Did you know that almost every State in The United States of America has an official state fossil or dinosaur? It’s true.
Just like every state has an official state bird (Missouri’s is a Cardinal), or state flower (Texas’ is the Bluebonnet), or even a state food (Georgia’s is the peach), or state fish (Michigan’s is the Brook trout), every state also has a state dinosaur.
More specifically, a state ‘fossil.’ Some state fossils are not dinosaurs but prehistoric trees, or fish, or stone.
Actually, not every state as a state fossil either. But there’re only 6 States in the US that do not have a state dinosaur / fossil. Those are Hawaii, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island.
Sorry.
Would you like to know your state dinosaur or fossil? Below is a handy list of all the US state fossils. Enjoy.
What is the Alabama State Fossil
Fossil: Primitive Whale (Basilosaurus cetoides)
Age: Eocene
Designated in: 1984
Basilosaurus is the official state fossil of Alabama. Sometimes called “King Lizard.” In the early days, Basilosaurus was classified as a reptile but today we classify it as a whale. The Basilosaurus grew between 60 to 70 feet long. Almost everything we know about the Basilosaurus is based on the fossils which have been found in Alabama. Interestingly, the first Basilosaurus was found in Louisiana. In the Eighteenth Century, Basilosaurus fossils were often used as furniture or foundation posts under homes. Basilosaurus also happens to be the state fossil of Mississippi.
What is the Alaska State Fossil
Fossil: Woolly Mammoth (Mammuthus primigenius)
Age: Pleistocene
Designated in: 1986
The Woolly Mammoth is one of the most popular animals of the Ice Age. And, of course, he’s the main character in all of the movies called Ice Age. Recent Studies have shown that these wooly mammoths may have lived less than 5600 years ago in Alaska. Alaska does have many mammoth fossils. They also have a lot of mammoth poop. That’s right I said ‘poop.’ There is a specific kind of fungus that grows on the Woolly Mammoth poop. Analyzing that fungus allows them to calculate the age of the Wooly Mammoth’s survival in Alaska. Which they commonly say is 5600 years ago. I think it’s kind of interesting that there is also a yarn and fiber store in Anchorage, Alaska called… guess what it’s called? ‘Woolly Mammoth.’ That’s funny. Get it. “Woolly…” They sell yarn. That’s clever!
What is the Arizona State Fossil
Fossil: Petrified Wood (Araucarioxylon arizonicum)
Age: Triassic
Designated in: 1988
Arizona’s state fossil is a petrified Conifer tree. It is believed that during the Triassic Period Arizona was a massive forest. You can still see tons of these petrified trees in The Petrified Forest National Park in Arizon. These particular trees could get up to 200 feet tall.
What is the Arkansas State Fossil
Fossil: Arkansaurus fridayi
Age: Early Cretaceous
Designated in: 2017
The Arkansaurus is Arkansas’s official state fossil as of 2017. It is a theropod dinosaur which lived in the early Cretaceous Period. The Arkansaurus was founded by Joe Friday in 1972 in Lockesburg Arkansas. Mr. Friday said he noticed some vultures circling above his land. He went to check it out, thinking it might be one of his cows. He immediately saw these fossil bones sticking out of some gravel in a ditch. It was a high school student named Mason Cypress Oury Who convinced Arkansas legislator to designate the Arkansas race as the official state dinosaur fossil.
What is the California State Fossil
Fossil: Saber-Toothed Cat (Smilodon californicus)
Age: Pleistocene
Designated in: 1974
California has chosen the Saber-Toothed Cat as its official state fossil and it’s official state dinosaur. The Saber-Toothed Cat was very popular in California over 40 million years ago. There have been many Saber-Toothed Cat fossil bones found in Rancho La Brea in Los Angeles.
What is the Colorado State Fossil
Fossil: Stegosaurus (Stegosaurus stenops)
Age: Jurassic
Designated in: 1972
The stegosaurus is Colorado’s official state fossil. The plated dinosaur’s name means ‘armored roof lizard.’ The first Stegosaurus was found in Morrison, Colorado. It was a fourth-grade class who pushed to get the state to designate the Stegosaurus as their official state fossil. There is a Stegosaurus on display at the Museum of Natural History in Denver Colorado. This particular skeleton was actually found by a teacher and students from Canyon City High School.
