Fossil Representative of Rhode Island
Horsetail (common name) Sphenopsida (scientific name) STATUS Unofficial DESCRIPTION Sphenopsida is a class of seedless vascular plants that typically grow in wet climates. They belong to the taxonomic division of ferns. The members of the class, which is also known as Equisetopsida, reached their peak in number and diversity in the Carboniferous period (300 to 355 million years ago) of the Paleozoic era, but most species became extinct by the end of that era (251 million years ago). A single genus, Equisetum, commonly called horsetails, survives today as a modern representative of these primitive plants. REPRESENTATIVE OF THE STATE Sphenopsida were most abundant and diverse in the Carboniferous period, which is also when the majority of the coal deposits on earth formed. This coal formation gave the period, which occurred approximately 300 to 359 million years ago, its name. Rhode Island’s Narragansett Basin formed at this time, and Sphenopsid fossils are preserved there. In addition, these fossils can be found in lakebeds and riverbeds bordering coal swamps. The old coalmines of Portsmouth, Rhode Island, as well as the Rhode Island geological formation that reaches into Massachusetts, contain excellent Pennsylvanian-age fossil specimens of these primitive ferns. Although Rhode Island has not selected an official state fossil, Sphenopsida are among the most common fossil plants in the state, and as such, represent the state’s geology and paleontology well. NAME ORIGIN Carl Adolph Agardh, a Swedish botanist, professor, and bishop, named the class Equisetopsida. This name was derived from the Latin words equus, which means "horse," and seta, which means "bristle." The modern members of this class are commonly called horsetails. The word Sphenopsida is derived from the Greek word σφήνα (sfina), which means "wedge;" -psida is the suffix for certain classes of plants. Early fossil forms such as the genus Sphenophyllum had broad, wedge-shaped leaves. BIOLOGY/ANATOMY Paleozoic Sphenopsida stems were straight, hollow, ribbed, and segmented. The plants’ small leaves or needles were arranged in whorls. These tall ferns grew up to 32 feet (10 m) in height, and some reached as high as 100 feet (30 m). Sphenopsida lived on sandy seafloors, where it sprouted spores from underground rootstalks rather than reproducing from seeds. EVOLUTION/EXTINCTION Sphenopsida are known mainly from fossil species, which date back as far as 360 to 385 million years ago in the late Devonian period of the Paleozoic era. The Devonian period was extremely important in the evolution of plants. During this geologic period, plants, which had been on Earth for almost a hundred million years, gained leaves, roots, and seeds for the first time. They also diversified greatly, growing tall and strong enough to create the first forests. Sphenopsida featured prominently in the understory of the new forests of the Paleozoic era. This class of seedless plants diversified throughout the Carboniferous period to the mid-Permian period, after which most species of Sphenopsida became extinct. INTERESTING FACTS Although large quantities of horsetail can be poisonous to grazing animals, field horsetail is cooked and eaten by humans in Japan and elsewhere. The dish, called tsukushi in Japanese, is described as being similar to asparagus. Tsukushi is rich in several vitamins and essential elements. It has also been said to help prevent various degenerative diseases.
	Click to enlarge an image Clump of Horsetail Horsetail Illustration CLASSIFICATION Kingdom: Plantae Division: Pteridophyta Class: Sphenopsida
	Author: World Trade Press

