List of U.S. state shells

Last updated

This is a list of official state shells for those states of the United States that have chosen to select one as part of their state insignia. [1] In 1965, North Carolina was the first state to designate an official state shell, the Scotch bonnet. Since then, 14 other states have designated an official state shell.

Contents

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

StateShellImageYear designated
Alabama
Johnstone's junonia

Scaphella junonia ssp. johnstoneae
 Scaphella junonia.jpg 1990 [2]
Connecticut
Eastern oyster

Crassostrea virginica

Crassostrea virginica 01.jpg 1989
Delaware Channeled whelk

Busycotypus canaliculatus 		Thechanneledwhelkshell.png 2014 [3]
Florida Horse conch

Triplofusus papillosus 		Pleuroploca gigantea.jpg 1969 [4]
Georgia Knobbed whelk

Busycon carica 		Busycon carica.jpg 1987 [5]
Massachusetts New England Neptune

Neptunea lyrata ssp. decemcostata		 Neptunea lyrata shell.jpg 1987 [6]
Mississippi
Eastern oyster

Crassostrea virginica 		Crassostrea virginica 01.jpg 1974 [7]
New Jersey Knobbed whelk

Busycon carica ssp. gmelin		 Busycon carica.jpg 1995 [8]
New York Bay scallop

Argopecten irradians 		Argopecten irradians.jpg 1988 [9]
North Carolina Scotch bonnet

Semicassis granulata 		Semicassis Granulata Apertural.jpg 1965 [10]
Oregon Oregon hairy triton

Fusitriton oregonensis 		Fusitriton oregonensis 3.jpg 1989 [11]
Rhode Island Quahaug

Mercenaria mercenaria 		LittleNeck clams USDA96c1862.jpg 1987 [12]
South Carolina Lettered olive

Oliva sayana 		Lettered olive 0015.jpg 1984 [13]
Texas
Lightning whelk

Sinistrofulgur perversum ssp. pulleyi
 Sinistrofulgur perversum 01.jpg 1987 [14]
Virginia
Eastern oyster

Crassostrea virginica
Crassostrea virginica 01.jpg 1974 [15]

See also

Related Research Articles

U.S. states, districts, and territories have representative symbols that are recognized by their state legislatures, territorial legislatures, or tradition. Some, such as flags, seals, and birds have been created or chosen by all U.S. polities, while others, such as state crustaceans, state mushrooms, and state toys have been chosen by only a few.

References

  1. ↑ List of all state shells http://www.jaxshells.org/listing.htm
  2. ↑ "Alabama Shell". Alabama Emblems, Symbols and Honors. Alabama Department of Archives & History. 2001-07-12. Archived from the original on 2007-08-10. Retrieved 2007-03-20.
  3. ↑ "Chapter - Delaware General Assembly".
  4. ↑ "State Shell - Florida Department of State".
  5. ↑ "Government & Politics".
  6. ↑ "Massachusetts Facts Part One: Concise Facts". Secretary of the State of Massachusetts. Archived from the original on 2018-07-07. Retrieved 2020-07-17.
  7. ↑ "State Symbols". www.ms.gov. Archived from the original on 13 May 2017. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
  8. ↑ "Session Laws of New Jersey". 1995. hdl:10929/50436.
  9. ↑ "NYS Kids Room - State Symbols". www.dos.ny.gov. Archived from the original on 2012-02-07.
  10. ↑ "Official State Symbols of North Carolina". North Carolina State Library. State of North Carolina. Archived from the original on 2008-02-06. Retrieved 2008-01-26.
  11. ↑ "Chapter 186".
  12. ↑ "RIGOV".
  13. ↑ "South Carolina State House | South Carolina State Symbols".
  14. ↑ "Texas State Symbols - Texas State Library and Archives Commission | TSLAC".
  15. ↑ "§ 1-510. Official emblems and designations".
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