PAPUA NEW GUINEA

85t Among the fascinating cultures of New Guinea are peoples that use ceremonial dress resembling local fauna; the costume pictured here is that of a sorcerer and used for initiation ceremonies in the Madang region. It is made to look like the hornbill, a large native frugivorous bird.

PAPUA NEW GUINEA

85t The New Guinea Harpy Eagle or Kapul Eagle, is a massive raptor that is the top predator in the rainforests of the island. It is an endemic species, found nowhere else beyond New Guinea.

ST. VINCENT

$1 this stamp is part of a long series showing exotic and ornamental plants of the St. Vincent Botanical Gardens in Kingstown

SEYCHELLES

50c and R3 from the Current Definitive Series: Fish

ST. LUCIA

50c The St. Lucia Parrot is perhaps the most recognizable of its endemic bird species, as a national symbol it can be seen on the country's coat of arms

ST. LUCIA

95c The St. Lucia Oriole is one of several endemic bird species that makes this island renowned for its biodiversity

TONGA

T$1 Swamphen, a widespread Pacific rail with at least 13 sub-species throughout the Indo-Pacific area. This issue bears the name of the local island Niuafo'ou, also known as Tin Can Island

TUVALU

40c The Giant Clam is one of the most endangered marine species, and is widespread in the Indo-Pacific but rare in all parts of its range. The giant clam is considered a delicacy, and is widely hunted.

SRI LANKA

R5 Water Buffalo in Udawalawe National Park are pictured on this recent issue

ISLE OF MAN

26p Isle of Man is one of several islands that have honored the Harry Potter series of books and movies with postal issues, such as this one from 2005

ANTIGUA & BARBUDA

40c Androgeus Swallowtail, from the 1990 definitive series showing butterflies

BELIZE

2000 Fauna Definitives: 25c Tamandua; 30c Hawksbill Turtle; 50c Deer; 60c Jaguar

BR. VIRGIN IS.

$1 Island Profiles: this 2002 issue shows Savannah and Pond Bay, with a Magnificent Frigate Bird in the foreground

COMOROS / Iles Comores

50fr: this recent issue shows a white-lipped orchid species from this island nation

COMOROS / Iles Comores

150fc: This 2002 issue bears the new name of "Union of the Comoros" and shows traditional dress and styles

GRENADINES of ST. VINCENT

65c Green Violet Ear: a widespread hummingbird found from Mexico to Bolivia in open country. This stamp was part of a long set issued for the 500th anniv. of Columbus

HAITI

1.50g: This issue commemorates the 1980 World Conference on Tourism, and shows festival costumes of Haiti

POLYNESIA / Polynesie Fr.

100 fr: The Rapa Fruit Dove, pictured here, is an endemic species with a tiny population known only from the isle of Rapa in the Tubai archipelago.

POLYNESIA / Polynesie Fr.

100fr The Tuamotu Kingfisher is pictured here on a 2010 birds issue. This species is critically endangered and inhabits just 1 island (Niau), having been extirpated from other areas of its range.

ST. LUCIA

30c Wezin, or sea grape is an evergreen tree featured on the current definitive series of St. Lucia, showing fruits and medicinal plants

ST. VINCENT

20c this lovely stamp from 1979 shows the national flag and symbols of St. Vincent and the Grenadines

SEYCHELLES / Zil Elwagne Sesel

R3 The Norden shipwreck of 1862 is pictured on this ghostly issue (1991).

SAMOA

25s This self-adhesive stamp is shaped like a flag and commemorates the 40th anniv. of Samoa's independence (back in 1962). It shows a cricket player and various local scenes.

TAIWAN

$5 The Fairy Pitta (Pitta nympha) is pictured here in flight. It is a small passerine native to forests of E. Asia and Taiwan, with a vulnerable population that is in decline due to deforestation and habitat conversion.

AITUTAKI (Cook Is.)

50c: This colorful 1992 issue commemorates the Sixth Festival of Pacific Arts, which took place in Rarotonga in the Cook Is.

