List of U.S. state fossils

List of U.S. State Fossils

The United States, with its vast diversity in geography and geological formations, is home to an extensive array of fossils that have been designated as state symbols. Each state has selected a fossil to represent its geological history, showcasing the rich paleontological heritage of the country. This article provides a comprehensive list of U.S. state fossils, highlighting the significance of these ancient remains in understanding Earth's past.

Overview

Fossils, the preserved remains or traces of animals, plants, and other organisms from the remote past, serve as a window into the Earth's geological and biological history. The process of fossilization is rare and requires specific conditions to occur. As such, fossils are invaluable to scientists in the fields of paleontology, geology, and evolutionary biology. The designation of state fossils is not only a nod to the scientific importance of these finds but also a means to foster public interest in natural history and conservation efforts.

List of U.S. State Fossils

Below is a list of fossils designated by each U.S. state as their official state fossil, along with the year of designation where available.

Alabama

Basilosaurus cetoides (1984) - An ancient whale that lived during the late Eocene epoch, approximately 40 to 34 million years ago.

Alaska

Woolly Mammoth (Mammuthus primigenius) (1986) - A species of mammoth that roamed across the northern part of North America during the Pleistocene epoch.

Arizona

Araucarioxylon arizonicum (1988) - Petrified wood from the Triassic period, showcasing the state's rich deposits of petrified wood.

Arkansas

Arkansaurus fridayi (2017) - A bipedal dinosaur from the Early Cretaceous period, it is the only dinosaur whose remains have been found in the state.

California

Smilodon californicus (1973) - The saber-toothed cat, a well-known predator from the Pleistocene epoch, found in the La Brea Tar Pits.

Colorado

Stegosaurus armatus (1982) - A dinosaur from the Late Jurassic period, known for its distinctive plates and spikes.

Connecticut

Eubrontes giganteus (1991) - A set of dinosaur footprints from the early Jurassic period, representing a large theropod dinosaur.

Delaware

Belemnite (Belemnitella americana) (1996) - An extinct group of marine cephalopods from the Cretaceous period.

Florida

Agatized Coral (Cnidaria) (1979) - Fossilized coral, showcasing Florida's ancient marine environments.

Georgia

Shark Tooth (Carcharodon megalodon) (1976) - The tooth of the Megalodon, a massive prehistoric shark that lived approximately 23 to 3.6 million years ago.

Hawaii

Hawaiian Cone Snail (Conus) (1991) - A fossil species of cone snail, representing Hawaii's rich marine past.

Idaho

Hagerman Horse Fossil (Equus simplicidens) (1988) - Known from the Hagerman Fossil Beds, this species is one of the earliest horses.

Illinois

Tully Monster (Tullimonstrum gregarium) (1989) - A peculiar marine creature from the Pennsylvanian period, unique to Illinois.

Indiana

Mastodon (Mammut americanum) (1973) - A prehistoric elephant-like mammal that lived in North America during the Pleistocene epoch.

Iowa

Crinoid (Crinoidea) (1989) - Marine animals that resemble a stemmed flower, from the Paleozoic era.

Kansas

Tylosaurus (Tylosaurus proriger) (2014) - A large mosasaur, a marine reptile from the Late Cretaceous period.

Kentucky

Brachiopod (Brachiopoda) (1986) - A group of marine invertebrates with a rich fossil record, particularly in Kentucky's Ordovician strata.

Louisiana

Petrified Palmwood (1976) - Fossilized remains of palm trees, indicative of Louisiana's ancient subtropical climate.

Maine

Pertica quadrifaria (1985) - A plant fossil from the Devonian period, representing Maine's ancient terrestrial ecosystems.

Maryland

Ecphora gardnerae gardnerae (1984) - A gastropod from the Miocene epoch, known for its distinctive shell.

Massachusetts

Dinosaur Tracks (1980) - Fossilized footprints from the Connecticut River Valley, attributed to a variety of Jurassic period dinosaurs.

Michigan

Mastodon (Mammut americanum) (2002) - Similar to Indiana's state fossil, highlighting the widespread presence of mastodons in prehistoric North America.

Minnesota

Giant Beaver (Castoroides ohioensis) (1988) - An extinct species of beaver that lived during the Pleistocene epoch.

