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Twenty-six U.S. states have named an official state reptile. As with other state symbols, states show their pride within the designating statutes by comparing admirable behaviors of the animal to their citizens. They also note historical use or economic benefits from the creature, and discuss how widespread the animal is in the state or how it needs preservation. Schoolchildren often start campaigns promoting their favorite reptile to encourage state legislators to enact it as a state symbol. Many Secretaries of State maintain educational web pages that describe the state reptile.

Oklahoma, was the first state to name an official reptile, the collared lizard, in 1969. Only two states followed in the 1970s, but the ensuing decades saw nominations at a rate of almost one per year. Prior to their formal designation as state reptiles, Florida's alligator, Maryland's terrapin, and Texas's horned lizard were all mascots of a major in-state university. State birds are more common, with all fifty states naming one, and they were adopted earlier, with the first one selected in 1927.

Because of their cold-blooded nature, reptiles are more common in warmer climates, and nineteen of the twenty-six state reptiles represent southern states. Six states chose a species named after the state. A turtle was chosen by more than half of the states. In all, the most frequently chosen species, with four states naming it, is the painted turtle. One state reptile, the Alabama red-bellied turtle is legally designated as an endangered species in the United States, but several others, all turtles, have some level of threatenedness.

Governmental aspects

Legislation

A reptile becomes the official state symbol after it is voted in by the state legislature. Although many states require the bill to be signed by the governor, in some the enabling act is a resolution (legislature vote only). In 2004 Illinois held a popular vote to pick the painted turtle, but legislation was still required in 2005 to make the choice official.

Schoolchildren often start the campaigns for state reptiles. Three of the four states choosing the painted turtle credit school classes with initiating the process. The process may require students to be knowledgeable of their selection, as was the case in Florida when students advocated for the loggerhead turtle: "Working with State Representative Curtis Richardson (D-Tallahassee), the students provided information and answered questions regarding the symbols." In New York, students statewide voted to pick one of four turtles; the common snapping turtle edged the painted turtle 5,048 to 5,005. Assemblyman Joel Miller had sponsored the turtle election to interest students in politics and said of the results, "as with every election, every vote is important".

Candidate state reptiles are not assured of making it through the legislative process. In Minnesota, 1998 and 1999 bills proposed the Blanding's turtle unsuccessfully. In Pennsylvania in 2009, the House passed an eastern box turtle bill which died in the Senate without a vote. Virginia proponents of the eastern box turtle have seen 1999 and 2009 bids fail. For the most recent try, a legislative opponent of the turtle said it was too cowardly for the state because of its defensive shell and suggested the rattlesnake would be a better representative. The turtle also drew scorn for often dying on roads, but its most serious problem was a too-close association with bordering state, North Carolina.

Justification

"Whereas, the painted turtle is a hard worker and can withstand cold temperatures like the citizens of Vermont, and

Whereas, the colors of the painted turtle represent the beauty of our state in autumn, and

Whereas, the painted turtle is one of the most common turtles in Vermont, and

Whereas, the painted turtle adds to the diversity of Vermont's habitat..."

A state reptile, like other state symbols, is intended to show state pride. The designation has no economic or wildlife protection effect. States justify their choice of state reptiles, with varying rationales, in designating legislation and on websites:

• North Carolina selected the eastern box turtle because its behavior reflects admirable human ideals: "The turtle watches undisturbed as countless generations of faster 'hares' run by to quick oblivion, and is thus a model of patience for mankind, and a symbol of our State’s unrelenting pursuit of great and lofty goals."
• Maryland notes its historical associations with the diamondback terrapin: "Chesapeake colonists ate terrapin prepared Native-American fashion, roasted whole in live coals. Abundant and easy to catch, terrapin were so ample that landowners often fed their slaves and indentured servants a staple diet of terrapin meat. Later, in the 19th century, the turtle was appreciated as gourmet food, especially in a stew laced with cream and sherry."
• Ohio touts the presence and practical benefits of its reptile: "The black racer snake was adopted because it is native to all 88 Ohio counties and is called the 'farmer's friend' because it eats disease-carrying rodents."
• Texas stresses the conservation needs of the Texas horned lizard: "It is perhaps most appropriate for designation as an official state symbol because, like many other things truly Texan, it is a threatened species."

