State Symbols and Facts
State Gem, Moon stone
Although the state gem commemorates the July 20,1969 moon landing by Neil Armstong and Buzz Aldrin, this gem stone is neither native to Florida nor found on the moon.
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State Insect, Zebra Longwing butterfly
The zebra longwing butterfly has long, narrow wings. Its wings are black with light yellow zebra-like stripes. It has long black antennae.
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State Flower, Orange Blossom
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State Animal, Panther
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The blossom of the orange tree is one of the most fragrant flowers in Florida. Millions of these white flowers perfume the atmosphere throughout central and south Florida during orange blossom time. The orange blossom was selected as the state flower by the 1909 legislature.
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The animal known as a "panther" actually refers to 3 different types of big cats, leopards or jaguars panthers that have a black or white color mutation and a subspecies of the cougar (Puma concolor). The "black panther" is a black jaguar of the Americas or a black leopard of Asia and Africa.
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State Reptile, Alligator
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Florida State Marine Mammal, Manatee
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An Alligator's eyes are bigger than its stomach! More than one million alligators are in Florida, found mostly by water. The biggest threat to young alligators is old alligators. Old alligators eat almost 10% of the younger ones a year. If you go to Florida be careful by any body of water because you may be grabbed by an alligator.
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The manatee is called the sea cow too. The manatee was the state Marine Mammal in 1975.
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