Mississippi

Zygorhiza kochii (1981) - An ancient whale from the Eocene epoch, part of Mississippi's rich marine fossil record.

Missouri

Crinoid (Delocrinus missouriensis) (1989) - Similar to Iowa's state fossil, representing Missouri's abundant Paleozoic marine fossils.

Montana

Maiasaura peeblesorum (1985) - A duck-billed dinosaur from the Late Cretaceous period, known for evidence of parental care.

Nebraska

Mammoth (Mammuthus) (1967) - Representing the state's rich Pleistocene mammalian fossils, including several well-preserved mammoth specimens.

Nevada

Ichthyosaur (Shonisaurus popularis) (1977) - A giant marine reptile from the Triassic period, highlighting Nevada's ancient marine environments.

New Hampshire

Mastodon (Mammut americanum) (1981) - Another testament to the widespread distribution of mastodons in prehistoric North America.

New Jersey

Hadrosaurus foulkii (1991) - A duck-billed dinosaur from the Late Cretaceous period, significant for being one of the first nearly complete dinosaur skeletons to be studied.

New Mexico

Coelophysis (Coelophysis bauri) (1981) - A small, early dinosaur from the Late Triassic period, known from the Ghost Ranch fossil site.

New York

Eurypterus remipes (1984) - A type of sea scorpion from the Silurian period, representing New York's ancient marine ecosystems.

North Carolina

Megalodon Tooth (Carcharodon megalodon) (2013) - Similar to Georgia's state fossil, highlighting the Megalodon's significance in the state's paleontological record.

North Dakota

Teredo Petrified Wood (1967) - Fossilized wood that has been bored by teredo, or "shipworms," indicative of ancient waterlogged environments.

Ohio

Isotelus (Isotelus maximus) (1985) - A large trilobite from the Ordovician period, representing Ohio's rich marine fossil record.

Oklahoma

Saurophaganax maximus (2000) - A large carnivorous dinosaur from the Late Jurassic period, representing Oklahoma's dinosaur heritage.

Oregon

Metasequoia (Metasequoia glyptostroboides) (2005) - A type of dawn redwood, representing Oregon's ancient forests.

Pennsylvania

Trilobite (Phacops rana) (1988) - A marine arthropod from the Devonian period, emblematic of Pennsylvania's fossil-rich marine strata.

Rhode Island

Beluga Whale Skeleton (Delphinapterus leucas) (2001) - A testament to Rhode Island's marine history, representing a relatively recent addition to the fossil record.

South Carolina

Columbian Mammoth (Mammuthus columbi) (2014) - A species of mammoth that roamed North America during the Pleistocene epoch.

South Dakota

Triceratops (Triceratops horridus) (1988) - A well-known horned dinosaur from the Late Cretaceous period, found in various sites across the state.

Tennessee

Pterotrigonia (Scabrotrigonia) thoracica (1998) - A type of bivalve from the Cretaceous period, representing Tennessee's ancient marine environments.

Texas

Petrified Palmwood (1969) - Similar to Louisiana's state fossil, indicative of the region's ancient subtropical climate.

Utah

Allosaurus (Allosaurus fragilis) (1988) - A large carnivorous dinosaur from the Late Jurassic period, significant for its abundance in Utah's fossil record.

Vermont

Beluga Whale Skeleton (Delphinapterus leucas) (1993) - Similar to Rhode Island's state fossil, highlighting the recent geological history of the region.

Virginia

Chesapecten jeffersonius (1993) - A scallop from the Miocene epoch, representing Virginia's rich marine fossil record.

Washington

Columbian Mammoth (Mammuthus columbi) (1998) - Similar to South Carolina's state fossil, reflecting the widespread presence of mammoths in prehistoric North America.

West Virginia

Meganeura (2008) - A genus of extinct dragonflies from the Carboniferous period, representing the state's ancient swampy forests.

Wisconsin

Trilobite (Calymene celebra) (1985) - A well-preserved trilobite species, emblematic of Wisconsin's ancient marine environments.

Wyoming

Knightia (1987) - A genus of herring-like fish from the Eocene epoch, found in the Green River Formation, representing Wyoming's rich fossil lakes.

See Also

• Paleontology
• List of U.S. state minerals, rocks, stones and gemstones
• Geology of the United States