The vast majority of all animals are invertebrates (having no skeleton) and of these the vast majority again are marine animals. Our seas and oceans are alive with a bewildering variety of animals of extraordinary shapes, colours, sizes and behaviour. This series of stamps depicts just four of the huge number of species to be found in the waters surrounding the UAE.

Feather Star Lamprometra klunzingeri 50 Fils

These marine animals belong to a group collectively known,"" as sea-lilies and feather stars because they look very much like underwater flowers. They are closely related to starfish and sea urchins. Feather stars may either be attached to the seabed or walk freely on a ring of jointed tubes. Finger-like tube feet on the arms catch plankton and suspended organic matter, which is passed to the mouth in the centre. Arms of feather stars break off easily when they are attacked but they can be regenerated. This species is active at night and is commonly found on reefs of fire coral.

Jellyfish Pelagia noctiluca 150 Fils 

Jellyfish are generally free-swimming bell-shaped animals"; with long tentacles for catching food. Food is transferred to the mouth, which is usually situated, on the mobile central stalk. They feed on almost any animal of appropriate size, with fish forming an important part of the diet. Ocean currents transport jellyfish and they maintain themselves in the water column by rhythmic pulsating of the bell. The beli of this small mushroom-shaped species grows up to 10cm in diameter, carries warts of stinging cells, and has eight marginal tentacles. It is luminescent in the dark. 

Sea-slug ("Spanish Dancer") 250 Fils
Hexabranchus sanguineus.

These very colourful and beautiful creatures are nudi-branches, true "sea-slugs". Most nudibranchs are bottom dwellers feeding on a variety of animals including sponges barnacles, worms, bryozoans and sea-squirts. A few species, like this one, are free-swimming. The "Spanish Dancer" shows a white mantle, or skirt, when swimming and can grow to 20 cm in length. It inhabits shallow reef areas in the Gulf and Indo-Pacific Ocean and lays strings of eggs in very distinctive whorls.

Sponge Siphonochalina siphonella Dhs. 3

The sponges, a vary large and successful group of plant-like animals, are extremely varied ill body form which influenced by the type of seabed and the movement of water. Where water movement is strong the body form is low and flattened but in calmer waters many sponges grow branching tree-like shapes. The tree-like tube species cart grow up to 30 cm in height.