Use

The state reptile concept serves education. Some states offer lesson plans using the reptile for teachers to introduce children to the legislative process, discuss state geography, or develop state patriotism. Many Secretaries of State have a "kids page" describing the reptile. Some, such as Missouri's Robin Carnahan, tout state-provided coloring books.

Trends

Geography

Perhaps owing to the greater presence of cold-blooded (ectothermic) reptiles in warmer climates, the states in the southern half of the United States have more commonly designated a state reptile. From the twenty-four of the contiguous states roughly south of the Mason–Dixon line, only five lack a state reptile. From east to west, they are Delaware, Virginia, Kentucky, Arkansas, and Utah.

In contrast, in the north half of the central and western states, only one, Wyoming, has named a state reptile. In the Great Lakes region, there is a cluster of three states (Illinois, Michigan, and Ohio) that named a reptile. In the Northeast, there is another cluster of three participating states (Massachusetts, New York, and Vermont).

Neither of the noncontiguous states, Alaska and Hawaii, have named a state reptile. The District of Columbia lacks a "state" reptile although it does have an official tree and flower (its only animal symbol is a bird). None of the organized territories of the United States have state reptiles, although all four have designated official flowers.

Six states chose reptiles named after the state. Arizona and Texas were represented in common names: Arizona ridge-nosed rattlesnake and Texas horned lizard. Mississippi and North Carolina appeared in scientific names: Alligator mississippiensis and Terrapene carolina carolina. Alabama and New Mexico appeared in both common names (Alabama red-bellied turtle and New Mexico whiptail lizard) and scientific names (Pseudemys alabamensis and Cnemidophorus neomexicanus).

History

In 1969 Oklahoma designated the first state reptile when it chose the collared lizard. Two states followed suit in the 1970s, seven states in the 1980s, eight states in the 1990s, and eight states in the 2000s. As of January, 2011, twenty-six of the fifty states have named a state reptile; none has yet been named in the 2010s.

Three states chose reptiles that were already prominently associated with a major university in the state.

Florida honored the American alligator in 1987, but the Gators have titled the University of Florida's teams since 1911. In that year, a printer made a spur-of-the-moment decision to print an alligator emblem on a shipment of the schools football pennants; the mascot stuck, perhaps because the team captain's nickname was Gator.

Maryland honored the diamondback terrapin in 1994, but the mascot of Maryland's main state university in College Park has been the Terrapins or "Terps" since 1932. In that year, the football coach, who had encountered the animal as a boy near the Chesapeake Bay proposed it as a mascot to oppose the Wildcats, Tigers, and such of enemy teams.

Texas honored the Texas horned lizard in 1993, but private Texas Christian University has had the associated mascot the Horned Frog since 1896. According to legend, the football team identifed with the lizards found on the practice field as the athletes and reptiles were similarly scrappy. The college founder's son, Addison Clark Jr., a faculty member and the initiator of the football team, had been fascinated by the creatures. By 1897, the lizard appeared as a logo on the front of the school yearbook, which Clark had also started and was managing.

Biology

In terms of common divisions of reptiles, turtles are most popular. Fifteen of the twenty-six states give them official status. The rest of the state reptiles comprise four snakes, four lizards, and three crocodilians. Seventeen states name a reptile at the species level, three a genus, and seven a subspecies.

The species most frequently adopted as a state reptile is the painted turtle, with four states designating it: Colorado (the western subspecies), Illinois, Michigan, and Vermont. Three southern states—Florida, Louisiana, and Mississippi—represent themselves with the American alligator. A species of box turtle, Terrapene carolina, has been chosen by three states, with North Carolina and Tennessee using the Terrapene carolina carolina (eastern box turtle) subspecies, and with Missouri using the Terrapene carolina triungus (three-toed box turtle) subspecies. Two bordering western states, California and Nevada, chose the desert tortoise. The loggerhead sea turtle was named by South Carolina as state reptile, while Florida chose it as state saltwater reptile. Florida also named an official tortoise, the gopher tortoise, the same animal as Georgia's state reptile.

