The great crested newt and a small aquatic beetle as emblems of biodiversity and respect for aquatic habitats
The postal issue EUROPA 2024 seeks to celebrate the biodiversity of European waters in support of various ecological agencies to preserve and protect aquatic habitats. San Marino embraces the subject by presenting two stamps. The first value depicts the Triturus carnifex, the crested newt, an urodele amphibian about fifteen centimetres long, whose males, during the breeding season, are marked by a dorsal crest and a conspicuously coloured livery. The second value depicts the Scarodytes ruffoi, a small aquatic beetle that lives in rivulets and clean streams. Its presence in the territory of San Marino is of significance as it represents the northern limit of this endemic species of the Apennines. The background features the colour of the Chara vulgaris, a microalga typical of clear, well-oxygenated bodies of water which, due to its size and morphology, resembles a real plant. Common in the territory of San Marino, it is an essential element in aquatic habitats as it provides food and shelter to various species of invertebrates and contributes to the oxygenation of the water.
The stamps, in sheets of 12, will be worth €1.30 and €2.70 respectively. The designs are the work of Monika Dattner.
Date of issue: 19 March 2024
Values: no. 2 values of € 1.30 and € 2.70. Sheets of 12
Run: 20,004 series
Printing: four-colour offset, one Pantone and fluorescent yellow invisible ink by Cartor Security Printing
Perforation: 13 x 13 ¼
Stamp size: 40 x 30 mm
Designer: Monika Dattner
