U.S. State Reptiles - Geography

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. In common names, Arizona and Texas were represented by the 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).