Europa - endangered national wildlife

Title:: Europa - endangered national wildlife
Date of Issue: 15.04.2021.
Author: Nebojsa Djumic
Type edition: commemorative
Printing techniques: multicolour offset
Sheet: 8+1
Paper: muflep 100g
Printing House: Blicdruk, Sarajevo

SHEET SHEET CANCELLATION

 Motive: Herman`s tortoise
Catalogue no.: 866
Perforation: 13 3/4
Face value: 1.95 BAM
Quantity: 20 000

Motive: harvest mouse
Catalogue no.: 867
Perforation: 13 3/4
Face value: 2.70 BAM
Quantity: 20 000

Motive: harvest mouse and Herman`s tortoise
Catalogue no.: 868
Perforation: 13 3/4
Face value: 9.30 BAM
Quantity: 10 000

Hermann's tortoises (Testudo hermanni) are small to medium-sized turtles. Young, but also some adults have black and yellow spots on the armor. Their scaly limbs are grayish-brown, with some yellow markings. Compared to females, adult males have long and thick tails.

This species inhabits the area of southern Europe. In our country, it inhabits the Mediterranean and sub-Mediterranean parts of the country and the narrower belt in the continental regions.

Hermann's tortoises live in dry habitats, meadows, fields, shrubs, light forests and anthropogenic habitats such as orchards, gardens, fields and in rural areas. Males are territorial but can be found in dense populations in close proximity when sunbathing. They mate in early spring, from March, and eggs are usually laid in May and June. The female lays a total of 3 to 15 eggs, two to five times a year at least 20 days apart in nests she digs in the ground. The young hatch in late summer and are ready for independent living from day one. They spend the winter dormant buried in the ground. The sex of young turtles depends on the incubation temperature of the eggs, and females will develop at higher temperatures, and males at lower temperatures. They are herbivores, but can consume a variety of fruits, mushrooms, insect larvae and mollusks.

Hermann's tortoises are an endangered species, both in our country and throughout their range. The main endangering factors are habitat destruction by intensive agriculture and plant burning, as well as illegal trade in this species. In the Republic of Srpska, Hermann's tortoise is a strictly protected wild species, and it also enjoys protection at the international level through several conventions on species protection.

The harvest mouse (Micromys minutus) is among the smallest rodents in the world. The length of the body is 55-75 mm, and the tail 50-75 mm. Adults weigh between 5 and 7 grams. The fur on the back is brownish with hints of yellow. The abdomen is usually white. The tail is two-colored with no hair on the top. The harvest mouse has a round head, small, round ears and fairly wide feet that allow it to climb.

The harvest mouse is a Eurasian species. It inhabits grain crops, tall grasses, forest edges, and various moist habitats.

During reproduction, they build extremely interesting nests, spherical in shape. It feeds mainly on seeds, sometimes small insects or eggs of small birds. It is primarily active at night, but also shows activity at dawn. The mating season is in spring and summer. Litter size varies from one to 13 cubs.

Због нестанка и фрагмантације станишта које насељава категорисан је као потенцијално угрожена врста. Kод нас је из истих разлога ово заштићена врста.

Author: Nebojsa Djumic

Publisher: Poste Srpske a.d. Banjaluka

Cooperation: Republic Institute for Protection of Cultural and Natural Heritage, A. Curic, D. Radosevic, S. Potkonjak