Rhode Island State Mammal
Gray Seal (common name) Halichoerus grypus (scientific name) Overview Gray seals live along the Canadian and U.S. east coast, mostly in the north but as far south as Virginia. They’re common in the New England area, particularly around Rhode Island. As seals go, gray seals are medium-sized, and differ from common seals by having a straight profile, more widely spaced nostrils, and fewer spots. The gray seal’s scientific name, Halichoerus grypus, means "hooked-nosed sea pig," and refers to its large, wide-set nostrils. Close-up STATUS Unofficial ALSO KNOWN AS Grey seal, Atlantic grey seal, horsehead seal PHYSICAL DETAILS In spite of its name, the gray seal’s color varies considerably. Females usually range from silvery gray to brown with darker spots and are generally lighter colored than males. Females’ coats are even lighter on their chests and on the undersides of their bodies. Male gray seals normally range from dark grayish brown to black, with pale patches and lighter scars around their necks. Most gray seals, particularly the males, have a noticeably long nose with wide nostrils, the animal’s most distinguishing feature.     Males Females Size 8–11 ft (2.5–3.3 m) long 5.25–6.5 ft (1.6–2.0 m) long Weight 650–775 lbs (300–350 kg); maximum over 880 lbs (400 kg) 330–440 lbs (150–200 kg); maximum over 550 lbs (250 kg) LIFESPAN Maximum 46 years for a female, 29 years for a male; average 35 years for a female, 25 years for a male. HABITAT Cool to cold coastal areas, including rocky coasts, unpopulated islands, and icebergs. Range: Coastal Great Britain and Ireland, Faroe Islands, Iceland, the Baltic coast, coastal Canada, and south as far as Virginia, isolated populations on the French, Dutch, and German coasts. Conservation: Least Concern (LC). The U.S. gray seal population is currently increasing. Until 1962, American populations were diminishing because of hunting. With the 1972 Marine Mammal Protection Act, populations began to rebound and are becoming more common in the southern part of their range. BEHAVIOR In the U.S., gray seal pups are born in the winter on ice or land. At birth, they have soft white fur, but they shed this by the time they are a month old. Once their waterproof adult coat has grown in, they learn to fish and quickly become independent. Baby gray seals nurse for only 15 to 18 days, and less if they are born on ice, but they gain 2.5 to 4.5 lbs  (1.2–2 kg) per day while they nurse. They lose weight again once they’re weaned, before they learn to fish for themselves. Male gray seals mature at four to six years but usually start breeding when they are nine to 10 years old. They don’t normally come to land until after the first pups are born. In breeding season, males spend much of their time out of the water, and they go without eating. Some return to sea for a couple of days at a time, but others do not. Adult males stay on shore an average of 36 days, and as long as 57 days, so they lose a substantial amount of weight during breeding season. Male gray seals stay near a group of females but don’t define or defend a particular territory. Males often mate with up to 10 females, though in sparsely populated icy or sandy areas they may only be able to find one mate. Females are mature when they are three to five years old. They come to shore shortly before giving birth and stay there, fasting, until their pups are weaned and they have mated, usually about three weeks. Mating can occur on land or ice or in water. Because they are lactating at the same time, they tend to lose more weight than males during the breeding and fasting period. Gray seals tend to stay in a particular area throughout the year, though they can travel more than 65 miles (over 100 km) offshore for short periods to search for food when necessary. Seals searching for food usually look for gravel or coarse sand seabeds, the habitat of their favorite food, sand eels. Usually, though, they forage locally and make routine rounds to find food. Gray seals in the U.S. and Canada molt in May and June. Top land speed recorded: 35 mph (56 kph) DIET Fish, sand eel, and skate are the most common sources of food. Diet varies by location, and individual gray seals can show strong preferences for a particular food. Less common food sources include crustaceans, mollusks, and even sea birds.  OFFSPRING Breeding interval: Annual Birthing period: January to February Average litter size: 1 pup Size at birth: 40 lbs (18 kg) TRIVIA Gray seals can dive as deep as 980 feet (300 m) and stay submerged for as long as 20 minutes. Sharks and killer whales are American gray seals’ most common predators. Gray seals are individualistic and have their own favorite foods, land sites, feeding locations, and hunting techniques.
	Click to enlarge an image Grey Seal with Pup Close-up of Grey Seal Young Grey Seal CLASSIFICATION Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Carnivora Suborder: Caniformia Superfamily: Pinnipedia Family: Phocidae Genus: Halichoerus Species: H. grypus
	Data Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Author: World Trade Press

