Proud to Have Been Born in Illinois
From AP/Yahoo:

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[Illinois Lt. Governor Pat] Quinn said he expects quick action by the state Legislature to adopt the Eastern tiger salamander as the official state amphibian and the painted turtle as the official state reptile. If adopted, they will join a list of 17 other state symbols, from state tree (white oak) to state fossil (Tully monster).

The society scaled down a list of 102 reptiles and amphibians native to Illinois to settle on the three finalists for each. The candidates had to be easily found throughout much of the state and had to be relatively attractive.

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According to Enchanted Learning, California has its own share of state whatevers:

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State Bird - California valley quail (Lophortyx californica)
State Mammal - Grizzly bear
State Marine Mammal - Gray whale
State Reptile - Desert tortoise
State Insect - California dog-face butterfly
State Fish - Golden trout
State Marine Fish - Garibaldi
State Flower - California Poppy (Eschscholzia californica)
State Tree - Redwood - Coast redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) and Giant redwood (S. gigantea)
State Grass- Purple Needlegrass (Nassella pulchra)
State Fossil- Smilodon fatalis (sabertooth tiger)
State Rock - Serpentine
State Mineral - Gold
State Gem - Benitoite

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