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State of Mississippi symbols

map of Missississpi

Quiz: Mississippi, like other states, has official symbols that represent our cultural heritage and natural resources. Challenge yourself with the items below- see how many official state symbols you can name.

(Place your cursor over an item for the answer.)


  • Answer Bird
    • northern mockingbird
      Northern mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos)
  • Answer Butterfly
    • spice swallowtail
      Spice Swallowtail (Papilio troilus linnaeus)
  • Answer Fish
    • largemouth bass
      Largemouth (Black) Bass (Micropterus salmoides)
  • Answer Flower and tree
    • magnolia
      Magnolia
  • Answer Fossil
    • prehistoric whale
      Prehistoric Whale (Zygorhiza kochii)
  • Answer Gemstone
    • mississippi opal
      Mississippi Opal
  • Answer Insect
    • bee
      Honeybee (Apis mellifera)
  • Answer Land mammal 1
    • white-tailed deer
      White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus)
  • Answer Land mammal 2
    • the red fox
      The Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes)
  • Answer Motto
    • "By valor and arms" ("Virtute et armis")
  • Answer Nicknames
    • "The Hospitality State," "The Magnolia State"
  • Answer Poem
    • "I Am Mississippi" (by Paul Ott)
Access poem on Youtube
  • Answer Reptile
    • american alligator
      American Alligator (Alligator mississippiensis)
  • Answer Shell
    • oyster shell
      Oyster shell (Crassostrea virginica)
  • Answer Song
    • "Go Mississippi" (by Houston Davis)
Access song on Youtube
  • Answer Water mammal
    • bottlenosed dolphin
      Bottlenosed Dolphin (Tursiops truncatus)
  • Answer Waterfowl
    • wood duck
      Wood Duck
      (Aix sponsa)
  • Answer Wildflower
    • tickseed plant
      Tickseed Plant (Coreopsis)

Fun fact: Did you know that the term "Mississippi" was derived from the word "Messipi"? "Messipi" is the French version for either the Ojibwe or Algonquin name for the "Misi-ziibi River" meaning "great river."


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