Black Sable

  The sable (Martes zibellina) is a species of marten which inhabits forest environments, primarily in Russia from the Ural Mountains throughout Siberia, eastern Kazakhstan, northern Mongolia, China, North and South Korea and Hokkaidō in Japan. Its range in the wild originally extended through European Russia to Poland and Scandinavia. It has historically been hunted for its highly valued fur, which remains a luxury good to this day. While hunting of wild animals is still common in Russia, most fur in the market is now commercially farmed.

• Original Name: "Соболь чёрный"
• Series: Valuable species of fur-bearing animals
• Country: USSR
• Year: 1980-06-25
• Subject: Animals
• Face value: 15 kop
• Number of catalogue Michel: SU 4972
• Printing: Offset lithography Size: 30x42 mm

Nutria (Myocastor coypus)

  The coypu (from Spanish coipú, from Mapudungun kóypu; Myocastor coypus), also known as the river rat or nutria, is a large, herbivorous, semiaquatic rodent and the only member of the family Myocastoridae. Originally native to subtropical and temperate South America, it has since been introduced to North America, Europe, Asia, and Africa, primarily by fur ranchers. Although it is still valued for its fur in some regions, its destructive feeding and burrowing behaviors make this invasive species a pest throughout most of its range.

• Original Name: "Нутрия белая азербайджанская"
• Series: Valuable species of fur-bearing animals
• Country: USSR
• Year: 1980-06-25
• Subject: Animals
• Face value: 10 kop
• Number of catalogue Michel: SU 4971
• Size: 30x43.5 mm

European Mink

  The European mink (Mustela lutreola), also known as the Russian mink, is a semiaquatic species of mustelid native to Europe. It is similar in colour to the American mink, but is slightly smaller and has a less specialised skull. Despite having a similar name, build and behaviour, the European mink is not closely related to the American mink, being much closer to the European polecat and Siberian weasel (kolonok). The European mink occurs primarily by forest streams unlikely to freeze in winter. It primarily feeds on voles, frogs, fish, crustaceans and insects.

• Original Name: "Норка тёмно-коричневая"
• Series: Valuable species of fur-bearing animals
• Country: USSR
• Year: 1980-06-25
• Subject: Animals
• Face value: 6 kop
• Number of catalogue Michel: SU 4970
• Perforation:comb 12½x12
• Size: 42.5x30.5 mm

Arctic Fox

  The Arctic fox (Vulpes lagopus), also known as the white fox, polar fox, or snow fox, is a small fox native to the Arctic regions of the Northern Hemisphere and common throughout the Arctic tundra biome. It is well adapted to living in cold environments. It has a deep thick fur which is brown in summer and white in winter. Its body length ranges from 46 to 68 cm (18 to 27 in), with a generally rounded body shape to minimize the escape of body heat.

• Original Name: "Песец вуалевый"
• Series: Valuable species of fur-bearing animals
• Country: USSR
• Year: 1980-06-25
• Subject: Animals
• Face value: 4 kop
• Number of catalogue Michel: SU 4969
• Perforation:comb 12½x12
• Printing: Offset lithography
• Size: 43.5x30 mm

Silver Fox

  The silver fox is a melanistic form of red fox (Vulpes vulpes). Silver foxes display a great deal of pelt variation: some are completely black except for a white coloration on the tip of the tail, some are bluish-grey, and some may have a cinereous color on the sides. Historically, silver foxes were among the most valued furbearers, and their skins were frequently worn by nobles in Russia, Western Europe, and China. Wild silver foxes do not naturally reproduce exclusively with members of the same coat morph, and can be littermates with the common red variety, though captive populations bred for their fur are almost exclusively mated with members of the same color.

• Original Name: "Лисица серебристо-чёрная"
• Series: Valuable species of fur-bearing animals
• Country: USSR
• Year: 1980-06-25
• Subject: Animals
• Face value: 2 kop
• Number of catalogue Michel: SU 4968
• Perforation:comb 12x12½
• Size:30.5x43 mm