. Nicobar Pigeon (Caloenas nicobarica)
3. Black-chinned Fruit Dove (Ptilinopus leclancheri)
4. Metallic Pigeon (Columba vitiensis)
5. Pink-necked Green Pigeon (Treron vernans)
6. Amethyst Brown Dove (Phapitreron amethystina)
7. Grey Imperial Pigeon (Ducula pickeringii)
8. Red Turtle Dove (Streptopelia tranquebarica)
9. Pied Imperial Pigeon (Ducula bicolor)
10. Spotted-Imperial Pigeon (Ducula carola)
11. Philippine Eagle (Pithecophaga jefferyi)
12. Philippine Cockatoo (Cacatua haematuropygia)
13. Java Sparrow (Padda oryzivora)
14. Blue-capped Wood-Kingfisher (Actenoides hombroni)

Genus of mostly clump forming, spherical to columnar, perrenical cacti with flowers produced in profusion from plat bases, usually 2-3 years after raising from seeds. Much ribbed tuberculate, green stems have short spines.

Medinilla magnifica – Commonly called rose grape belonging to the family of plants called Melastomataceae Juss., this shrub is a stunning flower endemic to the Philippines. It is usually found in high altitudes growing up to 6 feet. The shrub has either ribbed or winged stem and glossy green leaves with conspicuously pale veins. The flowers are breathtaking growing as a bunch of small pink clusters attached to large pink bracts sheltered by its curved leaves.

Dendrobium Victoria-Reginae. This orchid has pendent bulbs that are up to 50cm long, often branched near the base; the nodes are slightly swollen. The leaves are up to 8cm long and 2cm wide. The short inflorescence appears on older sterne and bear 3 to 12 flowers. The flowers reach 30mm in diameter. The simple lip has at its center five dark violet stripes. The pollinariurn consists of two pairs of naked pollinia.

The Philippine crocodile is endemic to the Philippines. Its scientific name is Crocodylus Mindorensis, after Mindoro, where the type of specimen was caught. It is a freshwater crocodile. It can grow up to three meters. Females construct a nest of grass, twigs and sand close to water and lay up to thirty eggs. After two to three months, the eggs hatch. Juvenile crocodiles eat shrimps, insects and snails. Adults prey on fish, birds, rats and snakes and occasionally on larger animals such as wild pigs and deer.

Atis,/br> Philippine name for Sweet Sop, Sugar Apple, and Custard Apple.  Atis was introduced to the Philippines during the Spanish times. It is a small tree that grows between 10 to 20 feet high when fully matured with oblong leaves and green heart-shaped fruits with polygonal tubercles. The atis fruit has a white, sweet flesh and black seeds. http://www.philippineherbalmedicine.org/atis.htm

According to PCARRD-DOST website, “Hoya, commonly called wax plant, belongs to the Asclepiadaceae family. They are once part of the Apocinaceae family. In the Philippines, hoyas can be found all over the islands at all altitudes. As early as 1837, Philippine Hoyas was mentioned in the publication of Flora de las Islas Filipinas. To date there are 51 species which have been identified.

One of the interesting feature of the souvenir sheet is Saver, a remarkably intelligent white “asong pinoy” or Aspin (common Filipino native breed). Saver, who was trained to do various dog tricks by Apolinario Villarosa Lazarte, Jr., is a multi-awarded dog and starred in many films and commercials. He also inspired the signing of R.A. 8485, which is commonly known as Animal Cruelty Law.

The following breeds are featured in the Dogs of the World special stamps:

Chow Chow – An ancient breed of Chinese origin, the Chow Chow is a member of the spitz family. As a working breed in its country of origin, the Chow was used to guard, hunt and work as a cart dog.

Bull Terrier – Originally called the Bull and Terrier, this British breed represents a cross between the Bulldog and the now extinct White English Terrier. Bull Terriers are friends to all, but because their first job was that of pit fighter, their feisty instincts die hard.