Four genera ('genuses') are represented with different species in the list. Terrapene (box turtles) has Terrapene ornata (Kansas) along with Terrapene carolina (Missouri, North Carolina, and Tennessee). Under Gopherus (gopher tortoises), there are Gopherus polyphemus (Georgia's state reptile and Florida's state tortoise) and Gopherus agassizii (California and Nevada). Under Crotalus (one of two rattlesnake genera), Arizona named Crotalus willardi willardi, while West Virginia chose Crotalus horridus. With Phrynosoma (horned lizards), Wyoming specified the entire genus, but Texas specified Phrynosoma cornutum.

Comparison to other state symbols

In contrast to state reptiles, state birds have been more rapidly adopted, with the first state designating one in 1927 and the fiftieth in 1973. As of January 2011, other types of animals more popular for state symbolization were mammals (46), fish (45), and insects (42). Animal symbols less popular than reptiles were butterflies (17), amphibians (17), dogs (11), dinosaurs (5), bats (3), and crustaceans (3).

In their almanac of U.S. state symbols, Benjamin and Barbara Shearer spend comparatively little text on state reptiles. They spend a full chapter each on state birds, trees, and flowers; within those chapters, they take about a half page to describe the campaign to establish each state's specific symbol. Reptiles, on the other hand, are shown only in list format in a chapter titled "Miscellaneous", where the other non-bird animals (and many non-animals) are listed. Shearer and Shearer consider the state reptiles to be part of a "last thirty years" phenomenon (written in 2003) that includes such particular items as a state's "official beverage".

State reptiles

State	State reptile	Scientific name	Year adopted	Conservation status	Photograph	References
Alabama	Alabama red-bellied turtle	Pseudemys alabamensis	1990	Endangered
Arizona	Arizona ridge-nosed rattlesnake	Crotalus willardi subspecies willardi	1986	Least concern
California	Desert tortoise	Gopherus agassizii	1972	Vulnerable
Colorado	Western painted turtle	Chrysemys picta subspecies belli	2008	Least concern
Florida	American alligator (state reptile)	Alligator mississippiensis	1987	Least concern
Florida	Loggerhead sea turtle (state saltwater reptile)	Caretta caretta	2008	Endangered
Florida	Gopher tortoise (state tortoise)	Gopherus polyphemus	2008	Vulnerable
Georgia	Gopher tortoise	Gopherus polyphemus	1989	Vulnerable
Illinois	Painted turtle	Chrysemys picta	2005	Least concern
Kansas	Ornate box turtle	Terrapene ornata	1986	Near threatened
Louisiana	American alligator	Alligator mississippiensis	1983	Least concern
Maryland	Diamondback terrapin	Malaclemys terrapin	1994	Near threatened
Massachusetts	Garter snake	Thamnophis (whole genus)	2006	Least concern	A garter snake lying on a large gray rock with its head raised.
Michigan	Painted turtle	Chrysemys picta	1995	Least concern
Mississippi	American alligator	Alligator mississippiensis	2005	Least concern
Missouri	Three-toed box turtle	Terrapene carolina subspecies triunguis	2007	Near threatened
Nevada	Desert tortoise	Gopherus agassizii	1989	Vulnerable
New Mexico	New Mexico whiptail lizard	Cnemidophorus neomexicanus	2003	Least concern
New York	Common snapping turtle	Chelydra serpentina	2006	Least concern
North Carolina	Eastern box turtle	Terrapene carolina subspecies carolina	1979	Near threatened
Ohio	Black racer	Coluber constrictor subspecies constrictor	1995	Least concern
Oklahoma	Collared lizard	Crotaphytus (whole genus)	1969	Least concern
South Carolina	Loggerhead sea turtle	Caretta caretta	1988	Endangered
Tennessee	Eastern box turtle	Terrapene carolina subspecies carolina	1995	Near threatened
Texas	Texas horned lizard	Phrynosoma cornutum	1993	Least concern
Vermont	Painted turtle	Chrysemys picta	1994	Least concern
West Virginia	Timber rattlesnake	Crotalus horridus	2008	Least concern
Wyoming	Horned lizard	Phrynosoma (whole genus)	1993	Least concern

