Hiss and Maa and Hee-haw

Received for the Matching Stamp Tag - it was matching in a sense that all these animals are on my wishlist! Thanks so much Michael. I am STILL trying to sort out my collections...I have already started receiving doubles...but I have so little proactive time since I've started working. Writing postcards takes time too, I've been reminded lately! Still, the rewards are sweet :) It seems that my mailman likes to stop by once a week - and this tuesday I got a lot of 22, which probably isn't much for some people, but it's been a while since I've received such a bunch last. Yay 😊 

*deteriorated English, uhm*

Rainbow Boa

And a new snake card! Epicrates cenchria cenchria is a boa species native to Central and South America, known for its attractive iridescent sheen caused by structural coloration, which makes it a popular pet. I can't tell if this is the right way to show the card lol, where's its head at? With lovely animal stamps, thanks to Natalia :)

Sargantana De Menorca

Lilford's wall lizard is a species of lizard of the Lacertidae family endemic to the Balearic Islands. It is also endangered due to its habitat loss :( A lovely addition to my collection, gracias Elena :)

Philippine Freshwater Sea Snake

Also called Garman's sea snake or Lake snake (Hydrophis semperi), its a rare species of venomous sea snake found only in a single lake - Lake Taal - on the island of Luzon in the Philippines. It is noted for being one of two known species of sea snake (and the only one in its family) that is known to be found almost-exclusively in freshwater (the other one is Crocker's sea snake native to the Solomon Islands). Locally it is known as duhol.

At first you wonder where the head is! When I swapped for this card I still had no idea how unique this snake is. Many thanks to Isabel! 

UNESCO - Central Highlands Of Sri Lanka

I have swapped for this postcard because there are cute little lizards on it - only later I've realised that it is part on an UNESCO site, double score..! Because the Central Highlands of Sri Lanka comprise three protected areas, one of which is pictured Horton Plains National Park. This plateau at an altitude of 2,100–2,300 metres is covered by montane grassland and cloud forest with rich biodiversity; many species found here are endemic to the region.

The vertebrate fauna of the region includes 24 species of mammals, 87 species of birds, nine species of reptiles and eight species of amphibians. The birdie top right could be the Sri Lanka white-eye, a small passerine bird. The top left lizzie is possibly the Black-lipped Lizard (Calotes nigrilabris), while the bottom left one remains unknown. 

What else is unknown is the name of the sender, I have looked into my fb correspondence but to no avail...I must be more thorough and come back to say the proper thanks, esp considering the biggest amount of stamps I have ever seen on a Sri Lankan postcard :)

 

Tuatara

Have posted about one of these cool guys already, but whats the harm in reminding oneself of just how interesting they are? :) Because, as much as tuatara looks like a lizard, it is not - its close, but still. Tuatara are reptiles endemic to New Zealand, and are part of a distinct lineage, the order Rhynchocephalia (which, in fact, includes only two living species of tuatara). Their name derives from the Māori language and means "peaks on the back". Like many of New Zealand's native animals, they are threatened by habitat loss and introduced predators, such as the Polynesian rat. They were extinct on the mainland, with the remaining populations confined to 32 offshore islands; until the first mainland release into the heavily fenced and monitored Karori Sanctuary in 2005.

A success story for the survival of this unique species, relatively so but some help is better than none..! Many thanks to Amy, also for the Year of the Monkey stamp :)

 

The Common Green Forest Lizard, Sri Lanka

Common for some, but very exotic for me! Calotes calotes is an agamid (a family of over 300 species of iguanian lizards) lizard found in the forests of the Western Ghats and the Shevaroy Hills in India, and Sri Lanka; considerably large species measuring 50 to 65 cm in length, including the tail.

What a wonderful addition to my collection...thanks so much Dyanie :))

 

Official - Sidewinding Adder

Another great official snake card! And species I wasn't familiar with so far - sidewinding adder or Bitis peringueyi, a venomous viper species found in Namibia and southern Angola, a small snake with an average total length of 20–25 cm. An ambush hunter, it buries itself just beneath the surface of the sand with only its eyes and the tip of its tail exposed; when prey happens by, it is seized and envenomated.

