Discover the 15 Official State Animals of Missouri

Missouri is a diverse state, featuring beautiful natural scenery, such as the Lake of the Ozarks, and fascinating creatures, such as the hellbender salamander. Missouri has recognized 15 animals as state symbols. These creatures range from an insect to a dinosaur. Continue reading to discover Missouri’s 15 state animals and learn why they are significant.  

Bird: Eastern Bluebird

The state bird of Missouri is the Eastern bluebird (Sialia sialis). It was introduced as the state bird on March 30, 1927. The species is native to the state and represents happiness.

The Eastern bluebird measures between 6.3 and 8.3 inches in length and has a wingspan stretching to over a foot long. Eastern bluebirds live in open spaces, such as meadows, which are typically surrounded by trees for nesting.

Insect: Honeybee

Missouri’s state insect, the honeybee (Apis mellifera), was officially recognized on July 3, 1985. Honeybees typically live in hives or nests and communicate with one another through dance-like movements.

Honeybees are a cosmopolitan species found on every continent except Antarctica. While they are native to Africa, the Middle East, and Europe, human transportation for honey and pollination has introduced them worldwide.

Fossil: Crinoid

Missouri’s state fossil, the extinct crinoid species Eperisocrinus missouriensis (formerly Delocrinus missouriensis), was officially recognized in 1989. Crinoids (Crinoidea) are a class of marine invertebrates that permanently attach themselves to the sea floor as adults. Because of this, they are often called sea lilies. Today, there are approximately 700 known extant crinoid species. Fossil records from the mid-Paleozoic era to the Jurassic period show that crinoids were much more abundant and diverse in Earth’s past.

Missouri’s state fossil specifically honors the vast, shallow, tropical seas that formerly covered the region, leaving behind a rich, crinoid-packed geological history. Crinoid fossils are often embedded in limestone and visible in buildings such as the Jasper County Courthouse in Carthage, Missouri, as well as other limestone structures.

Animal: Missouri Mule

The Missouri mule (Equus asinus x Equus caballus) has held the title of Missouri’s state animal since May 31, 1995. When the Missouri mule first came to the state in the early 1800s, mules were used for agricultural purposes. A mule is the hybrid offspring of a male donkey (jack) and a female horse (mare). This specific pairing creates an animal known for its intelligence, strength, and endurance. For many Missouri residents, the animal represents heritage and persistence.

Aquatic Animal: Paddlefish

Missouri’s state aquatic animal, the paddlefish (Polyodon spathula), was officially recognized on May 23, 1997. Paddlefish are found in the Mississippi, Missouri, and Osage rivers. They are freshwater fish with a long, paddle-shaped snout called a rostrum. They use their massive paddle-shaped snouts to detect prey using electroreceptors and swim with open, toothless mouths to filter-feed on microscopic zooplankton. 

Fish: Channel Catfish

On May 23, 1997, the channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) was declared the state fish of Missouri. Channel catfish native to Missouri range between 12 and 32 inches long and can weigh up to 15 pounds.

Mating season for the channel catfish occurs during spring and summer, between the months of April and July. Channel catfish are primarily bottom feeders and opportunistic scavengers that use their sensitive barbels (whiskers) and taste buds to locate food along the bottom of rivers, lakes, and ponds.

Horse: Missouri Fox Trotter

Missouri recognized the Missouri Fox Trotter (Equus ferus caballus) as the state horse on June 4, 2002. Early settlers in Missouri developed this horse breed. Its signature fox trot is a unique gait in which the horse walks with its front feet and trots with its hind feet, creating a smooth ride because at least one foot always remains on the ground.

Missouri Fox Trotter horses come in a wide variety of colors, featuring both solid colors and pinto (spotted) patterns. 

Dinosaur: Parrosaurus Missouriense

The Parrosaurus missouriense, formerly Hypsibema missouriense, was officially recognized as the Missouri state dinosaur on July 9, 2004. A type of Hadrosaur, Parrosaurus missouriense, had a duck-like bill. It likely resided in the state during the Late Cretaceous Period. Although it had over 1,000 individual teeth, Parrosaurus missouriense was an herbivore. The dinosaur likely weighed over three tons and stood an impressive 10 feet tall.

