Georgia has 13 official state animals (you may have one at home). Do you know them all?

Georgia is home to some of the most diverse wildlife in the country because of its many rivers, mountains, coastal areas and forests.

Chances are, you’ve seen several of Georgia’s official state animals, from deer to birds, reptiles and more. Or maybe you’ve seen them all. It’s time to test your knowledge.

What are Georgia’s official state animals?

Georgia has 13 official state animals. Some of them you probably see every day, but there are a couple on the list that are rare. Think you’ve seen them all?

Here’s the full list of the Peach State’s official animals:

▪ Brown thrasher

The brown thrasher was named Georgia’s official state bird in 1970 and is commonly seen all over the state. The bird has brown feathers, a long tail and a curved beak and is known for its “thrashing action it uses to forage through weeds, grass, and other ground debris in search of insects.”

▪ White-tailed deer

Chances are, you’ve seen one or two of these in your yard before or even perhaps, on the road. They have extra long legs, tan or brown fur and white markings on their throat, belly and tail.

The white-tailed deer made a name for itself in 2015 as the state’s official mammal after a group of elementary students (with the help of the Georgia DNR) recommended it to state legislators.

▪ Largemouth bass

If you’re an avid fisher, you’ve probably seen (or caught, hopefully) one of these.

The largemouth bass was listed as the state’s official fish in 1970. With its olive green coloring, white belly and mouth that extends past its eye, these fish are hard to miss.

In 1932, a fisherman Montgomery Lake in Georgia broke records for the biggest largemouth bass ever caught, weighing in at a whopping 22 pounds and four ounces.

▪ Gopher tortoise

The gopher tortoise is Georgia’s official state reptile and the animal is listed as a threatened species under state and federal law. The animal has a unique look with “elephantine hind feet and flattened, shovel-shaped forelimbs” and will often be found in deep burrows.

▪ Green tree frog

The official amphibian of Georgia is the green tree frog. This frog is often kept as a pet because of its bright shades and easygoing nature.

Besides their color, green tree frogs are known for their loud bark or honk mating call that can be “repeated up to 75 times per minute.”

▪ European honey bee

The honey bee is Georgia’s official state insect.

According to the A-Z Animals blog, the honey bee is “known for its unique ability to collect nectar from flowers and produce honey.”

While they are often confused with a bumble bee or carpenter bee, honey bees have more slender, smaller bodies.

▪ Eastern tiger swallowtail

The eastern tiger swallowtail was named Georgia’s official state butterfly in 1988. The butterfly is known for its impressive wingspan of three to five and a half inches as well as its beautiful black and yellow coloring.

There’s no denying its beauty, but this butterfly also has a hugely important role: much like honey bees, the eastern tiger swallowtail is a crop pollinator.

▪ Bobwhite quail

The bobwhite quail is Georgia’s official state game bird. This bird has intricate patterns of brown and black on its body, making it stand out if seen. The head of this bird also has a striking black and white pattern.

In all, this type of quail will grow to be around eight to ten inches long and have a wing span of three to five inches.

▪ Southern Appalachian Brook Trout

This is Georgia’s official state cold water game fish.

The book trout has olive green upper sides and is speckled with yellow, red and some blue markings that resemble dots. The book trout is about six to eight inches in length and is found in high altitude streams.

▪ North Atlantic Right Whale

This whale was named the state’s official marine mammal in 1985. According to A-Z Animals, the whale has a “distinctive appearance” with a black tail and patchy white belly. These whales can grow up to a huge 52 feet in length and they only reproduce off the coasts of Georgia and north Florida.

▪ Red Drum

This is Georgia’s official state saltwater fish. This fish can grow up to 30 inches in length and weigh in at 15 to 20 pounds. Red Drums have a silver-gray color with reddish bronze tones and can be found in shallow, still waters.

Knobbed Whelk

This seashell can be found on the beautiful beaches of Georgia. It was named the state’s official seashell in 1987 to get tourists to visit and find the sea creature. The seashell can be found in various colors and it alternates between shallow and deep waters depending on the season and temperature.

‘Adoptable dog’

In 2016, lawmakers made Georgia’s official state dog the “adoptable dog” to raise awareness about animal welfare and shelters in need across the state. So, that means if you adopt any dog at a humane shelter in Georgia, you have an official state dog.

Have you seen all 13 state animals? Let me know in the comments or email me at cmadden@mcclatchy.com

Chelsea Madden

The Telegraph

Chelsea is a service journalism reporter who began working for McClatchy in 2022. She was born and raised in Middle Georgia and lives in Forsyth. She attended Wesleyan College for undergrad and a few years after that, went to SCAD for an MFA in writing. Outside of work, Chelsea likes to watch Netflix, read books in the thriller genre and chase her toddler around.