A Visit to the Heraldic Zoo Trivia Quiz

Adopted in 1963, the coat of arms of Malaysia is based on those of the Federal Malay States (1895-1946) and the Federation of Malaya (1952-1963), which existed under British colonial rule. Those three designs had in common a shield supported by two tigers with a banner below it: the shield on the Federation of Malaya coat of arms, however, was designed to include a representation of the 11 states of the federation, as well as a yellow crescent and 11-pointed star as a crest. After Malaysia's independence in 1963, the design was modified several times to reflect the changes in the federation, which now includes 13 states and the Federal Territories of Malaysia. The motto on the banner means "Unity in Strength".

The two rampant tigers that support the shield are traditional Malayan symbols of strength and courage. The critically endangered Malayan tiger is also the country's national animal. Another animal appears in one of the sections in the lower middle of the shield: it is a rhinoceros hornbill, the state bird of Sarawak.

Chile's current coat of arms was originally adopted in 1834, 24 years after the country first declared its independence from Spain. Designed by English artist and military officer Charles Wood Taylor, it replaced Chile's first coat of arms, created in 1812. A blue and red shield with a white five-pointed star in the centre, with a three-feathered crest bearing the same colours (those that also appear on the country's national flag), is supported by two native animals - an Andean condor and a huemul (an endemic species of deer). Both animals wear golden naval crowns that refer to the deeds of the Chilean Navy during the War of Independence. The motto on the white band below the shield - meaning "For Reason or Force" - was added in 1920.

One of the largest of flying birds, the Andean condor is a powerful symbol for many South American countries: it also appears on the coats of arms of Ecuador, Colombia and Bolivia. The huemul, also known as South Andean deer, is an endangered species found in the mountains of Chile and Argentina.

Adopted in 1971, two years before the island country's independence from the UK, the coat of arms of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas pays homage to the islands' flora and fauna as well as its history. The elaborate design (by Bahamian artist Hervis Bain), with its vibrant shades of blue (azure), yellow (or) and rose, was also chosen for its appeal to tourists, on whose presence the economy of the Bahamas is heavily dependent. The shield is charged with the image of the Santa Maria, Christopher Columbus' flagship, sailing under a radiant sun; a crest of palm fronds surrounds a conch shell, a large mollusk representing the marine life of he islands. Two more animals support the shield: a blue marlin (a large fish related to the swordfish) and a flamingo. The motto at the base of the shield, "Forward, Upward, Onward Together", was produced by two 11-year-old schoolchildren as a result of a competition.

The Atlantic blue marlin (featured in Ernest Hemingway's novella "The Old Man and the Sea") is the national fish of the Bahamas, while the American (or Caribbean) flamingo is the Commonwealth's national bird.

The coat of arms of Namibia proudly displays the colours of the national flag, surrounded by some specimens of the country's native flora and fauna. Introduced in 1990, when Namibia finally achieved independence from South Africa, it replaced the coat of arms of South-West Africa - from which it took the Welwitschia plant (endemic to the Namib Desert) depicted on the mound below the shield. Supported by two gemsbok (a species of large antelope), the shield has another iconic animal as a crest - an African fish eagle, Namibia's national bird.

Also known as South African oryx, the gemsbok is endemic to the Namib and Kalahari Deserts, which take up a large portion of the Namibian territory. A close relative of the American bald eagle, the African fish eagle is found in most of sub-Saharan Africa: it is also the national bird of Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

The spectacular coat of arms of the Seychelles is a veritable feast for the eyes of nature lovers. Adopted in 1976, when the archipelago in the Indian Ocean became independent from the UK, it was granted by Royal Warrant of Queen Elizabeth II; the current version, with brighter colours, dates from 1996. The shield depicts a coco-de-mer palm tree and a giant tortoise (both endemic to the islands), with a seascape in the background. The crest is a white-tailed tropicbird flying above blue and white waves on top of a silver helmet. The shield is supported by two sailfish.

Tropicbirds are seabirds of the tropical oceans. Three subspecies of giant tortoise are found in the Seychelles, though they were once believed to be extinct. Known for its speed, the sailfish, a relative of the marlin and the swordfish, is native to the waters of the archipelago.

