Mass. Representative To File Legislation Designating 'State Dinosaur'

A Massachusetts legislator said he plans to file legislation designating an official "State Dinosaur" later this month.

Rep. Jack Lewis (D), who represents the Framingham and Ashland district, announced his plan to file legislation next month designating an official state dinosaur in a post shared on his Facebook account.

"I have three words for you: Massachusetts State Dinosaur," Lewis wrote. "With so much sadness and uncertainty in our world today, can you think of a better way to help kids (and those young-at-heart) learn about the legislative process than by naming an official Massachusetts State Dinosaur?"

Rep. Lewis then shared a survey for residents to vote on whether Podokesaurus holyokensis or Anchisaurus polyzelus should be the official state dinosaur.

Lewis said Podokesaurus holyokensis, which means "swift-footed lizard of Holyoke," is three to six feet long and weighs around 90 lbs. Anchisaurus polyzelus means "much sought after neasr lizard" and is a plant-eating dinosaur.

The only known fossil remains of the podokesaurus holyokensis were destroyed in a fire in Mt. Holyoke College in Massachusetts, according to Lewis, Bones for the anchisaurus polyzelus were first discovered in Springfield, Massachusetts in 1855.

“While they aren’t the largest dinosaurs to roam the planet, they begin to tell the story of how dinosaurs came to rule the Earth,” Lewis said of the anchisaurus polyzelus.

You can chose between the two dinosaur options here.

Photo: Rep. Jack Patrick Lewis' Facebook account.