Many US states have state symbols such as an official flower, bird or tree – but Maryland is the first state to designate a state shark.

The megalodon was one of the largest predators to ever exist and inspired sci-fi action blockbusters The Meg and Meg 2: The Trench.

Maryland’s House of Delegates first passed a bill which says the “macro predator provides evidence for the rich fossil history preserved in Maryland”.

“There are extant sharks in both the Chesapeake Bay and Maryland’s coastal waters, and the megalodon, although extinct, lived in this area for millions of years and is a reminder of the important role modern and prehistoric sharks have played in shaping past and present ecosystems,” it adds.

The bill also notes that Maryland’s Calvert Marine Museum “houses over 1,700 fossilized megalodon teeth, including the only associated dentition (over 50 teeth from one individual) of the shark ever found within the State”.

Despite concerns the state Senate would not have time to pass the bill, it did so on the final day of the legislative session, WMAR 2 News reports.

The legislation now awaits the signature of Maryland’s governor before it can come into effect.