2003.07.08  Australia Nature of Australia Series - Rainforest
On July 8th, four designs continue the rainforest theme introduced in February 2003 with the Nature of Australia: Rainforests, $1.45 blue orchid stamp design. The Nature of Australia series started in 1996. The series presents different Australian habitats and the characteristic creatures and/or plants found within that habitat.  The subjects in this issue, including the previously released $1.45 blue orchid, are all found in the Daintree region of the Wet Tropics. All the stamps are available in gummed and self-adhesive formats (booklets of ten and 20, rolls of 100 and 200).  The new designs in the issue are:

Orange-thighed tree frog (Litoria xanthomera) This beautiful, bright green tree frog is characterised by the brilliant orange on its flanks, throat and the hind side of its thighs.

Green-spotted Triangle Butterfly (Graphium agamemnon ligatum) A butterfly of the lowland rainforest, this is one of four Australian swallowtails known as `triangles' because of their distinctive wing shape. These brilliantly coloured butterflies are in constant movement, fluttering from bloom to bloom.

Yellow-bellied sunbird (Nectarinia jugularis) These active, tiny birds have long curved bills and protrusile brush-tipped tongues to dip into flowers. Nectar and spiders are their staple diet and the birds are constantly on the move to find them. The female's underparts are entirely yellow whereas the adult male has a brilliant metallic blue throat.

Striped possum (Dactylopsila trivirgata) This nocturnal, small, agile possum stabs and gouges away bark and rotten wood on trunks, limbs and fallen logs in search of the woodboring grubs and other insects that form its principal diet.
 

Issue Date 8 July 2003
Denomination and Design 50c, Orange-thighed tree frog (Litoria xanthomera)
50c, Green-spotted Triangle Butterfly (Graphium agamemnon ligatum)
50c, Yellow-bellied sunbird (Nectarinia jugularis)
50c, Striped possum (Dactylopsila trivirgata)
Series Rainforest
Designer Wayne Rankin, Melbourne
Stamp size 30 x 25 mm
Perforation 14 x 14.4
Printing Lithography
Paper gummed Tullis Russell
Paper self-adhesive B100 (booklets) / B90 (rolls 0f 100) / 
WD080 WLK1 KV75 (rolls 0f 200)
Format Sheet of 50 (2 panes of 25) stamps
Self-adhesive Booklet of 10 & 20
Self-adhesive Rolls of 100  & 200
Printer SNP Sprint / Pemara (rools of 200)

                  

Original information and image from Auspost and Stamp Cafe