Did you know that California has bestowed new official titles on some of the state’s most iconic animals? In September, Governor Gavin Newsom signed three bills honoring the Dungeness crab as California’s official state crustacean, the banana slug as the state slug, and the black abalone as the state seashell. All three of these animals have significant connections to California’s ecology, and if you’ve spent enough time on Bay Area coastlines, you’ve likely encountered all three of them. Read on to learn more about each one.
State crustacean: Dungeness crab
Dungeness crab (Metacarcinus magister) is a major part of California’s coastal economy, and the fishing legislation surrounding it goes back to 1895. It comes as no surprise that this famous crab now has an official designation as the state crustacean.
Dungeness crab season is highly-awaited in San Francisco’s Fisherman’s Wharf, where fishermen are known to sell fresh crab right off the boat.
📃 Assembly bill: AB-1797 by Assemblymember Jim Wood (D-Healdsburg)
State slug: Banana slug
The unmistakable bright yellow banana slug (Ariolimax) has been chosen as California’s official state slug. If you’ve ever gone for a hike in one of California’s magnificent redwood forests, you might’ve stumbled across these huge gastropods measuring about 6-8 inches long. As a decomposer, the banana slug plays an important role in the ecosystem of redwood forests by eating detritus and turning it into nutrient-dense waste.
Even if you’ve never seen a banana slug, you might be familiar with them because of UC Santa Cruz’s mascot, Sammy the Slug. UCSC students nominated the famous slug as their unofficial mascot back in 1980, and it became official in 1986.
📃 Assembly bill: AB 1850 by Assemblymember Gail Pellerin (D-Santa Cruz)
State seashell: Black abalone
The black abalone (Haliotis cracherodii) is now California’s official state seashell, which you might’ve been lucky enough to encounter during a beach walk on local shores. The oval-shaped shell has a dark gray and black exterior and a distinctive iridescent interior made of nacre, also known as mother-of-pearl.
For thousands of years, indigenous populations ate abalone and used the shells as currency, which made their way along trading routes as far as the Mississippi River. The marine snail used to be common all along the California coast but is now endangered. The NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) works to preserve and restore the species’ population.
📃 Assembly bill: AB 2504 by Assemblymember Diane Dixon (R-Newport Beach)
What are California’s other state symbols?
According to the California State Library, these are the official state symbols recognized by state law. You can see the library’s full detailed list here, and read more about the governor’s aforementioned newest additions here.
- State animal: California grizzly bear
- State amphibian: California red-legged frog
- State bat: Pallid bat
- State bird: California quail
- State fish: Golden trout
- State insect: California dogface butterfly
- State marine fish: Garibaldi
- State marine mammal: California gray whale
- State marine reptile: Pacific leatherback sea turtle
- State reptile: Desert tortoise
- State dinosaur: Augustynolophus morrisi
- State flower: California poppy
- State tree: California redwood
- State grass: Purple needlegrass
- State lichen: Lace lichen
- State mushroom: California golden chanterelle
- State mineral: Gold
- State gemstone: Benitoite
- State rock: Serpentine
- State soil: San Joaquin Soil
- State fossil: Saber-toothed cat
- State nickname: The Golden State
- State colors: Blue and gold
- State motto: Eureka!
- State song: “I Love You, California”
- State dance: West Coast Swing Dancing
- State folk dance: Square dancing
- State fabric: Denim
- State sport: Surfing