According to a scientific finding in 2011, the Philippines has the highest concentration of marine species amongst the island nations that comprise the Coral Triangle (Indonesia and Malaysia are the other two). These findings point to the Philippines as the world's hub of biodiversity. (Source)

However, this marine biodiversity is under constant threat of degradation, habitat loss, and many more due to its improper use and management. Conservationists in the Philippines are locking in arms to save and conserve the country's marine ecosystem. I hope that we don't see the day that these marine species are lost and can only be seen on stamps.

The stamps featured this week are from different sets of definitive stamps issued in 2011 showcasing the Philippine Marine Biodiversity. These stamps are great reminders of the beautiful creatures under the sea and how important it is to help conserve our coastal environment.

One of the five definitive stamps (in P1, one peso denomination) in the Philippine Marine Biodiversity series issued in Oct 2011.

Left stamp: A definitive in the category of the Philippine Marine Biodiversity (in P3, three pesos denomination) issued in January 2011; right: another definitive in the same series but from a different set, issued in November 2011.

The Picasso Trigger is a magnificent and very popular aquarium species that is easily recognized by its creamy grayish-tan and white colored body splashed with many distinctive bright blue and yellow fine-line, and golden, black and white wide-band type markings. Average size is 9 to 10 inches. The fish enjoys the shallower waters inside and outside the reef where lots of rocks and creviced structures are present to hide in and search for food from. - Source

The Striped Sturgeonfish has a yellowish head and body with prominent horizontal blue stripes edged with black. On the head, the stripes converge around the eye. The lower part of the body is pale blue. The tail is black with blue margins. It has a long spine on the tail stem that can cause a painful wound. The Striped Sturgeonfish is also known as Lined Surgeonfish, Clown Surgeonfish, and Clown Tang. - Source

As their name suggests, these free living worms are generally dorso-ventrally flattened being no more than a few millimeters thick. Sizes range from less than one millimeter to over 30centimeters. Most polyclads are extremely delicate, typically elongate and/or oval with a smooth dorsal surface. Some genera, however, display dorsal papillae. Polyclads exhibit wide variety in colour pattern and texture. They have marginal ruffles tending to increase in number with size.    - Source