Science, Tech, Math › Science Official State Dinosaurs and Fossils Share Flipboard Email Print Daderot / Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain Science Geology Types Of Rocks Landforms and Geologic Features Plate Tectonics Chemistry Biology Physics Astronomy Weather & Climate By Andrew Alden Andrew Alden Geology Expert B.A., Earth Sciences, University of New Hampshire Andrew Alden is a geologist based in Oakland, California. He works as a research guide for the U.S. Geological Survey. Learn about our Editorial Process Updated on January 04, 2020 State fossils or state dinosaurs have been named by 42 of the 50 states. Maryland, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Wyoming have named one of each, while Kansas has named both an official marine and flying fossil. Three states (Georgia, Oregon, and Vermont) have fossils of now-extinct species. There is also the informally named but formally designated "Capitalsaurus" of Washington, D.C. The state fossils make a much more consistent list than the state rocks, state minerals, and state gemstones. Most are distinct creatures identified by species. On the other hand, some of the dinosaurs are honored as state fossils rather than state dinosaurs. Dinosaurs and Fossils by State The "Adoption Date" lists the date that these were adopted as state symbols. The link usually goes to the best existing material from the respective state government or educational institution. You can look up each of the geologic age terms in the geologic time scale. State Scientific Name Common Name (age) Adoption Date Alabama Basilosaurus cetoides Whale (Eocene) 1984 Alaska Mammuthus primigenius Mammoth (Pleistocene) 1986 Arizona Araucarioxylon arizonicum Petrified Wood (Triassic) 1988 California Smilodon californicus Saber-toothed cat (Quaternary) 1973 Colorado Stegosaurus Stegosaurus (Cretaceous) 1982 Connecticut Eubrontes giganteus Dinosaur Track (Jurassic) 1991 Deleware Belemnitalla americana Belemnite (Cretaceous) 1996 Georgia Shark tooth (Cenozoic) 1976 Idaho Equus simplicidens Hagerman horse (Pliocene) 1988 Illinois Tullimonstrum gregarium Tully Monster (Carboniferous) 1989 Kansas PteranodonTylosaurus Pterosaur (Cretaceous)Mosasaur (Cretaceous) 2014 2014 Kentucky Brachiopod (Paleozoic) 1986 Louisiana Palmoxylon Petrified Palm wood (Cretaceous) 1976 Maine Pertica quadrifaria Fern-like plant (Devonian) 1985 Maryland Astrodon johnstoni Ecphora gardnerae Sauropod dinosaur (Cretaceous)Gastropod (Miocene) 1998 1994 Massachusetts Dinosaur tracks (Triassic) 1980 Michigan Mammut americanum Mastadon (Pleistocene) 2002 Mississippi Basilosaurus cetoides Zygorhiza kochii Whale (Eocene)Whale (Eocene) 1981 1981 Missouri Delocrinus missouriensisHypsibema missouriense Crinoid (Carboniferous)Duck-billed dinosaur (Cretaceous) 1989 2004 Montana Maiasaura peeblesorum Duck-billed dinosaur (Cretaceous) 1985 Nebraska Archidiskodon imperator Mammoth (Pleistocene) 1967 Nevada Shonisaurus popularis Ichthyosaur (Triassic) 1977 New Jersey Hadrosaurus foulkii Duck-billed dinosaur (Cretaceous) 1991 New Mexico Coelophysis bauri Dinosaur (Triassic) 1981 New York Eurypterus remipes Sea scorpion (Silurian) 1984 North Carolina Carcharodon megalodon Megalodon (Cenozoic) 2013 North Dakota Teredo Petrified Wood (Cretaceous and Tertiary) 1967 Ohio Isotelus Trilobite (Ordovician) 1985 Oklahoma Saurophaganax maximus Acrocanthosaurus atokensis Theropod dinosaur (Jurassic)Theropod dinosaur (Cretaceous) 2000 2006 Oregon Metasequoia Dawn redwood (Cenozoic) 2005 Pennsylvania Phacops rana Trilobite (Devonian) 1988 South Carolina Mammuthus columbi Mammoth (Pleistocene) 2014 South Dakota Triceratops (Dinosaur) 1988 Tennessee Pterotrigonia thoracica Bivalve (Cretaceous) 1998 Texas Sauropod (Cretaceous) 2009 Utah Allosaurus Theropod dinosaur (Jurassic) 1988 Vermont Delphinapterus leucas Beluga whale (Pleistocene) 1993 Virginia Chesapecten jeffersonius Scallop (Neogene) 1993 Washington Mammuthus columbi Mammoth (Pleistocene) 1998 West Virginia Megalonyx jeffersoni Giant ground sloth (Pleistocene) 2008 Wisconsin Calymene celebra Trilobite (Paleozoic) 1985 Wyoming Knightia Triceratops Fish (Paleogene)(Cretaceous) 19871994 Cite this Article Format mla apa chicago Your Citation Alden, Andrew. "Official State Dinosaurs and Fossils." ThoughtCo, Feb. 16, 2021, thoughtco.com/official-state-fossils-and-dinosaurs-1441148. Alden, Andrew. (2021, February 16). Official State Dinosaurs and Fossils. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/official-state-fossils-and-dinosaurs-1441148 Alden, Andrew. "Official State Dinosaurs and Fossils." ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/official-state-fossils-and-dinosaurs-1441148 (accessed June 8, 2023). copy citation By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies