What's the Mexican seal?

Answer 1

The Mexican seal represents an eagle sitting on a cactus (nopal) fighting with (eating) a snake. It is said that the migrating tribe of the Mexicas encountered these animals in such a situation and decided this was a sign of the Gods and on that spot founded their capital Tenochtitlan.

Answer 2

I've listed a number of sources below with probably more information about the seal than you will ever need. I'll quote from SEP, Department of Education (Mexico), below.

"Its design is based on the symbol used by the Mexicas to discover the land where they would found Tenochtitlan. Legend has it that they traveled from Aztlán, present-day Nayarit, in search of a sign from Huitzilopochtli to tell them where to settle and establish their empire.

"This symbol was an "eagle perched upon a nopal, devouring a serpent". After a long journey, they finally found it in the Valley of Mexico, on an island near the edge of Lake Anáhuac.

"The national coat-of-arms therefore reproduces the sign given to the Aztecs by Huitzilopochtli: the left profile of the eagle standing on its left leg upon a nopal; in its right talon and beak it holds a rattle snake, which represented the renovation of life to the ancient Mexicas.

"If you look closely, you will see that the island is bordered by a ribbon with colored bands: green represents hope and victory, white symbolizes the purity of our ideals, and red if for the blood our national heroes shed. On the island, there is a nopal with red fruit or tunas, which for the Aztecs, symbolized human hearts.

"If we look further down, we will see a garland (an open crown of branches or flowers); the left side bears oak branches symbolizing strength, while the right side is decorated with the laurel branches of victory."

Answer 3

Albert Heger got it right

Answer 4

I think it's a mammal that lives in the Sewer system.