References

Notes

1. The line does not perfectly separate north and south states because some states extend across it. For example, Missouri generally considered southern has territory above the line, and Illinois, generally considered northern, has territory below it.
2. The nineteen southern or southwestern states with state reptiles were Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and West Virginia.
3. ^ Excluding Florida's state saltwater reptile and official tortoise from the tally.
4. The school newspaper was already named the Diamondback.
5. Alabama, California, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, Nevada, New York, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Vermont.
6. Arizona, Massachusetts, Ohio, and West Virginia.
7. New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, and Wyoming.
8. Florida, Louisiana, and Mississippi.
9. Formal taxonomy of reptiles combines lizards and snakes into one order, Squamata, and adds Tuataras (lizard-like creatures from New Zealand, not found in the United States) as an order of reptiles, along with turtles and crocodilians.
10. Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, South Carolina, Texas, Vermont, and West Virginia.
11. Massachusetts, Oklahoma, and Wyoming.
12. Arizona, Colorado, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, and Tennessee.
13. Florida gives a more specialized saltwater reptile, in addition to its state reptile. For comparison, see marine mammals in "List of U.S. state mammals".

Citations

1. ^ "State symbols". Illinois.gov. Retrieved December 15, 2010.
2. ^ Samuel, David (November 8, 2009). "What are our state animals?". Morgantown Dominion Post. Retrieved December 21, 2010.
3. ^ "Joint resolution relating to the designation of the painted turtle as the state reptile (J.R.S. 57)". Vermont Legislature. 1994. Retrieved December 15, 2010.
4. ^ "Colorado State Archives symbols & emblems". colorado.gov. State of Colorado. Retrieved January 23, 2011.
5. ^ "Michigan's state symbols" (PDF). Michigan History. 100. 2002-05. {{cite journal}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
6. Abellera, Bonnie. "Loggerhead sea turtle is a new state symbol". FWC. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commisson. Archived from the original on March 06, 2011. Retrieved March 6, 2011. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |archivedate= (help)
7. "The voting is over: students nominate common snapping turtle as official state reptile". Assemblyman Joel M. Miller. April 26, 2006. Retrieved February 25, 2011.
8. "Minnesota state symbols—unofficial, proposed, or facetious". Minnesota State Legislature. Retrieved February 25, 2011.
9. "Regular session 2009–2010: House bill 621". Pennsylvania State Legislature. Retrieved February 25, 2011.
10. "SB 1504 Eastern box turtle; designating as official state reptile". Virginia State Legislature. 2009. Retrieved February 25, 2011.
11. Associated Press (February 20, 2009). "Virginia House crushes box turtle's bid to be state reptile". NBC Washington. Retrieved February 25, 2011.
12. ^ Shearer 1994, p. 309
13. "Eastern box turtle—North Carolina state reptiles". North Carolina Department of the Secretary of State. Retrieved February 13, 2011.
14. "State symbols: Maryland state symbol—diamondback terrapin". msa.md.gov. Maryland State Archives. Retrieved February 13, 2011.
15. "Ohio's state symbols". Ohio Governor's Residence and Heritage Garden. Retrieved February 13, 2011.
16. "H.C.R. No. 141". Texas State Legislature. May 27, 1993. Retrieved February 25, 2011.
17. "Illinois state smbols lesson plan: state symbols review" (PDF). Illinois state symbols and their history. Illinois State Museum. Retrieved March 4, 2011.
18. Long, Jennifer. "Alabama patriotic symbols". Lesson plans. Alabama Learning Exchange. Retrieved March 4, 2011.
19. "The living state symbols of Arizona" (PDF). Arizona Game and Fish Department. Retrieved March 4, 2011.
20. "North Carolina state symbols". State of North Carolina kids page. North Carolina Secretary of State's Office. Retrieved February 25, 2011.
21. "New York state symbols". NYS kids room. New York Department of State. Retrieved February 25, 2011.
22. "Missouri kids!". Missouri Secretary of State's Office. Retrieved February 25, 2011.
23. "They stand for us. Symbols of Missouri. A resource book for Missouri students" (PDF). Missouri kids!. Missouri Secretary of State's Office. Retrieved February 25, 2011.
24. Smith, Hobart M.; Brodie, Edmund (1982). Reptiles of North America: a guide to field identification. New York: St. Martin's Press. p. 6. ISBN 978-1582381237. In North America, reptiles are most abundant in the warmer southern regions.
