Being an island nation, Tokelau is home to lots of types of marine life. This stamp issue looked at just four species of crab that you might find scuttling along the shores of Tokelau’s atolls.
Issue information
There are ten recorded species of crab that live on the islands of Tokelau. All the land crabs are nocturnal scavengers and they come in an array of shapes and sizes, with the ugauga (Birgus latro) being the largest living arthropod on Earth. Each stamp in this collectable issue included the Tokelauan word for the crab as well as the scientific name.
A closer look at the crabs of Tokelau
Alongside the set of four stamps in this issue, there was a miniature sheet, a first day cover and a miniature sheet first day cover. The first day cover featured an image of the kaviki in its natural habitat, and any of these collectables made a great addition to any marine fauna or Tokelau stamp collection.
Product Listing for Tokelau Crabs
| Image | Title | Description | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
Single Stamp |
Single 45c 'Ugauga (Birgus latro)' gummed stamp. Also known as the coconut crab, this enormous crab is so adjusted to living on land that it can drown when placed in water. The ugauga’s claws are powerful enough to crack open a coconut and if no coconuts are readily available on the ground, it will climb a coconut tree and clip them down. |
$0.45 |
 |
Single Stamp |
Single $1.40 'Tupa (Cardisoma sp.)' gummed stamp. The tupa are a species of terrestrial crab that are nocturnal scavengers and tend to live in burrows. Like most crabs, they display dimorphism in their claws, with one claw being much larger than the other. |
$1.40 |
 |
Single Stamp |
Single $2.00 'Kaviki (Ocypode sp.)' gummed stamp. Ocypodes are a type of ghost crab, named for their nocturnal nature and pale appearance. Ocypode means ‘swift-footed’, with this species of crab being very active. It’s known to dash from its burrow to the retreating shore to wet its gills, but would be in danger of drowning if fully submerged. |
$2.00 |
 |
Single Stamp |
Single $3.00 'Kamakama (Grapsus sp.)' gummed stamp. The kamakama is also known as the ‘red rock crab’ or ‘Sally Lightfoot’, named for its bright red appearance and agility respectively. The kamakama is considered fairly inedible to humans, so is more likely to be used as bait. |
$3.00 |
 |
Miniature Sheet | Mint, used or cancelled miniature sheet. | $6.85 |
 |
First Day Cover | First day cover with gummed stamps affixed. Cancelled on the first day of issue. | $7.35 |
 |
Miniature Sheet First Day Cover | First day cover with miniature sheet affixed. Cancelled on the first day of issue. | $7.35 |
Technical information
| Date of issue: | 3 June 2015 |
|---|---|
| Number of stamps: | Set of four gummed stamps |
| Denominations: | 45c, $1.40, $2.00 and $3.00 |
| Stamps and first day covers designed by: | New Zealand Post Limited, Wellington, New Zealand |
| Printer: | Collectables and Solutions Centre, New Zealand Post, Whanganui, New Zealand. |
| Number of colours: | Four process colours |
| Stamp size and format: | 40mm x 30mm (horizontal) |
| Paper type: | Tullis Russell 104gsm red phosphor gummed stamp paper |
| Number of stamps per sheet: | 16 |
| Perforation gauge: | 13.33 |
| Period of sale: | These stamps remained on sale until 2 June 2016. |