the living state symbols of arizona

The Living State Symbols of Arizona

Your introduction to the living symbols of Arizona, including

when and how they were selected

What is a What is a “symbol”?“symbol”?

Want to learn more about your state symbols?

Click to begin

SAGUARO BLOSSOM

I was our first symbol, selected in 1901 when Arizona was a territory.

Three inches wide, I can only be seen in May and June.

I am our state flower.

What do you think?Why does this flower bloom at

night and close the next day? What animals might use pollen and

nectar from this flower? What does the flower get in return? Why might this flower be large and grow in clusters?

CACTUS WREN

The legislature chose me in 1931.

I eat insects and cactus fruit.

I like to sing cha-cha-cha.

I am our state bird.

What do you think?Why is it called the cactus wren? How can the cactus wren survive without

drinking water? Why do cactus wrens choose cholla cactus

or thorny trees fornest locations?

What makes a cactuswren’s nest unusual?

PALO VERDE

The legislature chose me in 1954.

I am usually green.

I produce yellow flowers.

I am our state tree.

What do you think?Why are the bark and branches of this

tree green?Why are the leaves and flowers so

small? What do this tree and the saguaro have

in common?How has the palo verde

adapted to the lack ofwater in the desert?

ARIZONA TREEFROG

Schoolchildren selected me in 1985.

I am an excellent climber.

I am usually green.

I am our state amphibian.

What do you think?

What adaptations help the Arizona treefrog survive?

What does it mean to be “insectivorous”? What is the purpose of the male’s

vocalization? In what part of our

state would you find the Arizona treefrog?

APACHE TROUT

Schoolchildren selected me in 1985.

I am sometimes called a “yellow belly.”

By 1970 I was nearly extinct.

I am our state fish.

What do you think?

Why do you think this species nearly became extinct?

How have humans helped this species to recover?

In what part(s) of Arizona would you find this species?

ARIZONA RIDGENOSED RATTLESNAKE

Schoolchildren selected me in 1985.

I prefer to live in rock crevices.

I have an upturned nose.

I am our state reptile.

What do you think?Why does it have a rattle?How does this rattlesnake fit into

the cycle of life in our desert?This is a protected species. What

does that mean?

RINGTAIL

Schoolchildren selected me in 1985.

Sometimes called a miner’s cat, I am not really a cat.I am our state mammal.

What do you think?Why do some people call the ringtail a

miner’s cat or ringtail cat? How is it different from a cat? How has the ringtail adapted to its

habitat? Why might the ringtail

have such a long tail?

TWO-TAILED SWALLOWTAIL

Arizona residents and the state legislature chose me in 2001.

I am bright yellow and have two tails.

I am our state butterfly.

What do you think? Does this butterfly really have two tails? How many different species of

swallowtail butterflies live in Arizona?Of all the butterflies in Arizona, why was

this selected as the state butterfly?

Explore More!Explore More!

The following activities will allow you to understand how our living state symbols relate to the worlds of science, art and government:

In “Seal of Approval” you will explore some other Arizona symbols as you try to design your own seal for the state.

“Become a Wildlife Detective” as you develop a research project to study our state symbols in the natural world.

In “Legislative”, you will use the state symbols to study how laws are made in Arizona.

“Elect a Class Symbol” models the process of an election.

To download these activities, click here.