South Africa 1982 "Karoo Fossils"

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Issue Date 01.12.1982
ID Michel: 622-625, Bl. 14; Scott: 606-609, 609a; Stanley Gibbons: 532-535, 536; Yvert et Tellier: 527-530, 14; Category: pR
Design Sheila Nowers
Stamps in set 4
Value 8c - Bradysaurus
15c - Lystrosaurus
20c - Euparkeria
25c - Thrinaxodon<
Size (width x height) stamps: 31 mm x 24mm, Mini-Sheet: 106 mm x 95 mm.
Layout Sheets of 25 stamps each, Mini-Sheet of 4.
Products FDC x2, MS x1
Paper Harrison, phosphorus coated, PVA gum
Perforation 14.0 x 14.50
Print Technique Offset lithography
Printed by Government Printer, Pretoria
Quantity 25.000.000, 2.500.000, 3.250.0000, 3.000.000
Issuing Authority South African Postal Administration
prehistoric animals on stamps of South Africa 1982

On December 1st, 1982, the Post Authority of South Africa issued the set of four stamps "Karoo Fossils".

The rocks of the Karoo Sequence cover approximately half of the surface of the Republic of South Africa. These rocks contain one of the most complete records of the evolution of land animals during the Permian and Triassic Periods about 250 to 150 million years ago. These fossils occur in great abundance and have drawn the attention of scientists from all over the world, including Sir Richard Owen who was receiving them from father and son Bain (Andrew Geddes Bain (1797-1864) and Thomas Charles John Bain (1830-1893)).

Bradysaurus on stamp of South Africa 1982
Bradysaurus on stamp of South Africa 1982, MiNr.: 622, Scott: 606.
Lystrosaurus on stamp of South Africa 1982
Lystrosaurus on stamp of South Africa 1982, MiNr.: 623, Scott: 607.
Bradysaurus
This large, sluggish stem reptile lived approximately 250 million years ago. it grew to about 5 m in length and must have been very clumsy because of its large body and short, thick legs and feet. Its almost hand-shaped teeth had small cusps on the edges and the specimens found are sharp and unworn. It is therefore thought that the animal fed on soft, floating water plants.

Lystrosaurus
Lystrosaurus lived about 220 million years ago in Africa, India, Antarctica, Russia and China, which indicates that the Southern continents were once part of a super continent named Gondwanaland. The animal's eyes, and nostrils were placed high up in the head so that it could protrude only the top of its head above the water like a hippopotamus. It was probably herbivorous.

Euparkeria on stamp of South Africa 1982
Euparkeria on stamp of South Africa 1982, MiNr.: 624, Scott: 608.
Thrinaxodon on stamp of South Africa 1982
Thrinaxodon on stamp of South Africa 1982, MiNr.: 625, Scott: 609.
Euparkeria
This small bipedal reptile was a slender, agile and active animal that was undoubtedly carnivorous. It lived about 200 million years ago. It is generally accepted that Euparkeria was ancestral to the dinosaurs that were to become the dominant terrestrial animals of later geological periods until this position was taken over by the mammals.

Thrinaxodon
Thrinaxodon was a small mongoose-like reptile that lived about 220 million years ago. Many scientists think that it could be ancestral to the mammals. Some palaeontologists think that the animal could have been warm-blooded and could have had hair like a mammal. It was carnivorous.



Products

FDC Mini-Sheet
Prehistoric animals on FDC of South Africa 1982 Prehistoric animals on FDC of South Africa 1982 Prehistoric animals on stamps of South Africa 1982
Commemorative envelope: Emydops
Emydops was a rabbit-sized reptile with a long body and short, stumpy legs. It was herbivorous, with large tusks and small back teeth. The tips of the jaws were covered in horn as is the case in tortoises. It lived about 250 million years ago.
Commemorative cover with miniature sheet: Heterodontosaurus
This small, primitive dinosaurus lived about 150 million years ago. It grew to a length of about 1,5 m and was herbivorous. Unlike other dinosaurs it had canine-like teeth near the front of its jaws. The back teeth were adapted to a vegetarian diet.
FDC
Prehistoric animals on FDC of South Africa 1982 Prehistoric animals on FDC of South Africa 1982
The FDC of the Reinet Museum from Graaf-Reinet
Example of Circulated Covers
Prehistoric animals on FDC of South Africa 1982 Prehistoric animals on FDC of South Africa 1982 Prehistoric animals on FDC of South Africa 1982


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References


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