Editing Geography of Alabama (section)

==Flora and fauna==

The fauna and flora of Alabama are similar to those of the Gulf states in general and have no distinctive characteristics. However, the [[Mobile River]] system has a high incidence of endemism among freshwater mollusks and biodiversity is high.

In Alabama, vast forests of [[pine]] constitute the largest proportion of the state's forest growth. There is also an abundance of [[Taxodium|cypress]], [[hickory]], [[oak]], [[populus]], and [[juniperus virginiana|eastern redcedar]] trees. In other areas, [[conium|hemlock]] growths in the north and [[chamaecyparis thyoides|southern white cedar]] in the southwest. Other native trees include [[ash tree|ash]], [[celtis|hackberry]], and [[holly]]. In the Gulf region of the state grow various species of [[Arecaceae|palmetto]] and [[arecaceae|palm]]. In Alabama there are more than 150 [[shrub]]s, including [[kalmia latifolia|mountain laurel]] and [[rhododendron]]. Among cultivated plants are [[wisteria]] and [[camellia]].

While in the past the state enjoyed a variety of mammals such as [[plains bison]], [[eastern elk]], [[North American cougar]], [[bear]], and [[deer]], only the [[white-tailed deer]] remains abundant. Still fairly common are the  [[bobcat]], [[American beaver]], [[muskrat]], [[raccoon]], [[Virginia opossum]], [[rabbit]], [[squirrel]], [[red fox|red]] and [[gray fox]]es, and [[long-tailed weasel]]. [[Coypu]] and [[nine-banded armadillo]] have been introduced to the state and now also common.

Alabama's birds include [[golden eagle|golden]] and [[bald eagle]]s, [[osprey]] and other [[hawk]]s, [[northern flicker|yellow-shafted flickers]], and [[black-and-white warbler]]s. Game birds include [[bobwhite quail]], [[duck]], [[wild turkey]], and [[goose]]. Freshwater fish such as [[bream]], [[shad]], [[bass (fish)|bass]], and [[Catostomidae|sucker]] are common. Along the Gulf Coast there are seasonal runs of [[tarpon]], [[pompano]], [[red drum]], and [[bonito]].<ref name = "gale">{{Citation
 | editor-last = Gall
 | editor-first = Timothy L.
 | title = Worldmark Encyclopedia of the States
 | page = 2
 | isbn = 0-7876-7338-2
 | publisher = Thomson Gale
 | edition = 6
 | year = 2004
 | oclc = 53464095
}}</ref>

The [[United States Fish and Wildlife Service|U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service]] lists as [[endangered species|endangered]] 99 animals, fish, and birds, and 18 plant species.<ref>{{Citation
 | last = U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
 | title = Threatened & Endangered Species System: Alabama
 | access-date = 2008-07-27
 | url = http://ecos.fws.gov/tess_public//pub/stateListing.jsp?state=AL&status=listed
}}</ref> The endangered animals include the [[Alabama beach mouse]], [[gray bat]], [[Alabama red-bellied turtle]], [[fin whale|fin]] and [[humpback whale]]s, [[bald eagle]], and [[wood stork]].

[[American black bear]], [[racking horse]], yellow-shafted flicker, wild turkey, [[Atlantic tarpon]], [[largemouth bass]], southern [[longleaf pine]], [[eastern tiger swallowtail]], [[monarch butterfly]], Alabama red-bellied turtle, [[Red Hills salamander]], camellia, [[Hydrangea quercifolia|oak-leaf hydrangea]], [[peach]], [[pecan]], and [[blackberry]] are Alabama's [[List of Alabama state symbols|state symbol]]s.