Discover the 9 Official State Animals of California
California, the Golden State, is home to a diverse range of flora and fauna, and it is no surprise that the state has designated interesting official animals to represent its unique identity. From the majestic grizzly bear to the fascinating desert tortoise, these state animals showcase the beauty and diversity of California’s wildlife.
Join us in discovering California’s fascinating official state animals and learn why they were chosen to represent the state.
What Is an Official Animal?
An official animal is a species or breed recognized and designated by a government or state as a symbol of its cultural, economic, historical, or ecological significance. These animals serve as ambassadors for their region and often represent the unique qualities and values of the area.
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1. Reptile – Desert Tortoise
This tortoise played a significant role in implementing the California Desert Protection Act of 1994.©Tigerhawkvok / Creative Commons
The desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii) inhabits deserts throughout northwestern Mexico and the southwestern United States, particularly in California. Its endangered status has earned it protection under the law and played a significant role in implementing the California Desert Protection Act of 1994. This species has been the State Reptile of California since 1972.
Appearance
dome-shaped shell that ranges in color from gray to brownsturdy legs and a short, hooked beakcan grow up to 15 inches long and weigh up to 51 pounds
Behavior
slow-moving and solitaryspends the hottest months in burrows underground to regulate temperaturefeeds on a variety of plants and stores water in its body
Characteristics
lifespan of 50-80 years in the wildUnder the Endangered Species Act, this species is listed as Threatenedplays a crucial role in the desert ecosystem as seed dispersers and burrow builders
Interesting Facts
can live without access to surface water, as it obtains moisture from its foodallows other desert animals in its burrows, including reptiles, mammals, and birdsDuring the mating season, males can become quite aggressive, often engaging in battles with other males to win over a female
2. Amphibian – California Red-Legged Frog
The California red-legged frog (Rana draytonii) lives on the central coast and in the San Francisco Bay area. However, due to factors such as habitat destruction, the introduction of non-native species, and water pollution, this frog is now endangered. Conservation efforts are underway to preserve this species and protect its remaining habitats. In 2014, it officially became the state amphibian of California.
Appearance
medium-sized frog, growing up to 5 inches longbright red legs and underside, with spots on its back that vary in color and patternsmooth and moist skin, like most other frogs
Behavior
typically lives near slow-moving water sources such as streams, ponds, and marshesmostly active at night, feeding on insects and other small invertebratesbreeds in the early spring and lays eggs in water
Characteristics
declined in numbers due to habitat loss and the introduction of non-native speciesThreatened under the Endangered Species Actplays a vital role in the local ecosystem, serving as both predator and prey
Interesting Facts
once a common species in the state, but its population has declined dramatically over the past centuryMark Twain made the species famous in his short story, “The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County.”known for its distinctive call, which sounds like a series of croaks and trills
3. Mammal – California Grizzly Bear
This bear was named the state mammal of California in 1953 because it once was a common and iconic species in the state.©Vahe Martirosyan, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons – License
The California grizzly bear (Ursus arctos californicus) is a subspecies of the brown bear that no longer exists. The California grizzly bear was named the state mammal of California in 1953 because it once was a common and iconic species in the state. However, it was hunted to extinction. It represents the state’s natural heritage and history.
This bear remains a significant symbol of the state to this day. Interestingly, California is the only state in the United States to feature an extinct animal on its state flag and seal.
Appearance
huge animal with a hump of muscle on its shouldersbrown fur with lighter tipssharp claws used for digging and climbing
Behavior
As an omnivore, this bear fed on both plants and animals.solitary animal, except during breeding seasonmarked its territory with urine, claw marks, and scat
Characteristics
strong sense of smell, used for finding food and matesintelligent animal with a fantastic memorycould run at speeds up to 35 miles per hour
Interesting Facts
once inhabited the entire state, but is now extinctFemales weighed less than half as much as males.last sighting in California was in the 1920s
4. Bird – California Quail
This bird, known for its resourcefulness, makes its home in open areas throughout the state, particularly along the coast. ©Brocken Inaglory / Creative Commons
Also called the California Valley Quail, the California Quail (Callipepla californica) is a species of bird found in the state. This bird, known for its resourcefulness, makes its home in open areas throughout the state, particularly along the coast. This intriguing bird caught the attention of the Audubon Society, who saw fit to nominate it as the official state bird. In 1931, the law passed, and officials declared the California Quail as the state bird of California.
Appearance
plump bird with a round head and a short plumeapproximately 10 inches longfemales do not have the black facial markings that males havebrown or black with white streaks, and a belly that exhibits a range of hues
Behavior
social bird that loves to spend life with familiesspeed of 20km per hourusually feeds on the groundMales have a distinctive call that sounds like “chi-ca-go”
Characteristics
resident of California and the southwest United Stateslives near oak woodlands and foothill forestsomnivorous, eating seeds, insects, and small animals
Interesting Facts
Males have a unique courtship ritual that involves puffing up their feathers and calling.Coveys often roost together at night for protection.In Native American cultures, the California Quail symbolizes good luck and prosperity.
5. Freshwater Fish – Golden Trout
The Golden Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss aguabonita) is native to California. Due to their stunning appearance and exclusive native status, officials named the golden trout California’s freshwater fish in 1947.
