Romfilatelia introduces into circulation on Wednesday, March 19th this year, a postage stamps issue under the Fauna theme, titled Foxes. The issue consists of 4 postage stamps, 4 maxicards for maximaphily enthusiasts, a philatelic folder with a special product in a limited edition, and a First Day Cover.
Foxes are mammals from the Carnivora order. Foxes belong to the Canidae family, distinguished by the following characteristics: a slender body, a long and bushy tail, large and pointed ears, and an elongated snout.
Recognized for their intelligence and adaptability, foxes are opportunistic omnivores that consume both small vertebrates and fruits or insects.
The images on the postage stamps feature various species of foxes, from different genera:
The Fennec fox – Vulpes zerda (illustrated on the postage stamp with the face value of Lei 4) is found in the Sahara Desert and the Sinai Peninsula. The smallest species of canid, the fennec fox exhibits traits that help it survive in an arid environment with extremely high temperatures: its large ears and small body help regulate its temperature, and its kidneys are capable of reducing water loss from the body. It feeds on invertebrates, small vertebrates, fruits (such as dates, etc.), and is active at night.
The Arctic fox – Vulpes lagopus (reproduced on the postage stamp with the face value of Lei 6.50) is found in the tundra regions of the Arctic, with a thick, dense fur that protects it from the extreme cold. This species changes the colour of its fur depending on the season, being white in winter to camouflage in the snow, and brown during the summer. It is an absolute omnivore, consuming rodents, birds, eggs, and fish, as well as carrion, leftovers from polar bears’ meals, seaweed, and fruits.
The Grey fox – Urocyon cinereoargenteus (depicted on the postage stamp with the face value of Lei 9) lives in some southern regions of Canada, the United States, Central America, and the northwest of South America. Its species name, cinereoargenteus, means ‘grey-silver’. This species is distinguished by a long tail with a black tip; it is an excellent climber, almost as agile as a cat, far surpassing the performance of other canids. It feeds on various small animals, seeds, and fruits.
The Red fox – Vulpes vulpes (illustrated on the postage stamp with the face value of Lei 25) is the most widespread fox species in the world, found in various types of habitats, from forests and fields to urban areas. The red fox is highly variable, in addition to the typical, reddish form, other colour variants are also found, including the ‘black’ or ‘silver’ fox. The red fox has a great capacity for adaptation and a diversified diet, which includes small mammals, birds, and even food scraps left by humans. Very opportunistic, the red fox was introduced to Australia, where it became an invasive species, having a devastating impact on local wildlife.
These foxes, with their specific traits, are symbols of wildlife diversity and the complexity of the relationships between wild animals and the environments in which they live.
Romfilatelia thanks Senior Researcher Luis Ovidiu Popa, Manager of the ‘Grigore Antipa’ National Museum of Natural History, and museographer Alexandru Iftime, Ph.D., for their expert consultancy in the development of this issue of postage stamps.
