FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE	
Media Contacts: 
Don Smeraldi (202) 268-6524	
Mike Cannone (858) 674-0107
October 7, 2003
	San Diego Zoo (619) 685-3291
	Postal Service Web Site: www.usps.com
	Stamp News Release Number: 03-057

NEW REPTILES & AMPHIBIANS STAMPS ARE SLITHERING OUT OF 
SAN DIEGO ZOO TO POST OFFICES NATIONWIDE

SAN DIEGO - Amid more than 500 wide-eyed young people enjoying a school field trip, 
five creatures that croak, hop, slither and slide came alive today on new 
commemorative stamps issued by the U.S. Postal Service at the San Diego Zoo. 

The Reptiles & Amphibians stamps are available today at the Zoo and at San Diego Post 
Offices. The 37-cent, self-adhesive stamps will be available at Post Offices across 
the country starting Oct. 8.

"The incredibly life-like Reptiles & Amphibians stamps remind us of how fun and 
educational stamp collecting can be for people of all ages," said San Diego Postmaster 
Glenn Crouch, who dedicated the stamps. "At the same time, these stamps help us 
appreciate the varied and wonderful creatures that share our planet and the role we 
play in preserving and protecting them."

Joining Crouch at the first day ceremony were Thompson Fetter, president, Zoological 
Society of San Diego, and Dave Coulier, actor/comedian and voice-over artist. Special 
guests also included two entertaining sea lions and "Squeeze," an enormous boa 
constrictor that required three people to assist in his on-stage appearance. 

Each year, the Postal Service designates October as National Stamp Collecting Month 
and issues a commemorative stamp - or stamps - that appeal to young people. This year 
the Reptiles and Amphibians stamps help highlight this educational and family-oriented 
activity.  

The Reptiles and Amphibians stamps feature five digital illustrations by Steve 
Buchanan of two amphibians and three reptiles: the blue-spotted salamander, the ornate 
chorus frog, the reticulate collared lizard, the ornate box turtle and the scarlet 
kingsnake. 

Reptiles and amphibians have long fascinated human observers; these mysterious 
creatures are prominent in the history, religion and mythology of many cultures. 
Although some people fear them, reptiles and amphibians are beneficial to humans 
and the environment. Sensitive indicators of environmental health and quality, 
their presence or absence can show if an area is healthy or potentially hazardous 
for wildlife and humans. Key species in wetland and terrestrial habitats, they 
play important roles in the food chain. As predators, they help control 
populations of rodents and insects. Venom from some species of snakes has 
significant medical applications.  	

Unfortunately, populations of many reptiles and amphibians are declining. The causes 
include habitat loss, air and water pollution, global climate change, invasive 
species, exploitation by human beings and disease.

The blue-spotted salamander (Ambystoma laterale) lives in forests with moist soil. A 
secretive amphibian, it stays under cover during the day, hiding under leaves or logs 
or in burrows. At night, it emerges to search for food on the forest floor. When 
threatened by predators, it releases a sticky foul-tasting substance from glands in 
the skin of its back and tail. This long-tailed salamander earns its name from the 
blue spots on its shiny, black body. Its range includes the northeastern United States 
and the Great Lakes region. 

	A nocturnal amphibian, the ornate chorus frog (Pseudacris ornata) is more 
often heard than seen. Its distinctive call is a series of rapid metallic peeps, which 
it gives during late fall, winter and early spring. This frog lives near ponds, 
ditches and wet meadows. Although it is a member of the tree frog family, its toe-pads 
are so small that it burrows in the ground instead of climbing trees. It always has 
black or dark brown spots on its sides, but can vary in color from tan or brown to 
green, or be a mixture of these hues. The ornate chorus frog is found in the southern 
U.S. coastal plain and in north Florida.

	The reticulate collared lizard (Crotaphytus reticulatus) is an alert, active 
reptile with a large head, long tail and strong limbs. When moving fast, it runs 
upright on its hind legs. If cornered, it may hold its mouth open in a display meant 
to frighten antagonists. A resident of thorny brush country in the Rio Grande Valley 
of south Texas, it may be seen sunning on rocks or found hiding beneath rocks or 
debris. "Reticulate" means netlike; this lizard has a network of pale lines on its 
head, body and limbs, as well as black spots on its back. Its "collar" is a vertical 
black bar on the sides of its neck.

	The ornate box turtle (Terrapene ornata) is a reptile of prairies and open 
woodlands. It burrows to escape the heat, and large numbers sometimes emerge after 
rainstorms. This turtle has an important adaptation that protects it from predators - 
it can close its shell completely because it has a hinged plastron (lower shell). It 
may be recognized by the radiating yellow lines on its dark carapace (upper shell). It 
is found primarily in the central and southwestern United States.

Although harmless, the colorful scarlet kingsnake (Lampropeltis triangulum elapsoides) 
closely resembles the venomous eastern coral snake, whose snout is black rather than 
red. The kingsnake has black bands separating red and yellow bands; the coral snake 
has red and yellow bands touching. As the saying goes, "Red on yellow kills a fellow. 
Red on black, friend of Jack." This mimicry protects the scarlet kingsnake from 
potential predators. A secretive woodland reptile, it is seldom seen in the open 
except at night or after heavy rains. A powerful constrictor, its prey includes 
venomous snakes, for it is apparently immune to their venom. The scarlet kingsnake is 
found in the southeastern and south-central United States.

To see the Reptiles and Amphibians stamps, visit the Postal Service Web site and open 
this press release at www.usps.com/communications/news/stamps/welcome.htm.

Current U.S. stamps, as well as a free comprehensive catalog, are available by 
toll-free phone order at 1 800 STAMP-24. In addition, a selection of stamps and other 
philatelic items are available at the online Postal Store at www.usps.com/shop.



Since 1775, the U.S. Postal Service has connected friends, families, neighbors and 
businesses by mail. It is an independent federal agency that visits 140 million homes 
and businesses every day and is the only service provider to deliver to every address 
in the nation. The Postal Service receives no taxpayer dollars for routine operations, 
but derives its operating revenues solely from the sale of postage, products and 
services. With annual revenues of more than $66 billion, it is the world's leading 
provider of mail and delivery services, offering some of the most affordable postage 
rates in the world. The Postal Service delivers more than 43 percent of the world's 
mail volume-some 203 billion letters, advertisements, periodicals and packages a 
year-and serves 7 million customers each day at its 38,000 retail locations 
nationwide.

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