A coalition of New Jersey fourth graders says the endangered bog turtle has gone unrecognized for too long, and the students are calling on the state Assembly to honor it as the official state reptile.

After two years of effort, a group of Princeton public school students has finally gotten a bill before state legislators. At a committee meeting this week, the members of Bog Turtle for New Jersey State Reptile made their case for why the turtle should be given this recognition.

"We feel that the bog turtle should be New Jersey's state reptile because it is not the state reptile in any other state," Benjamin Murphy told state leaders.

Others were concerned that without more awareness and action on the bog turtle's behalf, the tiny reptile could disappear.

"We estimate it to be about 2,500 to 10,000 in the whole world. If we don't help them now or in the future, bog turtles might be on the verge of extinction," student Anna Kauffman said.

The bill will next go up for a vote before the full Assembly.