Facts About
Delaware - State Animals

There are a total of 3 state animals:

• State Bird
• State Fish
• State Marine Animal

His company took game chickens, that were said to be descendants of a famous Blue Hen, which was known for it's great fighting ability.

When Caldwell's company was not fighting with the enemy, they where pitting there Blue Hen chickens in cockfights.

The fame of these cockfights ended up spreading throughout the army. The men from Delaware ended up being compared to these fighting Blue Hens because they fought so valiantly in battle.

The Blue Hen chicken was made Delaware's official state bird on April 14, 1939.

State Fish
The weakfish is the official state fish. It is also known as sea trout, gray trout, tide runner, yellow mouth, yellow fin trout, and squeteaque is the state fish.

This fish was recognize due in part of it being fished for in sport fishing and economic contributions to the state as a game and food fish. This is why it ended up being made a part of facts about Delaware.

State Legislature made the weakfish the official state fish in 1981.

State Marine Animal
The horseshoe crab is recognized for having great value and importance in the medical community.

They contain a compound called limulus amebocyte lysate (LAL). This compound is used to detect bacterial poisons in medical devices, certain medications, and vaccines.

A natural polymer is also found in the horseshoe crab's shell, which is called Chitin. This natural polymer, Chitin, is used to make bandages.

Due to the horseshoe crab eye structure, it is used in vision studies because it eye is similar to the human eye.

And it is also the principal food source for shore birds. Delaware Bay has more horseshoe crabs than any other place in the world.

On June 25, 2002, the horseshoe crab was made Delaware's official marine animal.