What is the Connecticut State Fossil
Fossil: Dilophosaurus and Dino Tracks (Eubrontes giganteus)
Age: Jurassic
Designated in: 2017 & 1991
Connecticut first designated a three-toed dinosaur track as its official state fossil in 1991. These tracks are often found in the Sandstone of the Connecticut Valley. In July of 2017 Connecticut also adopted the Dilophosaurus as it’s state dinosaur. The Dilophosaurus was a theropod that roamed around Connecticut during the Jurassic era. It is believed that the dinosaur tracks were made by the Dilophosaurus or something closely related to a Dilophosaurus.
What is the Delaware State Fossil
Fossil: Cephalopod (Belemnitella americana)
Age: Cretaceous
Designated in: 1996
The Belemnitella Americana is an ancestor of the squid. It is a part of the Cephalopod class. Delaware has many mollusk fossils like the chambered Nautilus, squids, octopi, and ammonites.
What is the Florida State Fossil
Fossil: Agatized Coral (Anthozoa)
Age: Eocene
Designated in: 1979 (Designated State Stone)
Florida’s state fossil is actually a stone. technically they do not have a state fossil. But I guess this Coral Stone counts. AG eyes Coral is a prehistoric Coral. The State of Florida was covered in an ocean over 35 million years ago, when it was part of the Continental Shelf. This Coral is actually the outside skeleton of small ocean animals called polyps.
What is the Georgia State Fossil
Fossil: Fossilized Shark Tooth
Age: Cretaceous through Miocene
Designated in: 1976
The shark tooth, or more specifically the ‘fossilized shark tooth,’ is Georgia’s official state fossil. Many of these fossilized shark teeth are found in the coastal plains of Georgia. Some of these teeth date back as far as 375 million years ago. Of course, one of the largest fossilized shark teeth found in Georgia is from the famous Megalodon.
What is the Hawaii State Fossil
Fossil: No state fossil… yet…
What is the Idaho State Fossil
Fossil: Hagerman Horse (Equus simplicidens)
Age: Pliocene
Designated in: 1988
The Hagerman horse is a single-toed horse closely related to our modern day horses and perhaps even more closely related to Zebras. The name ‘Hagerman’ comes from the name of the town Hagerman, Idaho. A rancher in Hagerman found the Equus simplicidens fossils in 1928. You can visit the Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument in Idaho to see fossils and more.
What is the Illinois State Fossil
Fossil: Tully Monster (Tullimonstrum gregarium)
Age: Pennsylvanian
Designated in: 1989
The Tully monster is a marine animal that has no shell no backboard bone and a soft body. That lived of course in the ocean. Sort of looks like a worm. But it had a long snout on one end with a jar having 8 tiny teeth. During the Pennsylvanian. Illinois is believed to of been a dense swamp filled with primitive plants. The Tully monster is named after Francis Tully who found the fossil in 1950s. Of course the Tully monster is not much of a monster but just call the monster because it’s extraordinary and different.
What is the Indiana State Fossil
Fossil: None, yet… they have proposed crinoid (Elegantocrinus hemisphaericus)
What is the Iowa State Fossil
Fossil: No state fossil.
What is the Kansas State Fossil
Fossil: Pteranodon (flying reptile) & Tylosaurus (marine reptile)
Age: Cretaceous
Designated in: 2014
Kansas actually has two official state fossils. The first is the Tylosaurus, a swimming reptile that lived in the oceans, believed to have covered all of Kansas 85 million years ago. The second is the pteranodon which of course flew over the ocean. It is interesting to note that neither the train at on or the Tyler Sauris is a dinosaur. Technically. The tile store is Groot up to 45 feet long and it was a top predator. One of our most complete fossil of Tylosaurus was found in the chalk beds of Kansas.
What is the Kentucky State Fossil
Fossil: Brachiopod
Age: Paleozoic
Designated in: 1986
The brachiopod is Kentucky’s state fossil. These are actually shells or fossil shells from animals that lived in the ancient oceans. They resemble clams but they are a completely different kind of animal. Hundreds of various kinds of brachiopods have been found in Kentucky.
What is the Louisiana State Fossil
Fossil: Petrified Palmwood (Palmoxylon sp.)
Age: Oligocene
Designated in: 1976
Louisiana’s state fossil is petrified Palmwood. Once upon a time, Louisiana was a lush tropical forest. Hundreds of Palmwood trees fell into the mud and eventually turned into petrified rocks. Most rock collectors love petrified Palmwood because of its unique variety of colors and designs.
