what is the state bird of tennessee

1995 saw the Eastern Box Turtle (Terrapene carolina) become the official state reptile. This quiet creature is typically no longer than six inches long, with spots of yellow, orange, and red on a black or brown shell. This reptile never leaves its birthplace and typically lives for 30 to 60 years.

Tennessee designated the raccoon as its official wild animal in 1971. Procyon lotor, commonly known as the raccoon, is a hairy mammal with a bushy, ringed tail and a black hair band that resembles a mask around its eyes. Fish and frogs that raccoons catch in rivers and streams are their food sources. Raccoons living in Tennessee weigh from 12 to 25 pounds. Most males are larger than females. Raccoons are proficient swimmers and walk with all four feet planted on the ground, much like bears.

The official state fossil, Pterotrigonia (Scabrotrigonia) thoracica, was designated in 1998. Pterotrigonia, also known as Scabrotrigonia thoracica, or simply “Ptero,” was a cretaceous bivalve fossil discovered in West Tennessee’s Coon Creek Formation. Seventy million years ago, on the ocean floor that was West Tennessee, there lived a shallow-burrowing suspension feeder. Shells of “Ptero” are abundant and easily identifiable to collectors because they have been preserved without alteration. “Ptero” now is extinct. Indeed, Ptero (Scabrotrigonia) thoracica may have perished as a result of the same extinction event that killed the dinosaurs 65 million years ago.

Pearl-bearing mussels were a famous feature of the Caney Fork in Middle Tennessee, and at the turn of the century, “pearling” was a popular Sunday afternoon pastime. Many of the rivers had dams built on them after World War I, which prevented the mussels from living in their fast, shallow shoals. Also, the waters became more toxic and pearling became unprofitable. However, Tennessee River pearls rank among the world’s most exquisite and resilient. It was designated as an official state gem in 1979.

Tennessee became the sixteenth state to join the Union, as indicated by the Roman numerals XVI. A cotton stalk, a sheaf of wheat, and a plow represent the value of agriculture, and a riverboat confirms the significance of river traffic to trade. This was adopted as the official state seal in 1987.

Tennessee State Bird 1

Photo by Captain-tucker / Wikipedia (use permitted with attribution/share alike).

FAQ

Does Tennessee have 2 state birds?

Tennessee has two state birds. The first, the Northern Mockingbird (?Mimus polyglottos?), was designated in 1933. With a characteristic song and the ability to mimic other songbirds and sounds, the mockingbird has a wide range in the United States.

What is Tennessee’s state bird and flower?

Tennessee state symbols – Kids | Britannica Kids | Homework Help. The flag, seal, flower (iris), bird (northern mockingbird), and tree (tulip poplar) are some of the major state symbols of Tennessee.

What is the state animal for Tennessee?

Raccoon. In 1971, the Raccoon was adopted as Tennessee’s official wild animal. The Raccoon, Procyon lotor, is a furry animal that has a bushy, ringed tail and a band of black hair around its eyes which looks like a mask. Raccoons eat fish and frogs that they catch in rivers and streams.

Why is the mockingbird the state bird of Tennessee?

The state of Tennessee understood this bird as a true resident, so the northern mockingbird was designated as Tennessee’s state bird in 1933. Mockingbirds are widely known for their song, which is made up of a series of short phrases.