Small Mammals and Medium-sized Mammals

Many stamps depicting small mammals and medium sized mammals have been issued, some in sets and others by themselves. In these notes, I have grouped together information about stamps of each animal, so that the Scott #’s are out of order.

Canada has been very lax in showing the Latin name of animals (be it mammals, birds, insects, etc.) – they rarely did until fairly recently. I have added this in italics for each one, for the biologists who might be interested.

Definitive Stamps 1987-91

The small mammals in this set are:

• Flying Squirrel #1155
• Porcupine #1156
• Muskrat #1157
• Varying Hare #1158
• Red Fox #1159
• Skunk #1160
• Beaver #1161

Small Mammals

• #1155 - Flying Squirrel - Glaucomys sabrinus - 1¢. They don’t actually fly; merely glide after jumping, from a tree top to lower on another tree. The tail acts as a stabilizer like the tail on a kite. It's a fairly small mammal, body up to 9" long.
• #1156 - Porcupine - Erethizon dorsatum - 2¢. This large rodent lives in coniferous or mixed forested areas in Canada, Alaska and the northern USA. They are active at night, sleeping in trees by day. Their quills pull out very easily, and are barbed, so that the least touch will release one, frequently into the nose of a curious animal. But they do not throw the quills.
• #1157 - Muskrat - Ondatra zibethicus - 3¢. Living in marsh environments, they make burrows dug into the ground adjacent to water. Although they are rodents, they eat both vegetation and small animals such as frogs. Their swimming helps keep ponds open for birds to use.

• #1158 - Varying Hare - Lepus americanus - 4¢. Also known as the Snowshoe Hare, because of it large back feet. It changes from brown in summer to white in winter.
• #1159 - Red Fox - Vulpes vulpes - 5¢. Found naturally in North America and Eurasia, it has also become a conservation problem in Australia where it was introduced.
• #1160 - Skunk - Mephitis mephitis - 6¢. Certainly one of the best known small mammals in North America, the one shown is the Striped Skunk. Their black and white colouring is usually enough to scare off potential attackers. They can be found in cities as well as rural areas.

The Beaver

The beaver - Castor canadensis - is a symbol used frequently in Canada because it was so important in the early fur trade, which drew Europeans inland to explore and colonize.

This small mammal is known for building dams, creating ponds which are then home to other aquatic life, and the surrounding marsh lands become feeding grounds for migrating birds.

• #1 - The beaver was the subject of the first postage stamp issued in Canada in 1851, in orange-red. It was the first stamp in the world to have an image of anything other than a person. Sir Sanford Fleming designed the “beaver” stamp; he also created time zones (more about him later).
• #4 – another printing of the first stamp, in red, and on different paper.
• #314 - a 15¢ stamp issued in 1951 on the Stamp Centenary in Canada reproduced the first Beaver stamp (a stamp on stamp).

• #336 - In 1954, one of the Wildlife series of stamps was the beaver, issued as a blue 5¢ definitive.
• #909 - In the ‘Canada 82’ set, the first stamp was honoured as part of the design of the 30¢ stamp; the souvenir sheet #913 has 4 other historical stamps reproduced as well (stamp on stamp).
• #1161 - The beaver was also depicted in colour in 1988, part of the set of low-value definitives of small mammals mentioned above, a 25¢ value.

• #1900 - Another stamp on stamp, in 2001, the first beaver stamp was part of a 47¢ commemorative stamp to celebrate 150 years of postal service in Canada.
• US #2316 - In 1987 the US issued a set of 50 stamps of various animals and birds, in 22¢, this being one of them. Typical behaviour for a beaver, chomping on a tree.

The beaver is also used on the Canadian nickel, a 5¢ coin.

Other Small Mammals

Several other small mammals were shown on American stamps as well. These are only some of the multiplicity of small or medium sized mammals that can be found on stamps.

• US #1757b - 13¢ - Chipmunk is the common name for any small squirrel-like rodent species of the genus Tamias. Around 25 species fall under this name, mainly in North America, but one species is native to Eurasia. They carry food in cheek pouches, and store it in ground tunnels for winter use. Note the striped back.
• US #1757c - 13¢ - Red Fox – Vulpes vulpes – see remarks above for Canada #1159.
• US #1757d - 13¢ -The North American Raccoon - Procyon lotor - is a widespread omnivorous small mammal, about the size of a small dog, native to North & Central America. They have a long tail with black bands on the tail and across the face. They sometimes appear to wash their food but it is not known why.
• US #2331 - 22¢ Raccoon from 1987, one of a sheet of 50 animals & birds. The 'bandit' mask on his face is clearly shown.
• France #1369 – a Guadeloupe raccoon on stamp of .40 F

• US #2295 – 22¢ - Eastern Grey Squirrel - Sciurus carolinensis is a tree squirrel native to the eastern and Midwestern U.S. and to the southerly portions of the eastern provinces of Canada. They raid bird feeders and sometimes nest in attics, so they are known as a pest in some parts.
• US #2489 - American Red Squirrel - Tamiasciurus hudsonicus is a small mammal, (rodent) of 200–250g size, active during daytime, that is very territorial. They are widely distributed across North America wherever conifers are common, except on the Pacific coast. Recently American Red Squirrels have been expanding their range to include other forest types. This was a 29¢ definitive, from a booklet of self adhesive stamps with die-cut straight edges.

Flying Mammals

Bats are the only truly flying mammals. In 1995 Canada and Mexico issued a set of 4 stamps of migratory species that travel between our two countries: 2 birds, 1 bat and one butterfly.