What is Maine’s State Fossil
Fossil: Fossil Plant (Pertica quadrifaria)
Age: Devonian
Designated in: 1985
Fossils of an ancient plant called Pertica quadrifaria were found in the rocks of the Trout Valley Formation located in Baxter State Park, Maine. It is believed that this plant grew in a marshy area near an active volcano. Which means… there must have been an active volcano in Maine almost 400 million years ago.
What is Maryland’s State Fossil
Fossil: Gastropod (Ecphora gardnerae gardnerae)
Age: Miocene
Designated in: 1994
Ecphora gardnerae gardnerae Is an extinct snail also called a gastropod. There are many places where tourists can go and try to find these fossils in Maryland. I wonder if these ancient animals made a good chowder.
What is the Massachusetts State Fossil
Fossil: Undetermined Dinosaur Tracks
Age: Triassic
Designated in: 1980
In Massachusetts, there are many places where fossils of dinosaur tracks have been found. For this reason, the state has adopted the overall concept of dinosaur tracks as their state fossil. One of the earliest fossils found was in 1802 by a farmer named plenty Moody. When plowing his field, he happened upon a rock with fossil tracks embedded in it. Typical Connecticut dinosaurs include Eubrontes, Grallator, and Anchisaurus.
What is the Michigan State Fossil
Fossil: Mastodon (Mammut americanum), Petoskey Stone (rugose coral, Hexagonaria percarinata)
Age: Pliocene – Pleistocene & Devonian
Designated in: 2002 & 1965
Michigan can boast over 250 different locations were Mastodon fossils have been found. In 2002 Michigan adopted the Mastodon as their official state fossil.
What is the Minnesota State Fossil
Fossil: No state fossil.
What is the Mississippi State Fossil
Fossil: Primitive Whales (Basilosaurus cetoides and Zygorhiza kochii)
Age: Eocene
Designated in: 1981
The Basilosaurus is Mississippi State fossil. You might remember from above, it is also Alabama’s state fossil. The Basilosaurus is a prehistoric whale sometimes called “King Lizard.” The Basilosaurus have been found throughout a belt spanning from Louisiana into Mississippi and Alabama. the first fossil was found in 1832 on the Ouachita River.
What is the Missouri State Fossil
Fossil: Crinoid (Delocrinus missouriensis)
Dinosaur: Duck-Billed Dinosaur (Hypsibema missouriense)
Age: Pennsylvanian
Designated in: 1989 & 2004
The Crinoid Is Missouri’s state fossil. It is sometimes called “Sea Lily.” The Crinoid was an ocean animal related to the starfish and the sand dollar. There are about six hundred different species of the crinoids still alive in the ocean today. It became Missouri’s official state fossil in 1989 after a group of students from Lee’s Summit pushed the state to recognize the Crinoid as Missouri’s official fossil. Delocrinus missouriensis, or the Crinoid, Live during the Pennsylvanian. About 300 million years ago. At that time, Missouri was completely underwater. The flower-like structures that extend from the crinoids, making it look like a plant, are actually filters designed to collect Plankton from the water.
What is the Montana State Fossil
Fossil: Duck-Billed Dinosaur (Maiasaura peeblesorum)
Age: Cretaceous
Designated in: 1985
The Duck-Billed Dinosaur was designated as Montana’s official state fossil in 1985. Again, it was students who ultimately made this happen. A sixth-grade teacher named Helen Petersen, at Livingston Middle School lead her students to push Montana to designate the Duck-Billed Dinosaur as its official fossil. “Maiasaura” means “good mother lizard.” Many of our fossils of this dinosaur have been found next to nests, eggshells, and hatchlings.
What is the Nebraska State Fossil
Fossil: Woolly Mammoth (Mammuthus primigenius)
Age: Pleistocene
Designated in: 1967
Many Mammoth fossils can be found throughout Nebraska. For instance, one mammoth fossil was found in Lincoln County which happens to be one of the largest Mammoth fossils in the world. It is displayed at the University of Nebraska State Museum, Lincoln.
What is the New Hampshire State Fossil
Fossil: None, yet… they have proposed Mastodon.
What is the Nevada State Fossil
Fossil: Ichthyosaur (Shonisaurus sp.)
Age: Triassic
Designated in: 1977
The only state in the US that has a total and complete fossil skeleton of the Ichthyosaur is the state of Nevada. For this reason, they have made it their official state fossil. The fossil is about 55 ft long. It was found in Berlin Nevada.