Parrosaurus Missouriense is the only dinosaur species whose remains have been discovered in the state. Found in 1942 at the Chronister site, near Glen Allen, Missouri, this duck-billed dinosaur represents a unique, native, and historically significant prehistoric inhabitant.

Amphibian: American Bullfrog

The American bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus) was introduced as Missouri’s state amphibian on June 5, 2005. The frog is found throughout the state and is the largest frog indigenous to Missouri.

Female American bullfrogs can lay up to 20,000 eggs in one clutch. The habitat of the American bullfrog includes the shallow waters of ponds, lakes, streams, and rivers. These frogs are medium-sized, weighing up to one pound and reaching a maximum length of 8 inches.

Game Bird: Bobwhite Quail

The bobwhite quail has been Missouri’s state game bird since July 13, 2007. This game bird is found in forests, grasslands, and fields.

During the cold months, bobwhite quail, which are often solitary or in pairs during the summer, gather into social groups of roughly 8 to 20 birds called coveys to survive.

These groups forage together and huddle in tight, circular, outward-facing formations at night to conserve body heat and detect predators. The bobwhite is recognized by its characteristic two-note whistle, which famously sounds like its name.

Invertebrate: Crayfish

The Missouri state invertebrate is the crayfish, also called crawfish or crawdads. The crayfish was officially designated as the state invertebrate of Missouri on June 21, 2007. No single species is designated as the official state crayfish; instead, the proclamation includes all crayfish species found in Missouri. Crayfish come in a variety of sizes, from less than one inch to over 31 inches long.

Reptile: Three-Toed Box Turtle

On June 21, 2007, the state named the three-toed box turtle (Terrapene carolina triunguis) Missouri’s reptile. These turtles live on land, and their shells are typically olive green or brown. The three-toed box turtle is commonly found in Central and Southern Missouri, with smaller populations in the northern part of the state.

Three-toed box turtles inhabit woodlands and grasslands. They are opportunistic omnivores that consume both plant and animal matter. Their diet includes fruits, berries, mushrooms, roots, insects, snails, worms, and small vertebrates like frogs or salamanders.

Historical Dog: Old Drum

Missouri officially initiated its historical dog on August 28, 2017. In 1869, a hunting dog named Old Drum grew to national prominence after he was killed. Old Drum’s owner, Charles Burden, sued his neighbor Leonidas Hornsby, the perpetrator, for $100. The case made its way to the Missouri Supreme Court.

During his closing argument, which has been dubbed Eulogy of the Dog, Senator George Graham Vest described a dog as the only unselfish and loyal friend in a selfish world, highlighting a dog’s unwavering fidelity.

The speech and Old Drum’s death were so touching that the state erected a statue of Old Drum outside the Johnson County courthouse, with the text of the eulogy engraved for eternity.

Wonder Dog: Jim

Missouri’s wonder dog was a Llewellin Setter known as Jim the Wonder Dog. He was inducted into the state’s animal club on August 28, 2017, the same day as Old Drum. Jim was born in 1925 and became famous for his exceptional hunting skills, tracking more than 5,000 birds, a talent that earned him a feature in Outdoor Life Magazine. This extremely intelligent dog could also recognize license plates, follow written instructions, and identify individual faces in a crowd.

Endangered Species: Hellbender Salamander

Introduced on August 28, 2019, the hellbender salamander (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis) was named Missouri’s official endangered species. Subspecies of the animal include the Eastern hellbender and the Ozark hellbender (C. a. bishopi). They have a maximum length of 2 feet and a maximum lifespan of 30 years in the wild, and up to 50 years in captivity. Missouri is unique in that it is the only state where both the Eastern and Ozark hellbender subspecies are found. Conservation efforts have been made to protect the hellbender salamander, and many have proved successful. However, both subspecies remain endangered, and populations are still critically low.