Biodiversity of Alabama: State and National Symbols

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Biodiversity of AlabamaState and National
Symbols
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90. AL State Tree Longleaf pine

• The bark is thick, reddish-brown, and scaly.
• Needles are twisted and remarkably long, up to
  18 inches
• Vast stands across the eastern U.S. have been
  dramatically reduced
• Longleaf Pine is highly resistant to fire.
  Periodic natural wildfire selects for this
  species by killing other trees.

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91. AL State Butterfly Eastern Tiger Swallowtail

• Some of its common habitats include, woodlands,
  woodland openings, woodland edges, fields, open
  areas, rivers, creeks, roadsides, gardens, urban
  parks, and city yards.
• Young caterpillars are brown and white, while
  older caterpillars are green, with two black,
  yellow, and blue eyespots on the thorax.
• Named for pointed shape of wings, like the bird

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92. AL State Insect Monarch Butterfly

• Monarchs are especially noted for their lengthy
  migration throughout parts of North America
• But no single individual makes the entire round
  trip, which lasts longer than one butterflys
  lifespan.
• Female monarchs deposit eggs for the next
  generation during these migrations.
• Bright orange and black pattern is warning
  coloration to keep predators from eating them
  they taste bad

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93. AL State Freshwater Fish Largemouth Bass

• The largemouth bass is a heavy-bodied fish with
  the upper jaw usually extending past the rear
  margin of the eye. The back is olive green to
  brown, and the greenish sides are marked with a
  broad black band composed of somewhat oval
  blotches connected by shorter blotches.
• Largemouth bass occupy almost all aquatic
  habitats in Alabama.
• The largemouth bass is the primary target species
  of most recreational and tournament bass anglers
  in North America.
• Largemouth bass prey upon bluegills and redear
  sunfish in stocked ponds and upon shad, minnows,
  smaller sunfishes, crayfishes, and amphibians in
  natural habitats.

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94. AL State Saltwater FishAtlantic Tarpon

• Megalops atlanticus
• Inhabits coastal waters, estuaries, and rivers.
• Tarpons feed almost exclusively on schooling fish
  and occasionally crabs.
• Important fish for sport fishing up to 350 lbs

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95. AL State Amphibian Red Hills Salamander
(endangered)

• Phaeognathus hubrichti
• Entire global distribution confined to five
  Alabama counties in Red Hills
• Not discovered until 1960s
• Secretive, inhabits burrows on forested bluff and
  ravine slopes.
• Eliminated from many formerly inhabited sites by
  habitat disturbance.

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96. AL State Reptile Alabama Red-bellied Turtle
(endangered)

• Pseudemys alabamensis
• Restricted to extreme lower portion of Mobile Bay
  drainage in Mobile and Baldwin Counties.
• Primarily a freshwater species, but may occur in
  moderately brackish water with abundant
  vegetation.

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97. AL State BirdNorthern Flicker (or
Yellowhammer)

• The name Yellow-hammer comes from a term that
  was applied to a company of young cavalry
  soldiers from Huntsville. They were called the
  yellowhammer company because of the brilliant
  yellow bits of cloth on the sleeves, collars, and
  coattails of their new uniforms.

• Flickers are a type of woodpecker
• Named for yellow under wings and tail
• Nest in cavities of dead trees
• Feed on insects, especially ants, fruits, berries
  and seeds
• Live in woods, but also near houses

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98. AL State Game Bird Wild Turkey

• Meleagris gallopavo
• Males display to females by spreading feathers
  and strutting around polygamous (males mate with
  several females in a season)
• Females are plainer, build ground nests
• Omnivorous
• Benjamin Franklin wanted this to be our national
  bird

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AL State MammalAmerican Black Bear

• Ursus americanus
• Rare. Once found statewide, but now extirpated
  from all except an area just north of Mobile,
  where they still breed.
• Transients from Georgia and Florida also
  occasionally enter the state.
• Occupies woodland and swampland habitats.
• Classic omnivores eat a variety of plant and
  animal materials, including some agricultural
  crops

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100. National Symbol Bald Eagle

• National symbol, found in Alabama
• Preys on fish
• Almost driven to extinction by effects of DDT
  (pesticide that got into food chain and caused
  birds egg shells to be fragile)
• Success story! Not on endangered species list
  any more