What is the New Jersey State Fossil
Fossil: Duck-Billed Dinosaur (Hadrosaurus foulkii)
Age: Cretaceous
Designated in: 1991 (State Dinosaur)
The duck-billed dinosaur was found in New Jersey in 1858 by a man named William Parker Foulke. He was vacationing in Haddonfield and hired a crew of diggers to pursue a legend of gigantic bones.
What is the New Mexico State Fossil
Fossil: Coelophysis Dinosaur (Coelophysis bauri)
Age: Triassic
Designated in: 1981
New Mexico’s state fossil is a Coelophysis (pronounced: “see-low-FYS-iss”) The first fossil was found in New Mexico in 1881. The word Coelophysis literally means “hollow form.” It is named as such because of its hollow bones. Coelophysis grew to about 9 feet long and only three feet high.
What is the New York State Fossil
Fossil: Sea Scorpion (Eurypterus remipes)
Age: Silurian
Designated in: 1984
Eurypterus remipes is an ancient sea scorpion that lived over 400 million years ago. There are only a few places in the world where these “sea scorpions” can be found and New York is one state where these fossils are quite common.
What is the North Carolina State Fossil
Fossil: Megalodon Teeth (Carcharodon megalodon)
Age: Miocene
Designated in: 2013
Apparently, you can find Megalodon teeth off the beaches of North Carolina. They designated these Megalodon tooth fossils as their official state fossil in 2013. The Megalodon was a shark that lived over a million years ago. It grew to roughly 40 feet long and weighed over a hundred tons. These fossilized teeth can be found reaching up to 7 inches long. I want to go to North Carolina and find a Megalodon tooth. But I do not want to find a Megalodon.
What is the North Dakota State Fossil
Fossil: Teredo Petrified Wood
Age: Paleocene
Designated in: 1967
Teredo petrified wood is named after a prehistoric worm-shaped mollusk of the same name: Teredo. The wood is called Teredo because of the “worming” holes in the original wood caused by the prehistoric animal. Rock collectors love the Teredo Petrified Wood because of the awesome designs and patterns created by the Teredo.
What is the Ohio State Fossil
Fossil: Trilobite (Isotelus)
Age: Ordovician
Designated in: 1985
You can find trilobites in Ohio, which has a fair amount of Paleozoic rocks. One of the largest trilobites was found in 1985 in Ohio.
What is the Oklahoma State Dinosaur
Fossil: Acrocanthosaurus atokensis
Age: Cretaceous
Designated in: 2006
The name Acrocanthosaurus means “high-spined lizard.” The Acrocanthosaurus was a fierce theropod that existed in North America, and apparently in Oklahoma. Acrocanthosaurus What’s similar to T-Rex but much older. He was one of the largest theropods, coming in at 38 feet long and weighing over 6 tons. Evidence of the Acrocanthosaurus was found in Atoka County in the 1940s.
What is the Oregon State Fossil
Fossil: Plant – Dawn Redwood (Metasequoia)
Age: Miocene
Designated in: 2005
Oregon’s State fossil is of an ancient redwood tree called a Dawn Redwood or metasequoia. The metasequoia grew very lavishly in North America and evidence can be found in the fossil record and in rocks around Oregon. One of the fascinating things about the Dawn Redwood is that we have actually found living metasequoia in remote areas of China. It is still alive today.
What is the Pennsylvania State Fossil
Fossil: Trilobite (Phacops rana rana)
Age: Devonian
Designated in: 1988
Pennsylvania has chosen the Trilobite as it’s state fossil. In 1988, an Elementary School science class petitioned the state to choose the Trilobite for its state fossil. boringThe Trilobite can roll up into a ball, much like a pill bug.
What is the South Carolina State Fossil
Fossil: Columbian Mammoth (Mammuthus columbi)
Age: Pleistocene
Designated in: 2014
The Columbian Mammoth (also called The Jefferson Mammoth) was declared the official state fossil of South Carolina at the request of an 8 year old student named Olivia McConnell. She wrote a letter expressing that South Carolina did not have a state fossil and recommended the Columbian Mammoth because it was found in 1725 by slaves on a South Carolina Plantation.
“On a philosophical level: proclaiming a state fossil in a state where there is still intense debate over teaching evolution as fact creates some problems.”
To get around this, here is how they worded the declaration in 2014:
Section 1-1-712A. The Columbian Mammoth, which was created on the Sixth Day with the other beasts of the field, is designated as the official State Fossil of South Carolina and must be officially referred to as the ‘Columbian Mammoth’, which was created on the Sixth Day with the other beasts of the field.
