Flora and fauna stamps

Flora and fauna stamps

From Kompas

As an Indonesian bird watcher I congratulate the government for issuing the stamps of the Love of Flora and Fauna 1994 serial. The official issue was Nov. 5, 1994. The flora and fauna pictures on the stamps are of high quality.

However, there is one disturbing mistake in giving the Latin name of the picture on one stamp, i.e. the stamp which has a picture of fauna from the Riau province. The Latin name for Serindit Melayu is written Loriculus possilus. The correct scientific name is Loriculus galgulus. This species is found in Sumatra, Kalimantan and the Malaysian Peninsula. Whereas the Loriculus pussilus species is endemic in Java biographic area, which means that the species is found in Java and Bali only.

The striking difference between Loriculus pussilus and Loriculus galgulus is that the colors of their neck and beak are different. The male Loriculus galgulus has a black beak and red neck. And the female bird has a green neck. Loriculus pussilus has an orange beak and yellow neck.

Bearing in mind that the stamps will be observed not only in Indonesia but also overseas, I would like to suggest that the Ministry of Tourism, Post and Telecommunications correct the mistake.

RUDYANTO

IBA Project Officer

BirdLife International-

Indonesia Program

Bogor, West Java