List of U.S. state shells
This is a list of official state shells for those States of the USA that have chosen to select one as part of their state insignia.[1]
These are seashells, the shells of various marine mollusks including both gastropod and bivalves. Each one was chosen to represent a maritime state, based on the fact that the species occurs in that state and was considered suitable to represent the state, either because of the species commercial importance as a local seafood item, or because of its beauty, rarity, exceptional size, or other features.
Table
State | Shell | Image | Year designated |
---|---|---|---|
Alabama | Johnstone's Junonia Scaphella junonia subspecies johnstoneae |
1990[2] | |
Connecticut | Eastern oyster Crassostrea virginica |
1989 | |
Florida | Horse Conch Pleuroploca gigantea |
1969 | |
Georgia | Knobbed Whelk Busycon carica |
1987 | |
Massachusetts | Wrinkled Whelk, New England Neptune Neptunea lyrata decemcostata |
1987 | |
Mississippi | Eastern oyster Crassostrea virginica |
1974 | |
New Jersey | Knobbed Whelk Busycon carica |
1995 | |
New York | Bay Scallop Argopecten irradians |
1988 | |
North Carolina | Scotch bonnet Semicassis granulata |
1965[3] | |
Oregon | Oregon Hairy Triton Fusitriton oregonensis |
1989 | |
Rhode Island | Northern Quahog Mercenaria mercenaria |
1987 | |
South Carolina | Lettered Olive Oliva sayana |
1984 | |
Texas | Prickly Whelk Busycon perversum subspecies pulleyi |
1989 | |
Virginia | Eastern oyster Crassostrea virginica |
1974 |
See also
References
- ^ List of all state shells http://www.jaxshells.org/listing.htm
- ^ "Alabama Shell". Alabama Emblems, Symbols and Honors. Alabama Department of Archives & History. 2001-07-12. Retrieved 2007-03-20.
- ^ "Official State Symbols of North Carolina". North Carolina State Library. State of North Carolina. Retrieved 2008-01-26.
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External links
- Media related to Mollusca of the United States at Wikimedia Commons