Rhode Island State Insect
Yellow-banded Bumblebee (common name) Bombus terricola (scientific name) Overview A northeastern bee characterized by its distinct band of yellowish-brown hairs, the yellow-banded bumblebee was once widely distributed in the upper Midwest and eastern regions of United States, as well as large parts of southern Canada. The queen and workers have a yellow band on the thorax as well as on the second and third abdominal segments. A small patch of yellow is also present on the fringe of the fifth abdominal segment, while the head, legs, and the remaining segments are all black. Males are similar except for a tuft of yellow hair on the top of their heads and faces. The population of the species has declined sharply in some of its former range as a result of habitat loss, pesticides, climate change, competing species, and diseases spread by commercially reared bumblebees. Close-up STATUS Unofficial PHYSICAL DETAILS Wingspan: Queen:1.5–1.7 inch (4–4.5 cm) Worker:1–1.3 inch (2.5–3.5 cm) Total Length: Queen:0.6–0.7 inch (1.7–1.9 cm) Male:0.5–0.6 inch (1.3–1.7 cm) Worker:03–0.5 inch (0.9–1.4 cm) Larvae: White maggot-looking larvae without eyes or legs. Comprised of 13 segments, each of which has a pair of spiracles for respiration. LIFESPAN The queen can live up to a year, a worker up to 13 days, and males live from the summer to the fall. HABITAT Edge of forests, grasslands, and open flower-rich meadows. Range: Significant populations exist in the northeastern U.S., southeastern California, and southeastern British Columbia. Flight period: The queen overwinters and starts her nest-building activity and foraging in March or early April. During the breeding phase, she remains confined to the nest. The flight period of the males and workers extends throughout their adult life. Conservation status: Severe collapses in certainly regions and overall declines. BEHAVIOR These social insects form colonies of about 50 individuals. The nest is not as highly organized as that of honeybees, and is built by a single female on the ground within tunnels made by rodents or other animals. The female usually starts nest building after emerging from hibernation. She also prepares wax pots to keep her eggs and store food. One of the most striking behaviors of the bumblebee is "buzz pollination" or "sonication." The bee performs this act by grabbing the flower in its mouth and vibrating its flight muscles to release the pollen from the anther of the flower. This is particularly useful in flowers whose anthers have minute holes that make it difficult to dislodge the pollen, like peppers, tomatoes, blueberries, and cranberries. The bees unique ability to vibrate their flight muscles also helps to generate heat so that bumblebees can get airborne at lower temperatures compared to other species of bees. DIET Adults: They are generalist foragers, feeding on nectar and pollen from a variety of plants. Larvae: Pollen is the primary food with small amounts of nectar eaten as well. TRIVIA The population decline of several species of bumblebees, including the yellow-banded bumblebee, is largely due to spread of diseases by commercially produced bees that are transported throughout the United States. Many species of insect-pollinated plants have declined as a result of decline in bumblebee populations, and this has in turn disturbed the ecological balance in some areas. Conservation groups and bee scientists have asked the USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service to provide protection to these native pollinators against the threat of diseases by regulating the inter-state movements of commercial bees and certifying their disease-free status. The egg-to-adult metamorphosis process takes about five weeks. Fertilized eggs grow into females and queens, while the unfertilized ones become males. The larva hatches from the eggs, undergoes a phase of intense growth, and spins a silk cocoon around itself to enter into the next phase of growth, the pupal stage. The adult emerges from the silk cocoon. One of the earliest insects to emerge in spring, bumblebees forage on a variety of flowers and provide great value in agriculture by helping to pollinate a number of native plants, wildflowers, and crops including, raspberry, cranberry, potato, field beans, and alfalfa.
	Click to enlarge an image Bumblebee Harvesting Nectar Close-up of Bumblebee Bumblebee Feeding on Flower Colorful Bumblebee Bumblebee Coming in for a Landing CLASSIFICATION Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Arthropoda Class: Insecta Order: Hymenoptera Family: Apidae Genus: Bombus Species: B. terricola
	Author: World Trade Press

