In the race for national animal, birds and mammals are way ahead, but don’t write off reptiles. Reptiles are surprisingly popular as symbols of the 50 U.S. states, and there are a few national reptiles as well.
Let’s take a brief tour of reptiles of state.
National Reptiles ˆ
U.S. State Reptiles ˆ
Every species listed below was designated the official reptile unless specified otherwise in the “Designation” column..
| List of State Reptiles | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| State | Species | Designation | |
| Alabama | Alabama red bellied turtle (Pseudemys alabamensis) | 1990 | |
| Arizona | ridge nosed rattlesnake (Crotalus willardi) | 1986 | |
| California | California desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii) | 1972 | |
| Pacific leatherback sea turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) | Marine Reptile | 2012 | |
| Colorado | western painted turtle (Chrysemys picta) | 2008 | |
| Florida | American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) | 1987 | |
| loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) | Saltwater Reptile | 2008 | |
| gopher tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus) | Tortoise | 2008 | |
| Georgia | gopher tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus) | 1989 | |
| Illinois | painted turtle (Chrysemys picta) | 2005 | |
| Kansas | ornate box turtle (Terrapene ornata) | 1986 | |
| Louisiana | American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) | 1983 | |
| Maryland | diamondback terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin) | 1994 | |
| Massachusetts | common garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis) | 2007 | |
| Michigan | painted turtle (Chrysemys picta) | 1995 | |
| Mississippi | American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) | 2005 | |
| Missouri | three toed box turtle (Terrapene carolina) | 2007 | |
| Nevada | desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii) | 1989 | |
| New Mexico | New Mexico whiptail lizard (Cnemidophorus neomexicanus) | 2003 | |
| New York | common snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentina) | 2006 | |
| North Carolina | eastern box turtle (Terrapene carolina) | 1979 | |
| Ohio | black racer (Coluber constrictor) | 1995 | |
| Oklahoma | mountain boomer or collared lizard (Crotaphytus collaris) | 1969 | |
| South Carolina | loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) | 1988 | |
| Tennessee | eastern box turtle (Terrapene carolina) | 1995 | |
| Texas | Texas horned lizard (Phrynosoma cornutum) | 1993 | |
| Kemp’s ridley sea turtle (Lepidochelys kempii) | Sea Turtle | 2013 | |
| Vermont | painted turtle ( ) |
1994 | |
| Virginia | eastern garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis) | Snake | 2016 |
| West Virginia | timber rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus) | 2008 | |
| Wyoming | horned toad (Phrynosoma douglasii) | 1993 | |
Other Reptiles of State ˆ
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