New York has the Bay Scallop. Rhode Island (and Family Guy) have the Quahog. Texas has the Lightning Whelk. Fifteen states have official state shells, and California is getting in on the action.

California assemblymember Diane Dixon of Coastal Orange County has been the main proponent of making the Black Abalone shell the official shell of the state of California. The shell is unique to the shores of Southern Califronia and Northern Mexico and has played a role as a source of both food and trade goods for the people of California for centuries.

Read more about this here on the CalMatters.org website.