Do you know New Mexico's official state symbols?
Do you know New Mexico's official state symbols?
Each state in America boasts its own culture, history, and natural beauty. To represent such diversity, people from these states have chosen their own set of symbols and customs. Specific flags, songs, mottos, flowers, and even fruits commemorate the uniqueness of individual states. Some of these symbols border on the bizarre: Texas, for example, has made the Dutch oven its official state cooking pot. Other symbols are more universal, like state birds.
Many people remember learning about their states' history back in elementary school. But can you still remember your state bird? How about your state flower? To test your state knowledge, Stacker compiled a list of symbols in New Mexico.
Clue: New Mexico state fish
Clue: The introduction of rainbow trout has put a lot of pressure on this fish in recent years. For anglers looking to hook one, keep in mind they can only live in cold, clear moving water.
Answer: New Mexico state fish
Answer: New Mexico cutthroat trout
Clue: New Mexico state mammal
This large mammal is named after its color but in New Mexico is seen with other colors of coat including most commonly a cinnamon brown. Despite their large size (400 pounds is common), they're adept climbers that can scramble up a tree with surprising speed and ease.
Answer: New Mexico state mammal
- State mammal: American black bear
Clue: New Mexico state song
New Mexico's official state song was written by Elizabeth Garrett, the daughter of legendary Old West lawman Pat Garrett. The official Spanish-language song was written by Amadeo Lucero, and the state also recognizes a bilingual song, a ballad, and a cowboy song.
Answer: New Mexico state song
- Answer:
--- State song: "O Fair New Mexico"
--- Spanish song: "Así Es Nuevo Méjico"
--- Ballad: "Land of Enchantment"
--- Bilingual song: "New Mexico – Mi Lindo Nuevo México"
--- Cowboy song: "Under New Mexico Skies"
Clue: New Mexico state insect
State insect: This species uses its string to paralyze and capture its prey, but it is formidable for humans as well. As biologist Ben Hutchins noted, “There are some vivid descriptions of people getting stung by these things, and their recommendation …was to just lie down and start screaming, because few if any people could maintain verbal and physical coordination after getting stung by one of these things.”
State butterfly: This species was discovered in Albuquerque by the University of Kansas student Noel McFarland in 1958. When the New Mexico Legislature made it the state butterfly in 2004, they noted that the insect is “thought of as uniquely New Mexican.”
Answer: New Mexico state insect
- State insect: Tarantula hawk wasp (Pepsis grossa)
- State butterfly: Sandia hairstreak butterfly (Callophrys mcfarlandi)
Clue: New Mexico state tree
The nuts that drop from New Mexico’s state tree, which are small, lightly colored, and salty, are a delicacy for humans as well as birds such as nutcrackers and scrub jays. These nuts were historically a staple of the Navajo diet; people would roast these nuts, use them in soups and stews, and grind them into flour.
Answer: New Mexico state tree
Answer: Piñon pine (Pinus edulis)
Clue: New Mexico state bird
This unique state bird is most commonly known for its cartoon variation. In real life, this tough species can take down a rattlesnake and runs faster than humans.
Answer: New Mexico state bird
Answer: Roadrunner
Clue: New Mexico state flower
The leaves of New Mexico's official state flower are described as sword-shaped, with these flowers clustering into towers quite prominent in dry landscapes. Selected by schoolchildren in 1927, this flower comes in numerous different species. Sometimes called “our Lord's candles,” the roots of this flower can be used to make soap and shampoo, and the flowers themselves can be ground up and made into candies.
Answer: New Mexico state flower
Answer: Yucca
