Sp. 489 Taiwan Coral-Reef Fish Postage Stamps (Issue of 2006) (D489)

Stamp SN : D489
Stamp Name : Sp. 489 Taiwan Coral-Reef Fish Postage Stamps (Issue of 2006)
Stamp Cat Standard : Special Stamps
Stamp Cat : Fish
Issue date : 2006-07-14
Dimension of stamps(mm.) : 40 × 30 (mm)
Printer : Cardon Enterprise Co., Ltd.
Sheet composition : 20 (5 × 4) for full-sheet
Print color : Colorful
Process : Deep etch offset
Paper : Phosphorescent stamp paper
Perforation : 大全張：11 1/2 ; 小版張：11 1/2 × 12
Designer : Jheng Yi-lang

To acquaint ROC citizens with the island's abundant marine life and to draw attention to its coral reefs, Chunghwa Post is issuing another set of four postage stamps on "Taiwan Coral-Reef Fish," featuring the Clown anemonefish, Moorish idol, Yellowtail coris and Longnose hawkfish. The stamps have been planned by Dr. Kwang-tsao Shao of the Academia Sinica and created by marine biology painter Jheng Yi-lang. Two stamps will have denominations of NT$5, and the other two will have denominations of NT$12.
The designs of the stamps follow:
(1) Amphiprion ocellaris (NT$5): It is commonly known as the Clown anemonefish, because the white markings on its orange body make it look like an adorable clown. It is a very popular saltwater aquarium fish.
(2) Zanclus cornutus (NT$5): Commonly known as the Moorish idol, it is a typical coral reef fish. Its brilliant coloring is similar to that of the longfin bannerfish of the Chaetodontidae (butterflyfish) family, but its body is similar to that of the freshwater angelfish. Its body is covered with black and white stripes, with three broad black bars around the eyes, the pectoral fin and the caudal peduncle. It looks very elegant when it swims and sells well in pet stores that stock tropical fish.
(3) Coris gaimard (NT$12): It is commonly known as the Yellowtail coris. The juvenile of this species has orange or bright red coloration, with five distinctive white saddles rimmed in black along its top from snout to tail. It is nicknamed "red dragon" and is a hot seller in pet stores in Taiwan that stock tropical fish. After it grows to four to five centimeters long, its white saddles gradually fade and its body turns from orange-red to olive and becomes bluer near its tail, where its caudal fin turns bright yellow.
(4) Oxycirrhites typus (NT$12): Commonly known as the Longnose hawkfish, it looks distinctly different from other Cirrhitidae. Its habits are quite different too. It lives only in sea fans of deeper water coral reefs. Its body is bright red and easily camouflaged by the red sea fans. Because of its slender snout and its bright red grid-like coloration, it is also called the "pointy snout grid fish" in Chinese.
To add to collecting interest to the stamp collectors, Chunghwa Post is following up with 200,000 sheets of mini panes (in A5 size, containing two sets of stamps) and 10,000 copies of stamp folio (containing one sheet of mini pane) to be released along with the stamps. Please reserve these items at any post office branch throughout the country.
(1) First Day Cover in small size to be sold at NT$2.00 apiece.
(2) Folder especially prepared for the stamps to be sold at NT$5.00 apiece.
(3) Folder with crystal mount for better protection of the stamps to be sold at NT$5.00 apiece.
(4) Loose-leaf stamp album page with plastic cover to be sold at NT$8.00 apiece.
(5) Pre-cancelled First Day Cover affixed with a low-valued stamp to be sold at NT$7.00 apiece.
(6) Pre-cancelled First Day Cover affixed with a complete set of stamps to be sold at NT$36.00 apiece.
(7) Stamp folio (with one mini pane) to be sold at NT$160.00 apiece.