Dank je Annemiek :))

 

Official - Rattlesnake

Earlier this year I have sent about a dozen officials, and this is one of the awesomest comebacks! Big card with a rattlesnake, thanks to Mike from Albuquerque (I can never remember this city's name properly heh) in New Mexico :))

Plumed Basilisk

Also called lagarto de Jesus Cristo (Jesus Christ lizard) for its ability to run on the surface of water; this member of the corytophanid family is found in Central American rainforests near rivers and streams. It is also an excellent swimmer and can stay under water for up to 30 minutes.

My first basilisk in lizard collection, thanks to Bryony :))

 

Collared Lizard, USA

My lizard collection has grown considerably in the last few months, yay :) I absolutely LOVE this pic, what a pose! Its the eastern collared lizard (Crotaphytus collaris), found in dry, open regions of Mexico and the south-central United States. They are well known for the ability to run on their hind legs, looking like small theropod dinosaurs. The name "collared lizard" comes from the lizard's distinct coloration, which includes bands of black around the neck and shoulders that look like a collar.

Many thanks to Arnold for another great swap :)

 

Rainforest Snake

I won a lottery and was waiting for a surprise card - and I got this perfect snake card! Thanks so so much Mirka, you really got it right :))

Lizard In Komodo NP

Wasn't quite sure how to title this one! I have swapped for this purely because its a lizard card, luckily I already have a Komodo NP card...if I am not mistaken this on the photo is an iguana? Which is native to the Americas. Still, a handsome individual ;)

Slithering Hello!

 

I have tagged for this fascinating snake postcard, but no idea which species. Danke Sonja :)

 



Iberian Emerald Lizard

Ohoh what a wonderful surprise in my mailbox! The Iberian emerald lizard or Schreiber's green lizard is found in Portugal and Spain - its natural habitats are temperate forests and shrublands, Mediterranean-type shrubby vegetation, rivers, and pastureland. It is threatened by habitat loss :(

This particular fella represents the Mondego river valley in the Portuguese municipality of Guarda, Marta's home - thank you so much/muito obtigado amiga! And for the excellent stamp :)

Official - Chameleon In Pose

Very nice addition to my lizard collection came as an official card from Ukraine, with quite a selection of stamps. Not so common in the world of officials!

GEO - Croc Hatching

The crocodiles in Botswana's Okavango Delta lay their eggs in the sand. Before it hatches the young one makes noises to signal his mum, who will carry the defenseless offspring to the safety of the water

 

This impressive photograph was in my favourites, well until last week :)

Green Iguana From French Guiana

Such a great surprise in my mailbox last week, iguana card from French Guiana! These fellas here have such bright colours, thanks a lot Cheryll :))

Btw if anyone is familiar with postcodes in French overseas territories...any idea what 25926A stands for? It is not the FG code but also for any other place, according to google. Puzzled!

Green Greetings From Suriname

What a fantastic card! So green and, well, so reptiley :) Showing the  emerald tree boa, Surinam horned frog and Giant Ameiva (though not giant in itself, growing up to 50 cm). Now most of you will think among the three the boa is the bast*rd but hear this about the frog: they prey upon the other species of horned frog, and the tadpoles attack each other (and tadpoles from other species) soon after being hatched. Nice!

Happy 5th anniversary Cheryll, and thank you for celebrating by sending me this card, I just LOVE it :))

 

Frill-Necked Lizard, Australia

This is one of the earliest and and my favourite lizard postcards and yet I post it only now...love the photography! Thank you Heather, you have significantly enlarged my lizard collection :))

On the right a Mangrove Golden Whistler, with gorgeous yellow breast (other posts below also have bird stamps, I am not sure everyone has noticed ;))

So, enough birds for today! They will surely be present on many other posts, and I can't say that I mind, they are the loveliest creatures. And more chirpy fellas here (mind you I am a bit early. again. khm khm :)):