e-ReferenceDesk's College and 50 State Learning Resource Guide

Find Online Colleges

Find Campus Colleges

State Fish

Arkansas, Indiana, Kansas, and Ohio. Iowa has an un-official state fish. Other states have designated two Official State Fish, distinguishing them with labels such as Warm water, Coldwater, Saltwater or Marine, Sport, and Commercial.

Hawaii Symbols

Hawaii State Fish

Humuhumunukunukuapua`a - Hawaiian Trigger Fish

(Rhinecanthus rectangulus)

Adopted in 1985 (Unofficial)

In1984/85, the tiny, colorful fish with the long name - humuhumunukunuku apua'a - (Rhinecanthus rectangulus) was selected as the official State Fish of Hawai‘i after a popular vote and the approval of the State Legislature. It was selected after a high-profile campaign to educate the public about the kinds of fish that inhabit Hawaiian waters. The State Fish's official term of office lasted five years, and there was no re-election campaign. The reef triggerfish remains the "unofficial" State Fish of Hawai‘i.

Description of the Hawaii State Fish

The Wedge-tailed Triggerfish can be recognized by its coloration. It has a diagonal black band from the eye to the anal fin. There is a black wedge-shaped mark on the caudal peduncle. This is preceded by two yellow v-shaped marks (white in juveniles). There are black bands between the eyes and a blue bar across the upper lip.

It is a sturdily-built fish, reaching up to 10 inches in length, with small powerful jaws and sharp, cutting teeth. The reef trigger shares its long Hawaiian name with a close, but less common relative, the lagoon triggerfish

The reef triggerfish is generally found in shallow outer reef habitats, often on surge-swept basalt reefs. It swims close to the bottom, searching for potential food items. It feeds on algae and reef invertebrates, including small crustaceans, worms, brittle stars, sea urchins, and snails. The reef trigger is not easy to approach closely and tends to keep a distance from observers, but its distinctive behavior and appearance make it easy to watch from a distance.

Statute

Hawai`i Revised Statutes, Volume 1, Chapter 5, Section 5-11.5

Volume 1.
CHAPTER 5. EMBLEMS AND SYMBOLS.
SECTION 5-11.5

[§5-11.5] State fish. The humuhumunukunukuapua‘a (Rhinecanthus rectangulus), also known as the rectangular triggerfish, is established and designated as the official fish of the State. [L 2006, c 67, §2]

Taxonomic Hierarchy of the Humuhumunukunukuapua`a - Hawaiian Trigger Fish

Kingdom	Animalia -- animals
Phylum	Chordata -- chordates
Subphylum	Vertebrata -- vertebrates
Class	Osteichthyes
Order	Tetraodontiformes
Family	Balistidae
Genus	Rhinecanthus
Species	Rhinecanthus rectangulus

State Fishes

This is a list of official and *unofficial U.S. state fish: The only states lacking a state fish as of 2008 are Arkansas, Indiana, Kansas, and Ohio.

fish ('fish)
n. pl. fish or fish·es

1. Any of numerous cold-blooded aquatic vertebrates of the superclass Pisces, characteristically having fins, gills, and a streamlined body and including specifically:: a. Any of the class Osteichthyes, having a bony skeleton.
b. Any of the class Chondrichthyes, having a cartilaginous skeleton and including the sharks, rays, and skates.
2. The flesh of such animals used as food. 3. Any of various primitive aquatic vertebrates of the class Cyclostomata, lacking jaws and including the lampreys and hagfishes. 4. Any of various unrelated aquatic animals, such as a jellyfish, cuttlefish, or crayfish.