25. ^ Shearer 2003, pp. 225–248 harvnb error: multiple targets (2×): CITEREFShearer2003 (help) Cite error: The named reference "Shearer225–248" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
26. ^ "Official Alabama reptile". Alabama emblems, symbols and honors. Alabama Department of Archives & History. July 12, 2001. Retrieved March 19, 2007.
27. ^ Shearer 1994, p. 310
28. ^ Shearer 1994, p. 311
29. ^ Shearer 1994, p. 312
30. ^ Shearer 1994, p. 313
31. ^ Shearer 1994, p. 314
32. ^ Shearer 1994, p. 315
33. ^ Shearer 1994, p. 316
34. ^ "Maryland state reptile—diamondback terrapin". Maryland manual on-line: a guide to Maryland government. Maryland State Archives. March 8, 2010. Retrieved January 21, 2011.
35. ^ "SB 2069 history of actions". Mississippi Legislature. 2005. Retrieved January 21, 2011. The American Alligator to be designated as the Mississippi State Reptile; provide...02/21 Approved by Governor
36. ^ "State symbols of Missouri: state reptile". Missouri Secretary of State Robin Carnihan. Retrieved January 21, 2011.
37. ^ Shearer 1994, p. 316
38. ^ "Chapter VIII. New Mexico state animals" (PDF). New Mexico Envirothon. Retrieved January 22, 2011.
39. ^ Shearer 1994, p. 321
40. ^ Shearer 1994, p. 322
41. ^ Shearer 1994, p. 323
42. ^ "Tennessee symbols and honor" (PDF). Tennessee Blue Book: 526. Retrieved January 22, 2011.
43. ^ "Texas state symbols". About Texas. Texas State Library and Archives Commission. Retrieved January 22, 2011.
44. ^ "Senate concurrent resolution 28 (bill status 2008 regular session)". West Virginia Legislature. Retrieved February 22, 2011.
45. ^ "State symbols". Wyoming Secretary of State's Office. 2011. Retrieved January 22, 2011.
46. ^ "5.031 State reptile". LAWriter: Ohio Laws and Rles. Lawriter LLC. 2008. Retrieved January 22, 2011.
47. ^ "New York state information". New York State Library. 2011. Retrieved February 25, 2011.
48. ^ "Citizen information service: state symbols". Massachusetts State (Secretary of the Commonwealth). Retrieved January 21, 2011. The Garter Snake became the official reptile of the Commonwealth on January 3, 2007.
49. "Official symbols of the District of Columbia". District of Columbia Government. Retrieved February 4, 2011.
50. Shearer 2003, pp. 245–246 harvnb error: multiple targets (2×): CITEREFShearer2003 (help)
51. "State trees and state flowers". usna.usda.gov. The United States National Arboretum. Retrieved February 4, 2011.
52. "Details about Guam". ns.gov.gu. Retrieved February 4, 2011.
53. "Social and economic indicators". Guam's facts and figures at a glance. Bureau of Statistics and Plans: Office of the Governor. 2005. Retrieved February 4, 2011.
54. "History: 1906–1927, early Gainesville". University of Florida. Retrieved February 13, 2011.
55. ^ "Testudo: Tale of the Top Shell". CBSSports.com. Retrieved March 09, 2011. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
56. Nancy, Bartosek. "Frog of ages". The TCU Magazine. Texas Christian University. Retrieved February 13, 2011.
57. ^ "State symbols/Fla. cracker horse/loggerhead turtle (SB 230)". Florida House of Representatives. 2008. Retrieved March 06, 2011. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
58. ^ "Florida legislation that passed and that failed". St. Petersburg Times. May 04, 2008. Retrieved March 06, 2011. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help)
59. ^ "15.03861. Official state tortoise. History.—s. 2, ch. 2008-34 (hist" (scroll down). 2010 Florida statutes (chapter 15). Florida State Legislature. Retrieved March 06, 2011. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
60. Klauber, Laurence Monroe (1972). Rattlesnakes: their habits, life histories, and influence on mankind, volume 1. Berkeley: University of California Press. pp. 12–13. ISBN 9780520017757.
61. Shearer 1994, p. 167
62. "Official state mammals". netstate.com. NSTATE, LLC. Archived from the original on March 08, 2008. Retrieved February 13, 2011. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |archivedate= (help)
63. "Official state fish". netstate.com. NSTATE, LLC. Archived from the original on March 08, 2008. Retrieved February 13, 2011. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |archivedate= (help)
64. ^ "Official state insects". netstate.com. NSTATE, LLC. Archived from the original on March 08, 2008. Retrieved February 13, 2011. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |archivedate= (help)
65. "Official state amphibians". netstate.com. NSTATE, LLC. Archived from the original on March 08, 2008. Retrieved February 13, 2011. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |archivedate= (help)
66. "Official state dogs". netstate.com. NSTATE, LLC. Archived from the original on March 08, 2008. Retrieved March 6, 2011. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |archivedate= (help)
