Rhinodolphin, Mammals of Cyprus Thematic Issue, Republic of Cyprus

Rhinodolphin, Mammals of Cyprus Thematic Issue, Republic of Cyprus

Postage stamps--Cyprus--History

Γραμματόσημα--Κύπρος--Ιστορία

Rhinodolphin ( Turslops truncatus ) :The earliest known mammals lived some 210 million years ago when dinosaurs roamed the earth. Over tens of millions of years they adapted, evolved and flourished through all climatic changes and natural disasters. Most paleontologists believed that dolphins descended from an extinct line of carnivorous mammals that became aquatic about 50 million years ago. Geneticists on the other hand have found evidence that mammals diversified into today's 18 living orders.

Dolphins like whales and porpoises belong to the Cetacean order. They are the swiftest of cetaceans and they pursue shoals of herring and sardines. They frequent warm temperature waters and the Tursiops truncatus, or Rhinodolphin, one of the most common, grows up to 4 meters and has 100 teeth. A dolphin's fin is but a flattened bone-filled hand it uses for steering and balance. Dolphins are highly intelligent mammals and are often known to have saved the lives of swimmers in distress. In open seas they live in large schools of hundreds.

Cyprus Post, Republic of Cyprus

Κυπριακά Ταχυδρομεία, Κυπριακή Δημοκρατία

Cyprus Post, Republic of Cyprus

Κυπριακά Ταχυδρομεία, Κυπριακή Δημοκρατία

Library of Cyprus University of Technology

Digital Heritage Research Lab of Cyprus University of Technology

9th September 2004

Designer: A. Hadjigeorgiou

Απαγορεύεται η δημοσίευση ή αναπαραγωγή, ηλεκτρονική ή άλλη χωρίς τη γραπτή συγκατάθεση του δημιουργού.

www.cypruspost.gov.cy

TIFF

EL, EN

Image

2004-MAMMALS-20C

35.160417, 33.346556

Alex Matsoukis, Athens