Rhode Island State Flower

Violet (common name)
Viola sororia (scientific name)

Overview

As in many states, Rhode Island's choice of state flower was made by schoolchildren, who did so in 1897. Violets became an unofficial state emblem, and were used in Arbor Day celebrations in state schools. It wasn’t until 1968 that the General Assembly passed a bill designating Viola palmata the official state flower. The plant’s official name has since been changed to Viola sororia. Viola sororia grows from rhizomes. Early in spring, the green, heart-shaped leaves emerge, one leaf per stem, usually growing in a circle. Later, buds form on separate stems that rise above the leaves. The flowers have five petals. The two petals point upwards, more or less next to each other. Two others extend outwards, one on each side. The bottom petal points downward.

Flowers are almost always purple with white to yellow mottled centers, though all-white flowers sometimes occur in the wild. Later in the summer, violets produce flowers that don’t open and remain hidden under the plant’s leaves. They pollinate themselves and later scatter the seeds, from which new plants can grow. Violets can also spread through their rhizomes. When conditions are favorable, plants can cover the ground, each forming a mat up to 50 cm wide. Most violets grow in the woods in places where there’s plenty of moisture and at least some shade.

Close-up

STATUS

Official

PHYSICAL DETAILS

Duration: Perennial
Plant: Rosette of smooth, scalloped-edged leaves; thin, straight, unbranched stems
Mature Height: 4 in (10 cm)
Flowering: March through June
Flowers: .75 in (2 cm) wide, 5 petals, yellow or white freckled center
Flower Color: Purple
Leaves: 1.2 in (3 cm wide), heart-shaped, mid-green, deeply veined
Fruit/Seed Color: : Brown

HABITAT

Location: Any partly shaded, slightly moist location.
Range: Eastern and central U.S. and into Canada, westward through North Dakota and south through Texas.

TRIVIA

• Though many types of violets are fragrant, Viola sororia has no scent. Both the flowers and leaves are edible, however, and can be used in salads or to decorate desserts. 
• In the wild, rabbits and deer sometimes eat the plants. Many woodland birds like to feed on the seeds, and wild turkeys will dig up the plants to get at the roots.

Click to enlarge an image

Violet

Cluster of Violet

Close-up of Violet

CLASSIFICATION
Kingdom:	Plantae
Subkingdom:	Tracheobionta
Superdivision:	Spermatophyta
Division:	Magnoliophyta
Class:	Magnoliopsida
Subclass:	Rosidae
Order:	Violales
Family:	Violaceae
Genus:	Viola
Species:	V. sororia

