Capital: Algiers
Population: 34,895,000
Languages: Arabic, French
Currency: Algerian dinar
ALGERIA

1967


SAHARA FAUNA
(SG 487)

 

0.05
Uromastix acanthinurus

 

 
Name on stamp
Current name
Accepted common name
0.05
Uromastix acanthinurus
Uromastyx dispar
Banded Saharan dab lizard

A set of four stamps featuring Saharan wildlife, one being a reptile. Although labelled as Uromastix acanthinurus (correctly Uromastyx acanthinura) this is much more likely to be the dark Banded Saharan dab lizard (U.dispar) of which there are several subspecies entering or close to Algeria. This is not a criticism since these lizards have only received real taxonomic attention in recent years.

 

1992


MARINE LIFE
(SG 1114)

 

A set of four marine life stamps, one featuring a Loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta).

 

1993


REPTILES
(SG 1133-1134)

2,00
Chamaeleo vulgaris
8,60
Varanus griseus

 

 
Name on stamp
Current name
Accepted common name
2,00
Chamaeleo vulgaris
Chamaeleo chamaeleon
Common chameleon
8,60
Varanus griseus
Varanus griseus
Desert monitor lizard

 

Two stamps featuring reptiles with scientific names written incorrectly ie. small case letter for the generic name and un-italicised. The stamps represent the only chameleon and monitor lizards found in Algeria or anywhere in North Africa, west of Egypt, although the scientific name given to the chameleon is long out of date.