BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — Massachusetts is one step closer to adopting an official state dinosaur.
State Representative Jack Lewis originally came up with the idea to have a state dinosaur as a way to ignite interest in science and the legislative process among kids in Massachusetts.
He then sent out a poll on social media asking residents to vote for their favorite option, and 35 thousand votes later — the Podokesaurus Holyokensis won the candidacy by over 60 percent.
The first fossil of the two-legged carnivore was discovered near Mount Holyoke in 1910 by Mignon Talbot, the first woman to name a dinosaur. It's full name can be translated to "swift-footed lizard of Holyoke."
The other option was an Anchisaurus Polyzelus. The bones of the creature were first discovered in 1855 in Springfield, and were among the earliest dinosaur remains from North America.
Lewis announced on Thursday at the Museum of Science that he has filed the legislation, and he is now asking all prehistoric fans to reach out to their elected representatives to show their support of the proposal.
If it passes, Massachusetts would join around a dozen other U.S. states that already have an official dinosaur to represent them.
WBZ NewsRadio's Carl Stevens (@CarlWBZ) reports.
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(Photo: Getty Images)
Written by Rachel Armany