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Nevada is home to a vast array of native flora and fauna. This article details those the State of Nevada has designated as symbols of Nevada.
The State of Nevada has designated the following animals as state symbols:
animal: desert bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis nelsoni)
bird: mountain bluebird (Sialia currucoides)
fish: Lahontan cutthroat trout (Oncoryhnchus henshawi)
fossil: ichthyosaur (Shonisaurus popularis), extinct
insect: vivid dancer damselfly (Argia vivida)
reptile: desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii)
The state has also selected the following plants as state symbols:
flower: sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata or trifida)
grass: Indian ricegrass (Eriocoma hymenoides)
trees: single-leaf piñón (Pinus monophylla) and bristlecone pine (Pinus longaeva)
Flag of the State of Nevada, the Silver State.
Desert bighorn sheep. Photo by Neal Herbert/NPS.
Desert Bighorn Sheep
The desert bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis nelsoni) is a subspecies of bighorn sheep native to desert regions of American Southwest and northwestern Mexico. They can be found across much of Nevada, typically in steep, rocky areas near water sources.
Desert big horn sheep are similar in size to mule deer, with mature rams typically weighing less than 200 pounds Ewes are typically a bit smaller. Both rams and ewes grow horns but only the rams develop the iconic heavy horns that curl back. Desert big horn sheep typically live about 8 years.
They are agile climbers with keen eyesight, allowing them to escape most predators. Lambs can fall prey to a wide number of predators, such as coyotes and eagles while adults are typically only successfully hunted by mountain lions.
Desert bighorn sheep are herbivores, mostly forging on grass when it is available. They can go without drinking for extended periods of time.
The desert bighorn sheep was designated in 1973 as the State Animal of Nevada.
Mountain Bluebird
Mountain bluebirds (Sialia currucoides) are small migratory birds found in mountainous areas of western North America. While mountain bluebirds are year-long residents in some parts of Nevada, they typically migrate south for the winter. Mountain bluebirds were designated in 1967 as the State Bird of Nevada.
Adult males are a turquoise-blue, with darker tones on the head and back and lighter tones on the chest and belly. They have black eyes and thin bill. Adult females are more grey in color overall with dull bull wings. They leave 6 to 10 years. They are omnivores, eating insects and small fruit.
Mountain bluebirds are related to western bluebirds which can also be found in Nevada. Western bluebirds have a distinctive orange chest whereas mountain birds do not. Both the mountain and western bluebirds are a species of North American thrush.
Mountain bluebird. USFWS photo.
Lahontan cutthroat trout. USFWS photo.
Lahontan Cutthroat Trout
The Lahontan cutthroat trout (Oncoryhnchus henshawi) is one of four species of cutthroat trout. It is native to the ancient Lake Lahontan basin in northern Nevada. eastern California, and southeastern Oregon. Like other trout, they are a cold water species. There are six subspecies of Lahontan cutthroat trout: the Alvord (extinct), the Humboldt, the Paiute, the Quinn, the Willow-Whitehorse and the type subspecies itself, the Lahontan cutthroat trout (O. h. henshawi).
The type subspecies is native to Carson, Truckee, and Walker river drainages. The lake-form variant found in Pyramid Lake are the largest cutthroat trout in the world.
The Lahontan cutthroat trout is listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. It was designated in 1981 as the State Fish of Nevada.
For more information about the Lahontan cutthroat trout, see our article on the species.
Ichthyosaur
Ichthyosaurs were huge marine reptiles that thrived during much of Mesozoic era. Dozens of fossil specimens of Shonisaurus popularis subspecies have been found in the Luning Formation near the ghost town of Berlin, Nevada. The Berlin-Ichthyosaur State Park protects and displays dozens of specimens in its Fossil House. Shonisaurus popularis, while not the largest of all Ichthyosaurs, could grow to nearly 50 feet in length and weight over thirty tons. Shonisaurus means lizard of the Shoshone Mountains.
The ichthyosaur was designated in 1977 as the State Fossil of Nevada. In 1989, the designation was amended to be specifically the fossils of Shonisaurus popularis.
Shonisaurus popularis. A model of the Nevada state fossil. Photo by Kenneth Carpenter, cropped, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Vivid dancer damselfly. Photo by Judy Gallagher, CC by 2.0.
Vivid Dancer Damselfly
The vivid dancer damselfly (Argia vivida) is a species of narrow-winged damselfly native to North America as well as Central America. They are commonly found near still waters, such as ponds, and slow moving portions of stream. They can be found across all of Nevada.
The vivid dancer damselfly is an aquatic insect. They are carnivores. The larvae feeding on smaller aquatic insects such as mosquito larvae. The adults feed mostly on small soft-bodied flying insects, such as mayflies and fly ants.
The vivid dancer damselfly was designated in 2009 as the State Insect of Nevada.
Desert Tortoise
The desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii) is a species of tortoise native to the American southwest and northwestern Mexico. In Nevada, they can be found in eastern portions of the Mojave Desert in southern part of the state. The desert tortoise was designated in 1989 as the State Reptile of Nevada.
All desert tortoises are protected under federal law. When found in the wild, they should be left alone. The Mojave population of desert tortoises are listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act.
Desert tortoise. USFWS photo.
Sagebrush. Photo by Stan Shebs.
Sagebrush
The woody scrub known as sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata or trifida), also known as big sagebrush or Great Basin sagebrush, was designated in 1959 as the State Flower of Nevada. Two crossed sprays of sagebrush forming a half wreath appear on the Nevada state flag. Nevada is sometimes referred to as the Sagebrush State.
Sagebrush is native to western North America, growing in arid and semi-arid regions. Sagebrush can be found across the state of Nevada.
Sagebrush provides food and shelter for many animal species. Sagebrush was used by native Americans for medicinal and other purposes.
Indian Ricegrass
Indian ricegrass (Eriocoma hymenoides, also Achnatherum hymenoides) is a perennial bunchgrass native to western portions of North America. It is also known as Indian millet or simply sandgrass. It can be found across Nevada, often growing along side sagebrush and pinyon pine trees, two other symbols of Nevada.
Indian ricegrass is a food stable of many grazing animals, including the desert bighorn sheep.
Each branch ends in a single fruit containing a single seed. Native Americans would harvest these seeds and use them as a food source.
Indian ricegrass was designated in 1977 as the State Grass of Nevada.
Indian ricegrass. USDA photo.
Single-leaf pinyon. NPS photo.
Single-leaf Piñón
The single-leaf piñón (Pinus monophylla), a pine tree of pinyon pine group, is native to the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico. It can be found across the state of Nevada. Piñón is alternatively spelled piñon, pinon, or pinyon.
The single-leaf piñón was designated in 1953 as the State Tree of Nevada.
Great Basin Bristlecone Pine
The Great Basin bristlecone pine (Pinus longaeva) is a long living species of bristlecone pine. Some living specimens are believed to be over 5000 years old.
This tree is native to Great Basin Province. They can be found at high elevations in mountainous regions across much of Nevada, from the Ruby Mountains in Elko County down to Spring Mountains in Clark County.
The Great Basin bristlecone pine was designated in 1987 as one of two State Trees of Nevada.
Bristlecone pine. NPS photo.
This article was authored by Kurt Zeilenga.
Suggestions on how to improve this article may be sent to Kurt@TroutAdventures.org.
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