Texas, the second largest state in the United States in terms of area, forms a significant part of the southern and central regions of the country. The state comprises the southern portion of the Great Plains, with northern Texas characterized by vast open plain lands. The central part of the state has rolling hills, which gradually transform into rugged rocky terrains towards the west. The Gulf Coast features expansive shorelines and marshes. Many rivers, including the Rio Grande, flow through all sides of the state. With its deserts, prairies, fertile valleys, and dense forests, Texas is the US state with the highest biodiversity.
It has numerous national parks and wildlife sanctuaries, including the Big Bend National Park, Franklin Mountains State Park, and Padre Island National Seashore. Texas is home to such rich wildlife that the capital city of Austin has raccoons, foxes, deer, snakes, and spiders among the common backyard animals. Below is a list of the most common and notable animals native to the state.
List of Different Types of Animals Found in Texas
Mammals
The list includes the most common and notable wild animals native to the state. Despite being one of the State Mammals, and a symbol for the state, the Texas Longhorn has not been included in the list because it is a breed of beef cattle.
Three species of wolves, the red, gray, and Mexican, used to live in Texas, but their populations have been extirpated. Similarly, wild cats like jaguar, jaguarundi, and margay were once found in Texas. Grizzly bears have also been extirpated.
Animals Commonly Found in Different Parts of Texas
North Texas
Big brown bat, red fox, American mink, coyote, broad-banded copperhead
South Texas
Mexican long-tongued bat, northern yellow bat, collared peccary, Texas horned lizard, Texas tortoise
East Texas
Big brown bat, Northern yellow bat, Red fox, Eastern mole, coyote
West Texas
Big brown bat, Collared peccary, pronghorn, Gambel’s quail
Exotic and Invasive Animals in Texas
Texas is home to many exotic ungulates, including blackbuck antelope, aoudad sheep, Thomson’s gazelle, axis deer, nilgai, sika deer, and feral pig. Most of these animals arrived in the country during its discovery, remaining as domesticated or big game animals. These exotic game animals live in many ranches in Texas, where people can hunt them with proper licenses.
Most of these animals are fenced within their territory. In contrast, some ‘free-roming’ animals have established a stable population and even spread to the neighboring states. The most common example of such an animal would be the feral pig.
There are about 12 venomous snakes (10 rattlers), deadly enough to kill you, including copperheads, cottonmouths, coral snakes, Massasauga, timber, and Mojave rattlesnakes. Venomous arachnids like the black widow, brown recluse, and striped bark scorpion are also native to the state. Cougars, black bears, and coyotes are among Texas’s most dangerous animals.
What are the rarest Texan animals?
Texas has several species listed as threatened or endangered, making it rare to spot one of these animals in the wild. A few examples of endangered animals in the state include the Texas horned lizard, Texas kangaroo rat, golden-cheeked warbler, and whooping crane. State laws protect all these species.
Texas has an active night (wild) life, with animals like cougars, coyotes, foxes, raccoons, badgers, and night snakes on the prowl. Bats, owls, and other night birds, like the black-crowned night heron are flying animals and birds you may encounter.