AITUTAKI (Cook Is.)

50c: Henderson or Stephen's Lorikeet (Vini stepheni) is a highly endangered parrot known only from a very few islands in the Pitcairn chain

AITUTAKI (Cook Isl.)

40c The Banded Rail (Gallirallus philippensis) is a widespread species in the Pacific region, with many subspecies specific to certain islands

FR. POLYNESIA

140fr: this 2007 flora issue shows the Bird of Paradise, a species of heliconia widespread in the tropics

Isle of Man

31p Ships and an early colonist are pictured on this stamp, for the 400th Anniv. of the settlement of Jamestown, Virginia, issued 2007

COOK Is. / Penrhyn

30c: An early painting of the Apapane, a bird endemic to high elevation forests of the Hawaiian islands, is shown on this 1978 issue, which commemorates the 200th anniv. of the discovery of Hawaii

COMOROS

50fr: Anniv. of UN Admission of the Comoros, issued shortly after independence

JAMAICA

$60 Mountain Pride (Spathelia sorbifolia), issued for Christmas 2007

JAMAICA

$30 Poinsettia, issued for Christmas, 2005

JAMAICA

$60 Ferns, issued for Christmas, 2008. This one is most likely the widespread bracken fern, a common denizen of moist hills

JAMAICA

$10 The White-eyed Jamaican Thrush, an endemic species to the island is pictured on this Birdlife Intl. issue; a Liguanea town cancel is legible

MADAGASCAR

500 FMG / 100 Ariary: UN 50th Anniv. (1995) celebrating environmental protection of this island's unique flora and fauna. Species pictured include the Ringtail Lemur, one of 33 species of lemurs endemic to the region. Also shown are the Madagascar periwinkle and the Mad. Tortoise.

MAURITIUS / Ile Maurice

R15, R25: The dodo, one of the most emblematic of extinct species on earth, was a flightless rail found only on Mauritius. With few natural defenses, the bird was easy prey for sailors and predators, and the species was hunted to extermination by the 1690's.

MONTSERRAT

$1.15 Shell Ginger, from a recent island flora set. This stamp was cancelled at Plymouth, the largest town on this small volcanic island

MICRONESIA

45c pair: Whaling Ships of the 19th century; the upper stamp also shows a harpoon, while the lower shows a carved whaletooth scrimshaw. Both stamps were postmarked at Moen on the island of Truk.

NIUE

70c this 1983 Commonwealth issue depicts the HMS Resolution and Adventure of 1724

PHILIPPINES

2p: 1994 block of four endemic Birds, including from upper right the Bleeding Heart Pigeon (Luzon), Koch's Pitta (Luzon), the Palawan Peacock Pheasant and Blue Naped Parrot of Mindoro and Palawan.

PAPUA NEW GUINEA

85 toea: Annato (Bixa orellana) is pictured on the lowest value of a recent flora issue

MAURITIUS / Ile Maurice

R5 Soft Coral: native to Indo-Pacific areas, this species has varying hues and feeds exclusively on phytoplankton.

SINGAPORE

$2 Banded Leaf Monkey, a subspecies thought to be unique to Central Singapore

PAPUA NEW GUINEA

85 toea: Gold Mining is pictured on this 2008 issue. PNG's highlands hold a vast store of precious minerals, making mining an important activity on both sides of the island of New Guinea.

SAMOA

70s Teuila Tourism Festival

NORFOLK IS.

$1: White Oak Tree sculpted by the wind, also known as cow itch or primrose tree

MALDIVES

R10: the Scrawled Butter-flyfish, has a wide range in the Indian and Pacific regions in coral-rich areas of clear sea and lagoon reefs.

MAURITIUS / Ile Maurice

R2.50 WWF: The Pink Pigeon, endemic to Mauritius, was reduced to just a dozen individuals in 1991 but has since recovered numbers with an intensive breeding program.

SEYCHELLES

R10: This attractive stamps was issued for Christmas 1988, and shows a beach scene and holiday ornament