67. "Official state dinosaurs". netstate.com. NSTATE, LLC. Archived from the original on March 08, 2008. Retrieved February 13, 2011. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |archivedate= (help)
68. "Official state bats". netstate.com. NSTATE, LLC. Archived from the original on March 08, 2008. Retrieved February 13, 2011. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |archivedate= (help)
69. "Louisiana facts". Other services. Louisiana Secretary of State. Retrieved March 06, 2011. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
70. "Maryland state crustacean: blue crab". Maryland state symbols: state symbols. Maryland state archives. Retrieved March 06, 2011. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
71. "House bills: HJR 37" (scroll down). Oregon State Legislature. 2009. Retrieved March 06, 2011. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
72. Shearer 2003, pp. 97–146 harvnb error: multiple targets (2×): CITEREFShearer2003 (help)
73. "Pseudemys alabamensis". The IUCN red list of threatened species. International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources. Retrieved March 10, 2011.
74. "Crotalus willardi". The IUCN red list of threatened species. International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources. Retrieved March 10, 2011.
75. ^ "Gopherus agassizii". The IUCN red list of threatened species. International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources. Retrieved March 10, 2011.
76. ^ Rhodin et al. 2010, p. 000.99.
77. ^ "Alligator mississippiensis". The IUCN red list of threatened species. International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources. Retrieved March 10, 2011.
78. ^ "Caretta caretta". The IUCN red list of threatened species. International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources. Retrieved March 10, 2011.
79. ^ "Gopherus polyphemus". The IUCN red list of threatened species. International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources. Retrieved March 10, 2011.
80. "2009-73-1901 Kansas Code patriotic emblems, state reptile, designation". Justia. Retrieved February 11, 2011.
81. "Terrapene ornata". The IUCN red list of threatened species. International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources. Retrieved March 10, 2011.
82. "Malaclemys terrapin". The IUCN red list of threatened species. International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources. Retrieved March 10, 2011.
83. "Thamnophis siralis". The IUCN red list of threatened species. International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources. Retrieved March 10, 2011.
84. ^ "Terrapene carolina". The IUCN red list of threatened species. International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources. Retrieved March 10, 2011.
85. "Cnemidophorus neomexicanus". The IUCN red list of threatened species. International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources. Retrieved March 10, 2011.
86. Rhodin et al. 2010, p. 000.92.
87. "Official state symbols of North Carolina". North Carolina State Library. State of North Carolina. Retrieved January 26, 2008.
88. "Coluber constrictor". The IUCN red list of threatened species. International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources. Retrieved March 10, 2011.
89. "Crotaphytus collaris". The IUCN red list of threatened species. International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources. Retrieved March 10, 2011.
90. "Phrynosoma cornutum". The IUCN red list of threatened species. International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources. Retrieved March 10, 2011.
91. "Crotalus horridus". The IUCN red list of threatened species. International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources. Retrieved March 10, 2011.
92. "Phrynosoma hernandesi". The IUCN red list of threatened species. International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources. Retrieved March 11, 2011.

Bibliography

• Rhodin, Anders G.J.; van Dijk, Peter Paul; Inverson, John B.; Shaffer, H. Bradley (2010-12-14). "Turtles of the world, 2010 update: Annotated checklist of taxonomy, synonymy, distribution and conservation status". Chelonian Research Monographs. 5: 000.89 – 000.138. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2010-12-15.

• Shearer, Benjamin F.; Shearer, Barbara S. (1994). State names, seals, flags, and symbols (2nd ed.). Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood Publishing Group. ISBN 0-313-28862-3.

• Shearer, Benjamin F. (2003). State names, seals, flags, and symbols (3rd ed.). Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood Publishing Group. ISBN 978-0313315343. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)

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• United States state insignia
• Reptiles
• Turtles