Jamaica's coat of arms is based on a design originally created by William Sanford, Archbishop of Canterbury, granted to the colony of Jamaica in 1661. The white shield bears a red cross with five pineapples; the crest shows a Jamaican crocodile standing on a log, mounted on the Royal Helmet of the British monarchy. The Jamaican coat of arms is also one of a number of national emblems that feature people - in this case a man and a woman of the native Taino people, each of whom supports the shield with one hand. These two figures were added in 1906; the design was changed twice more, in 1957 and 1962 - when the current version was adopted on the occasion of Jamaica's independence from the UK.

A population of the American crocodile, the Jamaican crocodile is the only crocodilian found in Jamaica, where it inhabits swamps and rivers. Its presence on the national coat of arms symbolizes the island country's rich natural heritage. Unfortunately, hunting and habitat destruction have greatly reduced these animals' numbers.

Adopted in 1956, four years before the country's independence, the coat of arms of Somalia is one of a number of national emblems that prominently feature the national flag. The gold-framed shield bears a five-pointed white star (representing Somalia's five regions) on a blue field. Two rampant leopards, standing on two crossed spears, support the shield. A traditional Somali motif, the leopard also appeared in the coat of arms of Italian Somaliland and the Somalia Governorate. The design of the coat of arms is enshrined in Article 6 of the Somalian Constitution of 2012.

Leopards are a symbol of leadership in many African cultures, and also appear on the coats of arms of Benin, Malawi, Gabon (as two black panthers) and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The Somalian leopard, which is the country's national animal, is smaller than other populations of this feline: it is threatened by poaching and habitat loss, and not as common as it once was.

Even with the country's name whited out, the Australian coat of arms is eminently recognizable - in particular because of the presence of two of Australia's most iconic animals. Officially named the Commonwealth Coat of Arms, it was adopted in its current version in 1912, authorized by King George V of the United Kingdom. The earlier design (1908) included the red kangaroo and the emu, as well as the seven-pointed gold Commonwealth Star, representing Australia's six states and one territory. The small shield containing the symbols of the six states is supported by the two animals, while a large wreath of the country's floral emblem, the golden wattle, is placed below the shield.

Although endemic to the country, and frequently identified with it, neither the red kangaroo (the largest marsupial) nor the emu (the third-largest living bird) have official status as Australia's national animals. Two more endemic animals (both birds) are featured on the shield: the black swan (the symbol of Western Australia) and the piping shrike (the symbol of South Australia).

Adopted in 1962, three weeks before the proclamation of independence, Uganda's striking coat of arms celebrates the East African's nation's rich natural and cultural heritage. The traditional African lentil-shaped shield bears three images that represent Lake Victoria (the waves), the country's sunny climate (the radiant sun), and dancing and community (the drum). Two crossed spears stand behind the shield, which is supported by an Ugandan kob (a species of antelope) and a crested crane, the country's national bird. The shield stands above a green mound with coffee and cotton plants - the country's two main agricultural crops - flanking the Nile River, whose headwaters are located in Ugandan territory.

The Ugandan kob is a subspecies of the kob found in wet areas of East and Central Africa. Along with the crested crane (a subspecies of the grey crowned crane), it represents Uganda's plentiful wildlife. The crested crane is Uganda's national bird, also depicted in the centre of the national flag.

Each of the elements in Botswana's coat of arms - adopted in 1966, when the Southern African nation became officially independent from the UK - symbolizes a different aspect of the country. The three cogwheels, three waves and bull's head on the traditional African lentil-shaped shield represent industry, water and cattle herding. The importance of water for the nation, whose territory is in large part covered by the Kalahari Desert, is further emphasized by the motto below the shield: in the Setswana language, "pula" (also the name of the country's currency) means "rain". The shield is supported by two zebras, one of which holds an elephant tusk (a symbol of the former ivory trade), while the other holds an ear of sorghum, a cereal that is a major crop in Botswana.

The plains zebra is Botswana's national animal - its black and white stripes symbolizing racial harmony. It is found mainly in the region of the Okavango Delta, in the north of the country. The presence of these animals, which are revered in many African cultures, on the Botswana coat of arms points to the major role of wildlife in the country's economy, which depends on tourism as much as on mining.