To be issued on 4 March 2010
Hi ! Here are some nice stamps and coins to be issued on 4th March by New Zealand featuring Reptiles of New Zealand. In 2010 New Zealand once again celebrates its incredible extinct natural heritage with oversized stamps and five amazing coins. These species disappeared 65 million years ago. Here are the details about these reptiles. This is all in for today’s Post….Till Next Post…have a Wonderful Time !
A hundred million years ago, New Zealand formed the eastern margin of the southern super-continent of Gondwanaland. Separated by ocean, ‘Zealandia’ had its own group of dinosaurs, pterosaurs (flying reptiles) and giant marine reptiles that thrived here for 20 million years. The Ancient Reptiles of New Zealand stamp and coin issue explores the behaviour and habitats of this exceptional group of animals, as if an explorer has travelled back in time and observed them directly. Illustrations on the stamps and coins are ‘field sketches’ – reconstructions based on the most up-to-date information on animal behavior, ecology and New Zealand paleontology.
50c - Allosaurus
At 12 metres long, Allosaurus was the largest meat eater on land in the region. It was at the top of the food chain and,it has been suggested,had a cooperative social behaviour, hunting in packs, much like lions do today. It was able to open its jaws extremely widely, allowing it to attack large prey.
$1.00 - Anhanguera
This pterosaur was the most common flying reptile in Zealandia. Fish eaters with a five-metre wingspan, they formed large coastal nesting colonies, similar to the seabirds of our time. They laid leathery eggs, and the flight centres in the brains of the young developed well before
hatching, suggesting that they could fly from birth.
$1.80 - Titanosaurus
Titanosaurus was the last descendant of the giant sauropods. It was small for a member of this group of dinosaurs, just 14 metres long, but was still massive and weighed about 13 tonnes. It was tall enough to browse the treetops and large ferns, travelling as part of an extensive
herd to protect itself from predators.
$2.30 – Moanasaurus
The mosasaurs (including Moanasaurus) were the top predators of the shallow coasts of Zealandia. At 12 metres long, with a 78-centimetre long skull, Moanasaurus would have been a fearsome predator, undulating its snake-like body through the water a little like a crocodile with paddled feet. Although mosasaurs were widespread across the world, Moanasaurus was specific to this region.
$2.80 - Mauisaurus
Mauisaurus was a 20-metre marine reptile (plesiosaur), the largest of its kind in the world. It was an ‘elasmosaur’, the type of plesiosaur with a tiny head and very long neck. This meant that, for all its size, its diet was restricted to small fish and squid in the shallow coastal waters in which it lived.
Commemorative Coins featuring reptiles of New Zealand
This handsome set comprises five pure silver (0.999) coins, featuring highly detailed, dynamic illustrations of each of the ancient reptiles will also be issued. These include the Allosaurus, Anhanguera, Mauisaurus, Moanasaurus and Titanosaurus.
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