• #1566 Hoary Bat – Lasiurus cinereus – This 5” to 6” long bat is the largest bat in Canada; still, it is a small mammal. It hunts alone over open areas or lakes, taking moths and some dragonflies. It migrates to Mexico or the southern USA, but details are scarce. The stamp has a map of North America with the area on each of Canada and Mexico where the bat is found.
• Mexico's version of the same bat

Medium sized Mammals

The 1987-91 set contained these animals of medium size:

• Lynx #1170
• Wolverine #1172A
• Timber Wolf #1175

• #1170 - Lynx - Lynx canadensis - 43¢. The stamp shows the cat with black tufts on the ears and short tail. It is more than twice the size of a house cat, and is found across much of Canada and Alaska.
• #1172A - Wolverine - Gulo gulo - 46¢. No, not the X-Man; the animal is part of the weasel family. It is very strong for its size (like a medium sized dog), and is the most ferocious of that family. It lives in isolated northern areas of North America, and in Siberia & Scandinavia.
• #1175 - Timber Wolf - Canis lupus - 61¢. This large member of the family that includes dogs is a top predator. For that reason, it has frequently been hunted, because it was seen as a threat to livestock. Larger individuals live in the northern range than those in the south, but it has a wide distribution across North America and Eurasia.

• #1879 - Red Fox, 60¢ (rate to USA) - Vulpes vulpes as above
• #1880 - Grey Wolf, 75¢ (rate for overweight letters) - Canis lupus – another name for Timber Wolf above (#1175)
• US #2482 - The $2 Bobcat - Lynx rufus, is a North American small mammal of the cat family. They range from southern Canada to northern Mexico, including most of the continental United States. The Bobcat has brown fur, with black tufts on its ears and stubby tail. It is smaller than the Canadian lynx, about twice the size of a house cat. They prefer rabbits and hares, but will hunt anything from insects and small rodents to deer and Pronghorn Antelope.
• US #3036 – Red Fox again, $1.00 value definitive

• #1271 - 30¢ Saltwater Crocodile, Crocodylus porosus – Widely distributed in Southeast Asia, Australia & Pacific Islands, but rare in some of that range. A top predator, large and powerful. As I said, not all here are mammals.
• #1272 - 35¢ Echidna, Tachyglossus aculeatus. - It is a monotreme, (mammal that lays leathery eggs) and also called a Spiny Anteater. This species lives in New Guinea as well as Australia. They eat ants and termites. Small population numbers makes them endangered wildlife.
• #1273 - 40¢ Platypus, Ornithorhynchus anatinus – It has a duck bill, beaver tail, otter feet, and is a monotreme, like the Echidna, laying eggs instead of giving birth to live young. It is vulnerable to pollution but is protected in its range along eastern Australia and Tasmania and in no immediate danger of extinction.

• #1274 - 45¢ Kangaroo, hopping - Macropus rufus, the Red Kangaroo – Kangaroo is a term used for the large members of the genus, but there are 63 living species in the family with different terms (wallabies, wallaroos, quokka). The type shown is the largest of the family.
• #1275 - 45¢ Kangaroo with joey – Kangaroos are marsupials, whose offspring are born so immature that they must be carried in a pouch for some time before venturing out into the world, as shown by this image of a mother and her young, called a “joey”.
• #1276 - 45¢ Kangaroo, 2 adults – you can see their short forelegs and red colouring.

• #1277 - 45¢, 4 Koalas - Phascolarctos cinereus – This is a chubby looking arboreal marsupial that lives in eucalypt forest areas in eastern and northern Australia, but not Tasmania or Western Australia; it falls into the 'small mammals' category. It is an herbivore, eating almost exclusively eucalyptus leaves. They need large areas of forest for feeding and breeding territory, but loss of habitat and disease has reduced their numbers. Small population numbers makes them endangered wildlife.
• #1278 - 45¢ Koala walking. Koalas are excellent climbers, with fingers and toes in opposable position to be able to hang on to a branch while feeding, but they have to walk between trees at times.
• #1279 - 45¢ Koala in tree, probably sleeping, as they sleep 18 to 20 hours of the day, feeding at night.

The six stamps above, #1274 through to #1279 were each issued in their own sheets over a few years, but also as a block of 6 in 1994 and as a souvenir sheet of 6 as well.

• #1280 – 50¢ Koala - again
• #1281 – 60¢ Common Brushtail Possum - Trichosurus vulpecula – This is the largest possum (a marsupial), eating leaves, fruit, vegetables and insects, and falls into the 'small mammals' category. It lives in cities as well as forests, and has become an ecological threat to forests in New Zealand where they were introduced for fur production.
• #1282 – 70¢ Kookaburra – Dacelo spp – These are large members of the Kingfisher family, but do not stay near water. They are carnivores, taking lizards, insects, mice, eggs of other birds, even snakes. Best known for their call which sounds like human laughter. Small population numbers makes them endangered wildlife.

• #1283 - 85¢ Pelican - Pelecanus conspicillatus – They live on inland lakes as well as coastal waters. Listed as “Least Concern” on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
• #1284 - 90¢ Eastern Grey Kangaroo - Macropus giganteus –seen more often by people than Red Kangaroos, as it lives in areas closer to cities. Males stand about 6 ft tall, making it a part of the 'medium sized mammals' group. Small population numbers makes them endangered wildlife.
• #1285 - 95¢ Common Wombat - Vombatus ursinus – This marsupial herbivore averages about a meter in length and 30 kg weight. They are fairly common in the south and east of Australia, but one subspecies is found only on Flinders Island, and is considered Vulnerable.
• #1286 - $1.20 Pink Cockatoo – Cockatoos are part of the parrot family, but have a much more restricted range than the true parrots, occurring naturally only in Australia and nearby islands. They do not have such bright colours, and are bigger than parrots on average.

More will be added to this list later.

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