What is the South Dakota State Fossil
Fossil: Triceratops Dinosaur (Triceratops horridus)
Age: Cretaceous
Designated in: 1988
The fossil of a Triceratops was found in Harding County, South Dakota in 1927. 60 years later the Triceratops was designated as South Dakota’s official state fossil. You can now see the Triceratops, which was found in 1927, at the Museum of Geology in Rapid City, South Dakota.
What is the Rhode Island State Fossil
Fossil: No state fossil.
What is the Tennessee State Fossil
Fossil: Bivalve Mollusc (Pterotrigonia thoracica)
Age: Cretaceous
Designated in: 1998
The Pterotrigonia Nicknamed, “Ptero,” is the official state fossil of Tennessee. The Ptero was a small creature that lived on the bottom of the ocean floor, which of course covered Tennessee over 70 million years ago. People from Tennessee can recognize these fossil shells almost anywhere.
What is the Texas State Fossil
Fossil: Sauropod Dinosaur (Paluxysaurus jonesi) & Petrified Palm Wood (Palmoxylon sp)
Age: Cretaceous & Oligocene
Designated in: 2009 (State Dinosaur) & 1969 (State Stone)
A Brachiosaur sauropod named Paluxysaurus is the official state dinosaur of the Lone Star State, Texas. Paleontologist have found bones and footprints throughout Texas that were left over a hundred million years ago. The Paluxysaurus was named after the town it was found in – Paluxy, near the Paluxy River in Hood County, Texas.
What is the Utah State Fossil
Fossil: Allosaurus Theropod (Allosaurus fragilis)
Age: Jurassic
Designated in: 1988
The mighty Allosaurus is the official state fossil of Utah. Evidence of the Allosaurus have been found living in Utah, Montana, New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming, and Oklahoma – to name a few. Apparently, the Allosaurus was one of the most common carnivores IN North America during the Jurassic Period. The Allosaurus could reach lengths of 40 ft long and weighed 2 tons and probably hunted in packs.
What is the Vermont State Fossil
Fossil: Whale (Delphinapterus leucas) & Mount Holly mammoth tooth and tusk
Age: Pleistocene
Designated in: 1993 (State terrestrial fossil) & 2014 (State marine fossil)
The state of Vermont has designated the Delphinapterus (also commonly called: Beluga Whale) as it’s state “marine fossil.” Vermont is the only state in the US who’s fossil is actually still alive today. Why did they name the Beluga as a state fossil? Because there is evidence that the Beluga or “White Whale” lived 1200 years ago (in the Pleistocene age) in the oceans that were over Vermont.
What is the Virginia State Fossil
Fossil: Bivalve Scallop (Chesapecten jeffersonius)
Age: Pliocene
Designated in: 1993
Virginia is for Lovers.. and their state fossil is a beautiful fossilized shell, from an organism called a bivalve scallop, or Chesapecten jeffersonius. Lovers and collectors can walk the beach and look for these shells. A bivalve scallop is called a ‘bivalve’ because it has 2 shells or valves. These organisms include modern-day oysters, clams, and scallops.
What is the Washington State Fossil
Fossil: Columbian Mammoth (Mammuthus columbi) & Petrified Wood
Age: Pleistocene & Miocene
Designated in: 1998 & 1975
In 1998, Washington designated the Columbian Mammoth as their official state fossil. Again, it was students from an elementary school (Windsor Elementary School) that pushed for it’s official designation. Their work took 4-years to get Washington to make the declaration.
What is the West Virginia State Fossil
Fossil: Giant Ground Sloth (Megalonyx jeffersonnii)
Age: Pleistocene
Designated in: 2008
Virginia may be for lovers, but West Virginia is known for sloths. At least that’s what their official state fossil is. The giant ground sloth of the pleistocene era. This giant ground sloth is called Megalonyx jeffersonnii, because President Thomas Jefferson received these fossil bones that were found in a limestone cave in 1797.
What is the Wisconsin State Fossil
Fossil: Trilobite (Calymene celebra)
Age: Silurian
Designated in: 1986
Wisconsin’s state fossil is the trilobite.
What is the Wyoming State Fossil
Fossil: Dinosaur (Triceratops)
Age: Cretaceous
Designated in: 1994
Triceratops is the official state dinosaur of Wyoming. The Triceratops lived and roamed in Wyoming 65 million years ago. In 2013, three of these giant vegetarians were found together by a Wyoming Rancher.
