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Overview

Christmas Island is remarkable for its unique natural environment and rich biodiversity, which includes one of the world's most abundant and diverse population of crabs.

There are around 160 species of crabs that inhabit the reefs and shallows of the island, as well as around 20 land crabs, including the world’s largest land crustacean, the Robber Crab. Land crabs evolved from their marine ancestors, scavenging for food on land but returning to the sea to spawn.

Crabs are arthropods, due to the presence of a hard, external skeleton and segmented body. They are part of the subphylum Crustacea, which means they possess two pairs of antennae. Crabs have five pairs of legs (the front pair has evolved into claws). As they grow, crabs shed their outer shell and grow a new one, a process known as moulting.

This stamp issue, illustrated by Anita Xhafer, presents four species of crab that are endemic to Christmas Island, each from a different genus.

Technical specifications

Issue  date17-August-2020
Issue withdrawal date28-February-2021
Denominations$1.10 x 2, $2.20 x 2
IllustrationAnita Xhafer
Product designJo Muré, Australia Post Design Studio
Paper - gummedTullis Russell
PrinterRA 
Stamp size37.5 x 26
Minisheet size135 x 80
Sheetlet size (mm)192 x 120
Perforations13.86 x 14.6
Sheet layoutModules of 50
FDI postmarkChristmas Island WA 6798
FDI withdrawal date15-September-2020

Stamps in this issue

Bright-eyed Crab (Chiromantes garfunkel)

The small endemic Bright-eyed Crab, named after Art Garfunkel’s song “Bright Eyes”, has a dark blue to purplish carapace and startling, bright yellow eyes. It lives in cracks and crevices in the seacliff and rocks within the spray zone around the coast.

 

$1.10

Kuhl’s Ghost Crab (Ocypode kuhlii)

Kuhl’s Ghost Crab is a medium-sized cream-coloured crab found across South-East Asia and infrequently sighted on the island’s Greta Beach.

$1.10

Red Nipper (Geograpsus stormi)

The small endemic Bright-eyed Crab, named after Art Garfunkel’s song “Bright Eyes”, has a dark blue to purplish carapace and startling, bright yellow eyes. It lives in cracks and crevices in the seacliff and rocks within the spray zone around the coast.

 

$2.20

White-striped Crab (Labuanium vitatum)

The extremely rare, tree-living White-striped Crab is medium-sized with a yellowish-brown to purplish body and bright greenish-yellow eyes. The crab, which has been found on four Indian Ocean islands, was only identified as a new species in 2011.

$2.20

Shop our stamp collectables

  • Set of Christmas Island Crabs gummed stamps

    This set of stamps contains all four stamps from the Christmas Island Crabs stamp issue.

  • Christmas Island Crabs minisheet

    The Christmas Island Crabs minisheet consists of the four stamps from the issue incorporated into a miniature stamp sheet.

  • Gutter strip of 10 x $1.10 Bright-eyed Crab stamps

    The gutter strip consists of 10 x $1.10 Bright-eyed Crab stamps from Christmas Island Crabs stamp issue.

  • Gutter strip of 10 x $2.20 Red Nipper stamps

    The gutter strip consists of 10 x $2.20 Red Nipper stamps from Christmas Island Crabs stamp issue.

Additional products:

  • Gutter strip of 10 x $1.10 Kuhl’s Ghost Crab stamps

  • Gutter strip of 10 x $2.20 White-striped Crab stamps

  • Pictorial envelope for the Christmas Island Crabs stamp issue

  • First day Christmas Island Crabs gummed stamps cover

  • First day Christmas Island Crabs minisheet cover

This content was produced at the time of the stamp issue release date and will not be updated.

 

Related stamp issues

  • Issue date: 26 April 2016

    Christmas Island Robber Crabs

  • Issue date: 12 August 2014

    Christmas Island: Red Crab Migration

  • Issue date: 27 March 2018

    AAT Crabeater Seals

  • Issue date: 27 August 2019

    Christmas Island: 19th-Century Explorers

View all stamps