State emblems
NSW has its own state flower, animal, bird, fish and gemstone.
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![Kookaburra](/sites/default/files/styles/card_s_x1/public/2020-02/Kookaburra.jpg?h=9ed8a27e&itok=HwGNpTo_)
Bird Emblem: Kookaburra
The Kookaburra (Dacelo gigas) is the bird emblem of NSW. This great brown kingfisher is sometimes called a 'laughing jackass' because of its distinctive territorial laughing call. Meat eaters, they hunt snakes, lizards, fish and insects and live at forest edges, in clearings.
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![Black Opal](/sites/default/files/styles/card_s_x1/public/2020-02/black%20opal_0.jpg?h=10d202d3&itok=UWr9BUBN)
Gemstone Emblem: Black Opal
The Black Opal was proclaimed the state gemstone of NSW in 2008. It is the most rare and valuable type of opal.
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![Waratah](/sites/default/files/styles/card_s_x1/public/2020-02/waratah.jpg?h=d44e57cc&itok=GL_PFBUD)
Floral Emblem: Waratah
The Waratah (Telopea speciosissima) is the floral emblem of NSW, a large (10-12cm across) and spectacular scarlet flower growing in the bush in clumps of tall stems. The Waratah is protected by law.
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![Eastern Blue Groper](/sites/default/files/styles/card_s_x1/public/2020-02/blue-groper.jpg?h=5cb99e3b&itok=EA2mWM3O)
Fish Emblem: Blue Groper
The Blue Groper (Achoerodus viridis) was proclaimed the state fish of NSW in 1998. A friendly but powerful coastal fish that often follows divers. It can be up to a metre long and weigh between 2 and 15kg, though some specimens may reach 40kg or more.
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![Platypus](/sites/default/files/styles/card_s_x1/public/2020-01/shutterstock-109281905.jpg?h=869de9e7&itok=4Ki5gOWQ)
Animal Emblem: Platypus
The Platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus), is the animal emblem of NSW. The platypus is a furry creature, about 30cm to 38cm long, it has webbed feet and a large duck-like bill which it uses to gather its food from the bottom of rivers.
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![Mandageria fairfaxi](/sites/default/files/styles/card_s_x1/public/2020-02/Mandageria-fairfaxi-web_0.jpg?h=10d202d3&itok=q0OGMF3Z)
Fossil Emblem: Mandageria fairfaxi
The 370 million year old fossil fish, Mandageria fairfaxi, is the NSW state fossil emblem. The fish was a large, air-breathing lobe-finned fish from the Canowindra Fish Bed in central NSW. The fossil is nicknamed Fred to honour Fred Fewings who recovered the fossil.