Fossils are impressions of ancient plants or animals in rock formations. Many US states have selected a state fossil to represent their unique prehistoric history. Fossils can be chosen for their prevalence, uniqueness, or to show how animals have evolved. Examples include the giant beaver in Minnesota, the saber-toothed cat in California, and the sea scorpion in New York.
A fossil is a complete or partial impression of the remains of a plant or animal in a rock formation, or a stark snapshot of what life was like millions of years ago. The unique representation of ancient history provided by fossils has made selecting a state fossil a common practice for many state governments in the United States. A fossil is typically selected to be a state symbol because it is prevalent in that state. The state fossil, however, can also be selected to show how animals have changed since ancient times, what unique animals lived in the state in prehistoric times, or what the habitat was like when the fossilized animal was alive. Not all states within the United States have selected an official state fossil.
An example of a state fossil selected to show how a modern animal evolved is the Minnesota state fossil, Castoroides ohioensis, commonly known as the giant beaver. These prehistoric animals closely resembled the modern beaver, but were about 8 feet (2.4 m) long and weighed about 440 pounds (200 kg). This would make this archaic beaver the size of a modern bear.
The saber-toothed cat is an example of an official state fossil selected for its uniqueness and popularity from one of the western states – California. This animal closely resembled a female lion, but had a set of canine teeth that protruded from the upper jaw in a saber-like cone which gave this animal its common name. Saber-tooths were usually 7 inches (about 18 cm) long. These animals have long been a popular symbol of the Ice Age along with the woolly mammoth, which likely explains the state of California selecting this fossil as its state emblem.
The territory of the United States looks nothing like it did 400 million years ago or even 40 million years ago. For example, more than 400 million years ago, New York State was covered by sea and was home to the Euripterus remipes, or sea scorpion, which is very similar in anatomy to the contemporary king crab. The sea scorpion has been selected as a state fossil to prove that New York was once a salty sea. This rare eurypterid was also selected because it and several of its relatives were fossilized in a vast swath of rock that stretches about 70 miles (113 km) across New York State. This band of fossil-concentrated rocks has become famous among paleontologists from all over the world.
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