Author: World Trade Press

Rhode Island State Fish
Striped Bass (common name) Morone saxatilis (scientific name) Overview The striped bass has a streamlined body with a dark green to bluish-black back and silvery sides marked with seven to eight dark, horizontal stripes running from its gills to its tail. Bass are extremely popular sport fish that are born and live their first two years in freshwater and then migrate to saltwater when mature. The striped bass is the state fish of Rhode Island (2000), Maryland (1965), and South Carolina (1972), and the state saltwater fish of New York (1975). The striped bass is a very important fish historically to the Atlantic coast states both in terms of commercial and recreational fishing. In the 17th century, the Plymouth Plantation colonists were netting thousands of bass and salting them for use over the winter. By 1776, over-fishing had taken a toll on the bass and New York and Massachusetts prohibited all sales of the fish in the winter months. Continuous harvesting of striped bass continued into the 20th century, but a severe decline in the 1970s resulted in the increased regulation, conservation action, and some calls for a complete ban on the commercial fishing of striped bass. Close-up STATUS Official PHYSICAL DETAILS Length: Up to 48 in (122 cm); average of 24 in (60 cm) Weight: Up to 100 lbs (45 kg); average of 6.5 lbs (3 kg) LIFESPAN Up to 30 years HABITAT Inhabits large bodies of deep, clear ocean water no further than five miles (8 km) from shore; migrates to freshwater streams to spawn. Range: Native to the Atlantic coastline of North America from the St. Lawrence River to the St. John’s River in Florida with an isolated population on Louisiana’s gulf coast. Also introduced to the Pacific coast of North America and to large reservoirs all across the United States, as well as to Iran, Latvia, Mexico, Russia, South Africa, and Turkey. Water type: Saltwater, brackish water, and freshwater Water temp: 55-70°F (13-21°C) Elevation: Down to 650 feet (200 m) Conservation Status: Vulnerable DIET Fish (threadfin, gizzard shad, menhaden, herring, minnows), crabs, shrimp, squid, lobsters, and mollusks. Juvenile bass feed on plankton, insects, and freshwater shrimp. Feeding is primarily at dawn and dusk. REPRODUCTION Fertilization: External Spawning frequency: Mid-February to Early May Mating behavior: Distinct pairing Egg laying: Adults swim upstream and spawn below natural rock obstructions or dams. Several males will court a single female, who lays her eggs in moving freshwater or brackish water. A female can lay up to three million eggs. After the eggs are laid, males will brush against the female to stimulate spawning and their milt will fertilize the eggs. The eggs float freely for two days, without being guarded, before they hatch. USES Game fish, aquaculture OTHER NAMES Striper, rockfish, linesides, pimpfish TRIVIA The Chesapeake Bay is a spawning and nursery ground for 80 percent of the young striped bass along the Atlantic coast. In 1639, the state of Massachusetts forbade the use of the striped bass for fertilizer in what was the New World’s first conservation law. In 1879, Dr. Livingston Stone transported live striped bass from New Jersey to San Francisco in barrels and then introduced the fish into San Francisco Bay.
	Click to enlarge an image Detailed Drawing of Striped Bass Fresh Catch of Striped Bass Striped Bass Showing Size Close-up of Striped Bass CLASSIFICATION Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Actinopterygii Sub-Class: Osteichthyes Order: Perciformes Family: Moronidae Genus: Morone Species: Morone saxatilis
	Raw Data Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Author: World Trade Press

Rhode Island State Bird
Rhode Island Red (common name)  Gallus gallus (scientific name) Overview The Rhode Island red is America's best-known breed of chicken and one of the most popular types of domesticated fowl in the world. In 1954 it was designated the state bird of Rhode Island. The birds are red in more ways than one: their feathers range from rust-colored to a maroon-ish black; their eyes are red-orange; and they have reddish-brown beaks. Like most other domestic chickens, the Rhode Island red has yellow feet and flaps of bare red skin near its bill and forehead.  Males are much larger than females and have red wattles on their head and a "cape" of gold and bronze feathers on the back and lower back. The tail is composed of long, arching, iridescent black feathers that shimmer with green, blue, and purple. Roosters have a long spur on their lower leg, which is used in fights against other roosters. The female's plumage is pale brown, and she lacks head wattles. All domesticated chickens consume a diet of grain, although free-range chickens pick food off the ground and probe beneath the soil for seeds and grubs. Chickens have a wide range of calls to communicate and to alert their fellow birds to predators. A female Rhode Island red can produce up to 300 eggs per year. Close-up STATUS Official ALSO KNOWN AS Domestic chicken PHYSICAL DETAILS    Male Female  Size Length to end of tail: 24 in (60 cm) Wing from flexure: 20 in (51 cm) Length of tail: 3 1/4 in (8.25 cm) Length to end of tail: 20 in (51 cm) Wing from flexure: 15 in (38 cm) Length of tail: 2 1/2 in (6.35 cm)  Weight 8.5 lb (4 kg) 6.5 lb (3 kg) BEHAVIOR During the mating season male birds try to attract females with their "cock-a-doodle-doo" calls. Males will also flirt with females with a display called "tid-bitting" in which the male coaxes the female to pick up a piece of grain he has given to her. The male clucks and bobs his head to catch the female’s eye. The display ends when the hen takes the food either from the ground or from the male’s beak. This action is often a direct precursor to mating. Like other domesticated chickens, the Rhode Island red can’t really fly. It can jump and flap to perches above the ground. The chicken’s wild ancestor, the red junglefowl, is more like a pheasant and can fly for hundreds of yards. HABITAT Farms and pastures Migration: Non-migratory Conservation Status: Least Concern (LC) NESTING Nesting Period: summer months Size of Clutch: 8–12 eggs Incubation Period: 19–21 days Egg Description: Light brown to dark brown SIMILAR SPECIES red jungle fowl TRIVIA Like all domestic chickens, the Rhode Island red is descended from the red jungle fowl found in tropical and subtropical parts of South and Southeast Asia. Domestication of the bird has long been believed to date from 5,000–7,000 years ago in India. This particular breed is a cross between red Malay and Shanghai chickens bred in Rhode Island in the mid-1800s. Rhode Island reds are primarily used for egg production, although their meat is highly prized as well. These valuable qualities have led to its popularity around the world. Rhode Island reds are friendly chickens that are sometimes kept as pets for children, although they will peck when annoyed. In the small farms of their native Southeast Asia, they are a valued part of the family farm, and they are even trained to be taken into the forest by hunters in order to lure prey with their crowing.
	Click to enlarge an image Rhode Island Red Rooster Rhode Island Red Hen Rhode Island Red Close-up Rhode Island Red Chick CLASSIFICATION Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Galliformes Family: Phasianidae Genus: Gallus Species: G. gallus Subspecies: G. g. domesticus
	Author: World Trade Press

