The Powder Blue Tang

Designed and masterfully line-engraved by Jacques Derrey, this regular postage issue features a detailed biological study of a Powder Blue Tang (Acanthurus leucosternon), showcasing its compressed oval body and specialized dorsal fin configuration next to a branching coral structure. Natively inscribed with the regional name "BAHOI", this stamp belongs to a landmark 1968 definitive series documenting the marine ecosystems of the Comoro Islands during their status as an overseas territory of the French Republic. Historically, this release catalogs the highly localized reef fauna of the Western Indian Ocean, using rigorous scientific illustration to highlight the complex marine biodiversity that forms the foundation of the archipelago's coastal ecology and traditional artisanal marine heritage.