Appearance
iridescent golden-yellow to reddish color on the side with an olive-green backsmall, round spots on its upper bodywhite or orange tipped dorsal fin
Characteristics
native to the high-altitude, cold-water streams of California’s Sierra Nevada mountainsprefers clean, clear streams with rocky bottoms and a moderate current8 inches long on average
Behavior
feeds on insects, small crustaceans, and smaller fishactive during the daynormally found in small schools
Interesting Facts
named for its unique, striking colorationone of the rarest species of trout in the worldcritical to the health of Sierra Nevada aquatic ecosystemslimited range and habitat make it vulnerable to environmental threats
6. Insect – California Dogface Butterfly
The California dogface butterfly (Colias eurydice), also called the dog-head butterfly, was officially named the state insect of California in 1972 due to its unique and exclusive presence within the state. This species is native only to California and inhabits specific regions between the Sierra Nevada and Coast Ranges and north-central California to Baja California.
Appearance
distinctive shape resembling a dog’s face on the males’ forewingsorange and black wings with small hairs on the bodylarge eyes
Characteristics
native to central Californiafeeds on nectar from various plants, including wildflowers, mustards, and cloversaverage wingspan of 2 to 2.5 inches
Behavior
fast fliermales perch on vegetation and await female matesfemales lay eggs on the leaves of their host plant
Interesting Facts
named for its unique markings on the forewingslimited range and habitat make it vulnerable to environmental threatssignificant contributor to California’s biodiversitysupports numerous other species through pollination
7. Marine Fish – Garibaldi
It is illegal to possess a Garibaldi (Hypsypops rubicundus), previously known as Catalina Goldfish. In 1995, the California Legislature banned the commercial collection of the Garibaldi and designated it the state marine fish. The Garibaldi represents California’s abundant and diverse marine life and is a reminder to raise awareness and preserve its species and habitat.
Appearance
easy to identify bright orange coloringrounded, disc-shaped bodyaround 12 to 14 inches long
Characteristics
native to the nearshore waters of southern and central Californiahighly territorial in defending its nests and eggsusually found near rocky outcroppings and kelp beds
Behavior
primarily feeds on bottom-dwelling invertebrates and algaeaggressive toward other fish and humans who enter their territoryactive during the day and retreats to protected spots at night
Interesting Facts
named after Giuseppe Garibaldi, an Italian military and political leaderdistinctive coloration and striking appearanceplays an important role in maintaining the ecological balance of nearshore watersenjoys protected status in California
8. Marine Mammal – Gray Whale
The best time to witness the gray whale migration along the California coast is from January to March.©jo Crebbin/Shutterstock.com
The gray whale (Eschrichtius robustus) has been the state marine mammal of California since 1975 because of its significance to the state. Gray whales were hunted in California waters in the 19th century, and their populations declined drastically. However, they have since made a strong recovery and are now a common sight along the California coast during their annual migration. The best time to witness the gray whale migration along the California coast is from January to March.
Appearance
dark gray with white spotsstocky build and can grow up to 39 feet in lengthMales are slightly smaller than females.
Characteristics
migration is the longest of any mammal, traveling up to 10,000 miles annuallyfeeds mostly on small crustaceans and amphipodsplayfully approaches boats and swims near shorelines
Behavior
swims along the California coast twice a year, once in the winter and again in the springlives in tight-knit social groups known as podsknown to breach (jump out of the water) and spy hop (rise partially out of the water)
Interesting Facts
one of the few whale species that regularly comes close to shoresole surviving species in the baleen whale family Eschrichtiidaeexhibits a behavior called “spyhopping,” where it swims close to boats and pokes its head up
9. Marine Reptile – Leatherback Sea Turtle
These turtles migrate long distances between feeding and breeding grounds.©iStock.com/AGAMI stock
The leatherback sea turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) is also known as the lute turtle. The leatherback sea turtle was designated the state marine reptile of California in 1972 to raise awareness about the conservation of the species and to promote the protection of its habitats.
Appearance
largest sea turtle speciescan reach up to 6 feet long and weigh up to 1550 poundsdark gray or black, with a white or pink underbelly
Behavior
mainly feeds on jellyfish, fish, squid, and floating seaweedmigrates long distances between feeding and breeding groundsusually solitary, but sometimes travels in groups
Characteristics
can tolerate a wide range of temperaturescan dive to depths of roughly 4,000 feetheart rate slows while diving to conserve energyshell structure helps to reduce buoyancy, allowing for deep dives
Interesting Facts
listed as an endangered species due to threats from fishing, plastic pollution, and habitat losscan hold its breath and stay underwater for up to 85 minutesmating behavior involves large groups of males competing for the attention of femalesname comes from its leathery carapace (upper shell)
Honorable Mention: Dinosaur – Augustynolophus
The augustynolophus (Augustynolophus morrisi) was a plant-eating saurolophine hadrosaur dinosaur that scientists discovered in the Moreno Formation in California. This species lived during the late Maastrichtian era and is one of the last dinosaurs to exist before the catastrophic Cretaceous-Paleogene extinction event. In 2017, the state of California adopted a law naming augustynolophus its state dinosaur!
The goal of naming a state dinosaur was for Californians to become more interested in paleontology and science. Since augustynolophus’ fossils are only in California, it makes an excellent candidate for the state dinosaur.
Appearance
long, bony crest on its headabout 26 feet long and weighed around three tonslarge, strong legs with webbed feet
Behavior
believed to have lived in shallow, coastal waters and spent time in the water and on landcommunicated through visual displays and vocalizationsherbivorous
Characteristics
most likely resided near coastlinesbelonged to the hadrosaur family, also known as “duck-billed” dinosaurslived in herds
Interesting Facts
named after the late Californian paleontologist Jack AugustynFossils were first discovered in 1939
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