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State/national fossils



The Dinosaur Interplanetary Gazette recently announced:

>You've been waiting breathlessly, and LO! you won't be 
>disappointed.  We've made some minor revisions to the 
>infamous Official State Dinosaur List. It's at 
http://www.dinosaur.org/statedino.htm

The list of state dinosaurs and fossils is interesting, 
but does anyone know of any countries that have a "national 
fossil"? 
 
One reason I am asking is that in my recent RNCSE* article on 
an alleged "Japanese plesiosaur" carcass, I mentioned that 
shortly after this find in 1977, Japan issued a stamp featuring 
a plesiosaur, evidently to commorate the event.  A reader then 
wrote to say he believed the stamp actually was issued to 
recognize Japan's national fossil (a plesiosaur), whether or 
not it was related to the find in question.  I have been 
unable to verify this.  Does anyone know whether Japan does 
have a national fossil, whether it is a plesiosaur, and when 
it was decided?  Do any other countries have national fossils?  
Thanks.

Glen Kuban  
paleo@ix.netcom.com

* The article on the "Japanese plesiosaur", including a picture 
of the stamp in question, can be found at the following web site: 
http://members.aol.com/paluxy2/plesios.htm