New Mexico State Symbols

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New Mexico State Symbols
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What is our state air craft?
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• New Mexico's state aircraft is the hot air
  balloon. The Albuquerque International Balloon
  Fiesta is a yearly balloon fiesta that takes
  place in Albuquerque during early October. This
  nine day event has around 750 balloons. The event
  is the largest hot air balloon festival in the
  world.

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What is our state amphibean?
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• The New Mexico spadefoot toad (Spea
  multiplicata) was designated the official state
  amphibian of New Mexico in 2003. They get their
  name from a distinctive spade-like projections on
  their hind legs which enable them to dig in sandy
  soils. This species is nocturnal and secretive.

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What is our state bird?
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• The roadrunner was officially adopted March 16,
  1949 as the New Mexico state bird. It was adopted
  under the name "Chaparral Bird". In Spanish, it
  is called "El Correcaminos". The comical
  roadrunner prefers running to flying and has been
  clocked at speeds of 15 miles per hour.

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What is our state butterfly?

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• The Sandia hairstreak, or Callophrys
  macfarlandi, is the official state butterfly. It
  was discovered in Albuquerque in 1959 at La Cueva
  Canyon and can easily be found in New Mexico's
  wide open spaces, towns and cities among native
  beargrass. The butterfly is gold and green in
  color.

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Where is New Mexicos state capital?
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• The New Mexico State Capitol (also called the
  Roundhouse), located in Santa Fe, New Mexico, is
  the seat of government of the U.S. state of New
  Mexico. It is the only round state capitol in the
  United States. The building was designed to
  resemble the Zia Sun Symbol when viewed from
  above.

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What is New Mexicos state cookie?
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• The biscochito is a small anise flavored,
  shortbread cookie used during special
  celebrations, wedding receptions, baptisms, and
  religious days. It was developed by residents of
  New Mexico over the centuries from the first
  Spanish colonists of New Mexico.

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What is New Mexicos state fish?
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• The New Mexico Cutthroat Trout (Rio Grande
  Cutthroat Trout) is native to the cold mountain
  streams and lakes of northern New Mexico. It is a
  dark olive color with sparsely scattered black
  spots. It derives its name from the red streaks
  under its throat. Anglers like the small fish for
  its fighting spirit.

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Describe the New Mexico State flag.
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• The yellow field and red symbol colors are the
  colors of Spain brought here by Spanish explorers
  in 1540. On our flag we see a red sun with rays
  stretching out from it. There are four groups of
  rays with four rays in each group. This is an
  ancient sun symbol of a Native American people
  called the Zia.

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What do the rays on the Zia symbol represent?
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Time
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What is our state fossil?
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• New Mexico's state fossil is a small theropod
  dinosaur, Coelophysis bauri. Although its bones
  have been found in several southwestern states,
  the quarry at Ghost Ranch, near Abiquiu, New
  Mexico, is where all of the best specimens have
  been found.

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What is our state flower?
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• The yucca is a member of the lily family and a
  symbol of sturdiness as well as beauty. In the
  early summer, pale ivory flowers bloom at the
  tips of its long, fibrous stalks. The plant's
  base has broad, sharp edged leaves that look like
  stilettos and it grows to the height of a small
  tree.

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What is our state gem?
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• New Mexico designated turquoise as the official
  state gem in 1967. Probably one of the oldest
  gemstones known, turquoise is an opaque,
  blue-to-green mineral. Only the prized robin's
  egg blue color is used to make gemstones.
  Occuring as vein or seam fillings, and as compact
  nuggets.

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What is our state insect?
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The Tarantula Hawk Wasp!
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What is our state mammal?
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• The Black Bear is our state mammal. They can
  stand and walk on their hind legs but it is more
  normal for them to walk on all fours. They stand
  to get a better scent or to look at something.
  Their characteristic shuffling gait results from
  their hind legs being slightly longer than the
  forelegs.

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What is our state nickname?
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• The "Land of Enchantment" describes New
  Mexico's scenic beauty and its rich history. This
  legend was placed on New Mexico license plates in
  1941. This nickname became the official State
  Nickname of New Mexico on April 8, 1999.

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What is our state tree?
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• The piñon is the official State Tree. This
  sturdy, slow-growing little evergreen flourishes
  over a vast area of the state. When the Spanish
  settlers arrived in New Mexico in the early
  sixteenth century, they found that the natives
  harvested the tiny, tasty nuts of the piñon.

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What is our state question?
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• Red or Green?

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Quiz complete!