The state of Hawaii, United States, is a group of islands located in the Pacific Ocean. It has many official state animals, including a state land mammal, marine mammal, insect, bird, and fish. Respectively, these are the monk seal, humpback whale, Kamehameha butterfly, Hawaiian goose, and rectangular triggerfish.
As a state animal of Hawaii, the monk seal is found only on these islands. It is an endangered species, largely due to over-hunting and the destruction of its natural habitat. This state land mammal is mostly gray, but has white fur on its belly. It can grow anywhere from seven to eight feet (2.1 to 2.4 m) long and weigh between 300 and 600 pounds (140 to 280 kg) when fully mature.
The state animal of Hawaii in the marine mammal category is the humpback whale. This creature is an extremely large animal, weighing as much as 79,000 pounds (136,000 kg). The whale can also reach anywhere from 39 to 52 feet (12 to 16 m) in length. It has very long fins on the side and tail, a slightly pointed head, and rounded sides.
As the official insect, the Kamehameha butterfly is another state animal of Hawaii found exclusively in this region. This insect typically has multi-colored wings, and some of the more common colors are red, blue, green, and black. It often nests on the Koa tree, which is also native to Hawaii.
The list of state animals also includes the Hawaiian goose. Like other creatures with the state animal of Hawaii title, this bird is also exclusively found on these islands. It is characterized by large feet and a very long neck, although the bird is about average in height when compared to other species of goose. The feathers of this bird are white or light gray on the chest and head and dark brown or black on the wings and legs.
This state also recognizes an official fish, the rectangular triggerfish. One of the distinct features of this fish is the bold yellow and black stripes along the sides and back of its body. The nose of the fish is typically pointed and white in color. Most specimens reach around a foot (0.31 m) long when fully mature.
Hawaii is a state that has a diverse population of wildlife, and the list of state animals reflects this fact. Visitors to these islands can enjoy viewing a variety of marine and land mammals, insects, and birds that are virtually unknown to the rest of the world. This fact, along with the natural splendor of this region, make Hawaii a magnificent place for natives and tourists alike.
