By KARI BLURTON
Hays Post

Kansas has a state flower, a state bird and a state motto — now state fossils could soon be added to the list of state icons.

The Kansas Senate recently approved a bill designating a winged reptile and an ancient sea creature as the state’s official fossils.

The bill is now at the desk of Gov. Sam Brownback to sign and officially recognize the flying pteranodon and the sea-roaming tylosaurus as state fossils.

Brownback is said to be supportive of the measure and is expected to sign the bill soon.

According to Fort Hays State University’s Sternberg Museum of Natural History Director Reese Barrick, both fossils and their replications are on display at the Hays museum.

Barrick said he is excited about how close the state fossil designation is to becoming a reality.

“Kansas is one of the best places in the world for fossils,” said Barrick, “yet we are one of 10 states that didn’t have a state fossil, which was sort of incredulous to me.

“Especially over here in western Kansas (where the fossils are most commonly found),” he added. “So when it came about that we going to get this through – and not have just one but two (state fossils) – that are some our our most spectacular finds at the museum – I was pretty ecstatic”