Australia Post has unveiled a unique stamp collection showcasing vibrant, colorful illustrations of prehistoric fossils found on Kangaroo Island. The artwork, created by renowned artist Dr Peter Trusler, brings to life the creatures that once inhabited the island during the 512 million-year-old Palaeozoic era.
The stamps feature four distinct species: Nesonektris aldridgei, a long swimmer with rudimentary backbone and flexible tail; Emu Bay Shale monster, a worm-like creature with spines on its back and stubby legs; Anomalocaris daleyae, a massive 50-cm-long predator with big eyes, appendages, and swimming flaps along its body; and Redlichia rex, a large trilobite with spiny legs to crush and shred food.
Trusler collaborated with researchers from the South Australian Museum to ensure the accuracy of his illustrations. He used the latest research papers to recreate these ancient creatures, which are now found in the shale deposit at Emu Bay, the only place in the southern hemisphere where they can be discovered.
The artwork is a testament to the incredible diversity of life on Earth during the Palaeozoic era, which saw the emergence of many animal groups that still exist today. The collaboration between Australia Post and Dr Trusler has resulted in an exceptional stamp collection that not only showcases the beauty of these prehistoric fossils but also provides an educational opportunity for the public.
The stamps will be on display at the South Australian Museum, where visitors can marvel at the creatures in all their glory. As museum director Dr Samantha Hamilton noted, "As soon as visitors enter the museum, they will see these creatures in all their glory – you could not get a better glimpse at such a long-gone world."
The release of this stamp collection is a celebration of the natural wonders found on Kangaroo Island and serves as a reminder of the importance of preserving our planet's fossil record for future generations.
The stamps feature four distinct species: Nesonektris aldridgei, a long swimmer with rudimentary backbone and flexible tail; Emu Bay Shale monster, a worm-like creature with spines on its back and stubby legs; Anomalocaris daleyae, a massive 50-cm-long predator with big eyes, appendages, and swimming flaps along its body; and Redlichia rex, a large trilobite with spiny legs to crush and shred food.
Trusler collaborated with researchers from the South Australian Museum to ensure the accuracy of his illustrations. He used the latest research papers to recreate these ancient creatures, which are now found in the shale deposit at Emu Bay, the only place in the southern hemisphere where they can be discovered.
The artwork is a testament to the incredible diversity of life on Earth during the Palaeozoic era, which saw the emergence of many animal groups that still exist today. The collaboration between Australia Post and Dr Trusler has resulted in an exceptional stamp collection that not only showcases the beauty of these prehistoric fossils but also provides an educational opportunity for the public.
The stamps will be on display at the South Australian Museum, where visitors can marvel at the creatures in all their glory. As museum director Dr Samantha Hamilton noted, "As soon as visitors enter the museum, they will see these creatures in all their glory – you could not get a better glimpse at such a long-gone world."
The release of this stamp collection is a celebration of the natural wonders found on Kangaroo Island and serves as a reminder of the importance of preserving our planet's fossil record for future generations.
! I mean, can you imagine seeing these prehistoric creatures up close on a stamp? it's like they're jumping off the page or something 
. I love how Dr Peter Trusler collaborated with scientists to make sure his artwork was accurate - that's some next level dedication 
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. Like, who wouldn't want to learn about these ancient creatures and the amazing diversity of life on Earth? 
It's crazy to think that these fossils are still preserved in shale deposits on Kangaroo Island - it's like a treasure trove of natural history 
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, and Anomalocaris daleyae just looks like a prehistoric tank 
. I'm so here for this stamp collection - it's not just a pretty face, it's also teaching us something new about our planet 
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! Dr Trusler's artwork is straight fire 
, brings those ancient creatures to life in a way that'll make you wanna be a paleontologist too 
. The fact they're from Kangaroo Island makes it even cooler, Australia Post did a sick job with the collab 
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, but what really impresses me is that it was done with the help of researchers from the south australian museum...its like we're learning more about our own planet's history right now 
. and i love that its not just for stamp collectors, but also an educational tool for everyone to learn about these amazing creatures 
? It's crazy to think about how much our understanding of the world has changed since then. And these new stamps are not only beautiful but also educational, which is awesome 
I mean, who wouldn't want to spend their money on stamps featuring ancient bugs 
? And isn't it just fascinating that they're trying to bring back the past by re-creating prehistoric fossils in art form? I guess it's kinda cool that Dr. Peter Trusler got to work with actual researchers and not just make stuff up... I mean, who needs accuracy when you've got a pretty picture, right? 
Anyway, it's nice that they're showcasing the beauty of these ancient creatures at the museum so people can ooh and ahh over them. Can't wait to see if anyone actually learns something from it 
! I'm totally obsessed with the Anomalocaris daleyae one, it looks so intimidating with those big eyes and flaps on its body 
I'm so inspired by these prehistoric fossils! It's like, can you imagine living in a world where giant trilobites roam around? 
Those stamps are not just pretty to look at, they're also a reminder of how amazing our planet is. And the fact that we can learn from them and see what life was like millions of years ago... it's mind-blowing! 
they're like whoa, prehistoric fossils from kangaroo island! can u even imagine seeing those creatures with ur own eyes? 
. our school did a unit on palaeozoic era last year and this just made everything so much more real for me 
They're so cool to look at, especially since they're based on real prehistoric creatures that lived on Kangaroo Island 512 million years ago. I mean, who wouldn't want a stamp featuring the 'Emu Bay Shale monster'? 
. I can imagine how educational this would be for them - learning about these prehistoric species and seeing their illustrations up close must be mind-blowing! 
I think its so cool that they made these stamps! The artwork by Dr Peter Trusler is actually really stunning 
. And yeah, preserving our planet's fossil record is super important for future generations to learn from 
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The diversity of life on Earth during the Palaeozoic era is truly mind-blowing, you know? 
The attention to detail is insane, especially the way he illustrated the creatures' movements and features. And can you believe these animals lived 512 million years ago?! 
They're like something straight outta sci-fi! I'm imagining Dr Trusler sipping tea with one of those ancient worms and going " Ah yes, this is what I drew 500 million years ago... or was it 1000?" 
I love that he worked with researchers from the South Australian Museum to make sure his illustrations were super accurate, too. It's always cool to see how scientists and artists can team up to learn more about our planet's history.