臺灣珊瑚郵票Corals of Taiwan Postage Stamps---一、大棘穗軟珊瑚、二、繡球雀屏珊瑚、三、顆粒軸孔珊瑚、四、紅扇珊瑚， 發行日期103年01月08日，(http://stamp.post.gov.tw 。

◆特599 臺灣珊瑚郵票◆ 發行日期103年01月08日 郵票規格： ◎ 所屬類別-主別特種郵票 ◎ 所屬類別-所有類別 昆蟲 ◎ 發行日期 103/01/08 ◎ 票幅 40 ×30 (毫米)  ◎  承印者 卡登實業股份有限公司  ◎  繪圖者 鄭義郎 ◎ 全張枚數 20（5 × 4） ◎ 刷 色 彩色   ◎ 印 法 平版  ◎ 用紙 燐光郵票紙  ◎ 背膠 有 ◎ 齒度 121/2 × 131/2   郵票說明： 一般所稱「珊瑚」係指由許多珊瑚蟲聚集而成的「珊瑚群體」。臺灣位於熱帶至亞熱帶間，周圍海域適合珊瑚生長，種類多樣。為介紹這種美麗的海洋生物，本公司特規劃郵票1組4枚。 圖案簡介如下： 一、大棘穗軟珊瑚（面值3.5元）：軟珊瑚目。珊瑚體常為分枝形，表面紅色部分為成束分布的珊瑚蟲。珊瑚蟲僅於夜間或海流較強時伸展，群體收縮時，形成圓球狀。生長於水深15公尺以下海流較強的海底，臺灣周圍海域均有分布。 二、繡球雀屏珊瑚（面值5元）：石珊瑚目。珊瑚體形似繡球花，由薄而彎曲的垂直葉片構成，葉片基底較厚而成主幹。珊瑚孔細而淺，分布於葉面兩側，相鄰珊瑚孔排列成與邊緣平行的曲線。生活群體呈淡褐色或綠褐色。生長於混濁度較高的淺水域，常見於臺灣北部及東北部淺海礁岩表面。 三、顆粒軸孔珊瑚（面值10元）：石珊瑚目。珊瑚體由粗短分枝構成，底部互相聯結或癒合成板葉狀。分枝尖端的軸珊瑚孔大而突出，分枝側面的珊瑚孔較小為短管狀。生活群體多呈鮮豔的粉紅或紅褐色。生長於珊瑚礁斜坡上段及淺海礁岩平台，常見於東沙環礁海域。 四、紅扇珊瑚（面值15元）：柳珊瑚目。珊瑚體為分枝形，分枝延展形成扇形平面，主幹與支幹節間膨大。珊瑚蟲很小，分布於分枝側面及前面，呈白色或透明。整株珊瑚體呈橙紅色，主軸骨骼微紅色，珊瑚蟲基部為黃色。生長於海流較強的礁石頂部側面，臺灣周圍礁岩海域均有分布。 附帶發行： 1.首日封 每個新臺幣2元 2.貼票卡 每張新臺幣5元 3.護票卡 每張新臺幣5元 4.活頁集郵卡(含護卡套) 每張新臺幣8元 以上均自民國103年1月6日開始發售。 5.預銷首日戳低值封 每個新臺幣5.5元 6.預銷首日戳套票封 每個新臺幣35.5元 以上均自民國103年1月8日開始發售。 顧客如有需要，請向全國各地郵局洽購，或上網至「中華郵政集郵電子商城」   (http://stamp.post.gov.tw ）訂購。 Sp.599 Corals of Taiwan Postage Stamps First day of issue : January 8, 2014 Specifications： ◎ Stamp Cat Standard: Specail Stamps           ◎ Stamp Cat : Insects        ◎ First day of issue: 2014-01-08   ◎ Dimension of stamps(mm.) 40 × 30 (mm) ◎ Printer: Cardon Enterprise Co., Ltd.   ◎ Sheet composition : 20（5 × 4） ◎ Color: Colorful ◎Process: Offset ◎ Paper used: Phosphorescent stamp paper ◎ Back:  Perforation: 121/2× 131/2   Description： Corals are colonial animals composed of many individual polyps and can be found in the tropics and subtropics. The marine waters around Taiwan support a great number of corals. To introduce the beauty and diversity of the corals of Taiwan to the public, Chunghwa Post is issuing a set of four stamps. The designs follow: 1. Dendronephthya gigantea (NT＄3.5): Colonies of this soft coral, which often have a branched growth form, are covered with bunches of red polyps. The coral polyps expand only at night or when the water flow is high. The colony deflates into a ball when the polyps retract. This coral is widely spread through Taiwan’s coastal waters in areas that are exposed to strong currents, usually at depths of greater than 15 meters.  2. Pavona cactus (NT＄5): Colonies of this stony coral, which are shaped like the flower heads of hydrangea, are made up of thin and contorted upright fronds with thickened bases. There are rows of small shallow corallites parallel to the margins on both sides of the fronds. The coloration of this coral ranges from light brown to greenish brown. It is found in shallow areas where the water is murkier, and in particular on upper reef slopes in northern and northeast Taiwan.  3. Acropora granulosa (NT＄10): Colonies of this stony coral are composed of stubby branches which connect or fuse at the base to form plates. There is a large protruding axial corallite on the tip of each branch. The radial corallites are smaller and tubular in shape. Living colonies are bright pink or reddish brown. The coral can be found on upper reef slopes and reef flats in shallow waters. It is often sighted in the Dongsha Atoll. 4. Melithaea ochracea (NT＄15): Colonies of this gorgonian coral are arborescent and have branching structures shaped like fans. The nodes of the main branch and branchlets are conspicuously enlarged. The tiny white or translucent polyps are distributed on the sides and front of the branches. The colonies of this coral are orange red with a lighter colored main skeleton. The bases of the polyps are yellow. The coral inhabits the higher parts of reef fronts in areas with stronger water flow. It can be found in reefs throughout Taiwan’s waters. By-issues： (1) First Day Cover: NT＄2 apiece (2) Folder (with or without mount): NT＄5 apiece (3) Loose-leaf album page: NT＄8 apiece (4) Pre-cancelled FDC affixed with one NT＄3.5-denominated stamp: NT＄5.5 apiece (5) Pre-cancelled FDC affixed with a complete set of stamps:NT＄35.5 apiece To purchase the relative philatelic products, please go directly to the post office branches, or order on line at ( http://stamp.post.gov.tw ).