Welcome to Rhode Island
"The Ocean State" Officially known as Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, this tiny state was originally founded as a colony in 1663. One of the few settlements to maintain a largely peaceful relationship with the native populations, the colony, and later the state, was a land of firsts. Rhode Island enacted the first law prohibiting slavery in the colonies, in 1652, and was the first colony to declare independence from Britain. Strongly pro-Union, Rhode Island was the first state to send troops for the Union cause at the start of the Civil War. The first American synagogue was founded in Newport, and the first Baptist Church in Providence. The Blackstone River Valley is known as the "birthplace of the Industrial Revolution," thanks to the founding of Slater's Mill in 1793. Today Rhode Island's population, although largely Caucasian, offers an interesting mix of cultural backgrounds. The state has the largest percentage of Portuguese Americans and Liberian immigrants in the country, as well as a significant French-Canadian population. Religious practice, however, is more monolithic. More than 60 percent of Rhode Islanders identify as Roman Catholic, making Rhode Island the only state save Utah where the majority of residents are members of a single religious institution. Still, Rhode Island's historically inclusive culture underscores the fact that here, as always, anyone is welcome to call Rhode Island home. State Name: Rhode Island  State Nickname: "The Ocean State" State Motto: "Hope" Name for Residents: Rhode Islander Abbreviation: RI Time Zone: Eastern, GMT/UTC -5 / -4 (Daylight Savings Time) Capital City: Providence Date of Statehood: May 29, 1790 Statehood Rank: 13th State Area: 1,545 square miles (4,002 km²) Area Rank: 50 of 50 Number of Counties: 5 State Population: 1,050,788 (2008 estimate) Largest Cities:     Providence - 175,255 (2008)     Warwick - 85,925 (2008)     Cranston - 81,479 (2008) Major Rivers:     Pawcatuck River - Length: 30 mi (48 km)     Sakonnet River- Length: 23 mi (14 km)     Pawtuxet River - Length: 18 mi (11 km) Highest Point: Jerimoth Hill, 812 ft (247 m) Lowest Point: Atlantic Ocean (sea level) Bordering States and Countries:     Massachusetts (North)     Massachusetts (East)     Connecticut (West) Record High Temperature:     104°F (40°C)     August 2, 1975 at Providence Record Low Temperature:     -25°F (-32°C)     January 11, 1942 at Kingston
	Rhode Island State Flag Rhode Island State Seal Rhode Island Location Map Rhode Island
	Author: World Trade Press