Capital: Asmara
Population: 5,224,000
Languages: Arabic, Tigrinya
Currency: Nafka
ERITREA

2001

TURTLES
(SG n/a)

1 Testudo gracea
2 Pseudemys scripta
3 Clemmys insculpta
5 Geochelone elephantopus

 

 
Name on stamp
Current name
Accepted common name
1
Testudo graeca
Testudo graeca
European spur-thighed tortoise
2
Pseudemys scripta
Trachemys scripta
Pond slider
3
Clemmys insculpta
Glyptemys insculpta
Wood turtle
5
Geochelone elephantopus
Chelonoides nigra
Galapagos giant tortoise

Four turtles and tortoises, on from Galapagos, one from Europe and two from the United States, and three undergone generic name changes at the time or prior to this stamp issue - lazy! And to increase sales to collectors they include the Rotary International emblem.

 

CROCODILIANS
(SG n/a)

1 Crocodylus palustris
2 Alligator mississippiensis
3 Gavialisgangeticus
5 Crocodylus porosus

 

 
Name on stamp
Current name
Accepted common name
1
Crocodylus palustris
Crocodylus palustris
Mugger crocodile
2
Alligator mississippiensis
Alligator mississippiensis
American alligator
3
Gavialis gangeticus
Gavialis gangeticus
Ganges gharial
5
Crocodylus porosus
Crocodylus porosus
Saltwater crocodile

Despite Eritrea being in Africa these stamps illustrate one American and three Asian crocodilians, all accompanied by the Boy Scouts fleur-de-lis. They are so carelessly done that the scientific name of the Ganges gharial (Gavialis gangeticus) is a single word, and where have I seen that saltwater crocodile (Crocodylus porosus) image before, oh yes of an equally rubbish stamp from Bhutan!! BoyScouts fleur-de-lis incorporated for no good reason.

LIZARDS
(SG n/a)

1 Varanus komodoensis
2 Palmatogecko rangei
3 Uroplatus fimbriatus
5 Xantusia vigilis

 

 
Name on stamp
Current name
Accepted common name
1
Varanus komodoensis
Varanus komodoensis
Komodo dragon
2
Palmatogecko rangei
Pachydactylus rangei
Namib sand gecko
3
Uroplatus fimbriatus
Uroplatus fimbriatus
Common flat-tail gecko
5
Xantusia vigilis
Xantusia vigilis
Desert night lizard

Lizards, and at last, an African species, the Namib sand gecko (Pachydactylus rangei), but it is endemicto Namibia, as from Eritrea as it is possible to get without leaving Africa. Then one Madagascan, one Indonesian and one American species make up the curious set of two geckos, a night lizard and the largest lizard in the world, the Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis). BoyScouts fleur-de-lis again.

SNAKES
(SG n/a)

1 Ehnydris punctata
2 Crotalus adamanteus
3 Crotalus cerastes
5 Hydrophis cyanocinctus

 

 
Name on stamp
Current name
Accepted common name
1
Ehnydris punctata
Enhydris punctata
Blackwater mud snake
2
Crotalus adamanteus
Crotalus durissus
Neotropical rattlesnake
3
Crotalus cerastes
Crotalus durissus
Neotropical rattlesnake
5
Hydrophis cyanocinctus
Hydrophis cyanocinctus
Annulated seasnake

The worst set, a mis-spelled generic name for the Blackwater mudsnake (Enhydris punctata), two what appear to be Neotropical rattlesnakes (Crotalus durissus or C.simus), certainly not a Sidewinder rattlesnake (C.cerastes) and even the supposed Eastern diamondback rattlesnake (C.adamanteus) looks more like a Neotropical rattler because of the stripes on the back of the neck. Probably the only species in the entire series of four sheets that might come close to Eritrea is the Annualated seasnake (Hydrophis cyanocinctus) which certainly occurs in the northern Indian Ocean. BoyScouts fleur-de-lis again.

 

If postage stamps are supposed to education or advert a country to the world, the designers used by some of the countries issuing herpetological postage stamps are taking the money and not giving good service in return.