On May 26, four stamps dedicated to the inhabitants of the Black Sea were put into postal circulation in the Fauna of Russia series

The Black Sea is a sea within the Atlantic Ocean basin, located between Europe and Asia, east of the Balkans, south of the East European Plain, and southwest of the Caucasus. The Black Sea is home to a diverse fauna, including species of fish, shell-fish, crustaceans, and mammals.

The long-snouted seahorse (Hippocampus guttulatus) is one of the most unusual members of the Black Sea fauna. It belongs to the family of Syngnathidae, within the order of Syngnathiformes. It inhabits coastal areas, in sun-warmed shallow waters among seagrass, algae, and coral. The seahorse’s body is covered with long spines and leathery ribbon-like appendages. Its tail is long and prehensile. Its head, tilted toward the body, ends in a tubular snout, which it uses to draw prey into its mouth along with water.

The red mullet (Mullus barbatus) is a small Black Sea bottom-dwelling fish of the family of Mullidae, order of Syngnathiformes, known for its long barbels on the chin and its reddish-silvery coloration. Its body is of fairly bright red color with silvery highlights and is covered with large scales. The typical length of a red mullet is 8 - 12 cm, but some specimens grow up to 20 cm. Adults feed exclusively on small benthic animals, while juveniles prefer plankton and small crustaceans. Red mullet meat is known for its excellent tastiness.

The greater weever (Trachinus draco) is a predatory bottom-dwelling fish and one of the most venomous species in the Black and Mediterranean Seas. It burrows in the sand in shallow water, exposing the poisonous spines on its dorsal fin and gills. A prick is dangerous to humans; it causes severe pain, and requires immediate medical attention. The greater weever has an elongated, beige-colored body with an oblong caudal peduncle and a large head. The short dorsal fin stands out sharply in color from the overall hue; its membranes are dark gray. The fish inhabits the seabed in coastal areas and occasionally rises to the surface. It feeds on small fish, worms, and crustaceans.

The yellow gurnard (Chelidonichthys lucerna) is a predatory fish of the Triglidae family found in the Black Sea. It is distinguished from other fish by its large, wing-like pectoral fins, each of which has three free lower finger-like rays that serve as “legs.” When moving fast, the fish’s fins are folded back so that they do not hinder its movement through the water. It leads a bottom-dwelling lifestyle and prefers sandy substrates. It feeds on slow-moving and immobile animals, as well as fish, shrimp, and crabs.

The postage stamps provide images of Black Sea fish: a long-snouted seahorse, a red mullet, a greater weever and a yellow gurnard.

In addition to the issue of the postage stamps, JSC Marka produced First Day Covers and special cancels for Moscow, Sevastopol and Sochi of the Krasnodar Region as well as maxi-cards and an illustrated cover with postage stamps and a label inside.


Design Artists: M. Bodrova, A. Saltykova.
Face value: 35 rubles each stamp.
Stamp size: 34×24 mm, sheet size: 110×150 mm.
Emission form: a sheet with formatted margins with 8 (2×4) stamps.
Quantity: 56 thousand each stamp (28 thousand sheets).

« back