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.
White-tailed Deer
Pronghorn
American Black Bear
Coyote
Cougar
Bobcat
Gray Fox
Red Fox
Common Raccoon
Striped Skunk
Eastern Spotted Skunk
American Beaver
Nine-banded Armadillo
American Badger
Virginia Opossum
Fox Squirrel
Eastern Cottontail
Eastern Gray Squirrel
North American Porcupine
Eastern Woodrat
Eastern Mole
Texas Pocket Gopher
Texas Mouse
Southern Flying Squirrel
Desert Cottontail
Black-tailed Jackrabbit
Plains Pocket Gopher
Rock Squirrel
Collared Peccary (Javelina)
Virginia Northern Flying Squirrel
Hispid Cotton Rat
Merriam’s Pocket Mouse
Eastern Harvest Mouse
Eastern Chipmunk
Southern Short-tailed Shrew
Mexican Free-tailed Bat
Eastern Pipistrelle Bat
Brazilian Free-tailed Bat
Mexican Long-nosed Bat
Big Brown Bat
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.
Birds
Northern Cardinal
Northern Mockingbird
Northern Black-bellied Whistling Duck
Mourning Dove
American Robin
Blue Jay
American Crow
Red-winged Blackbird
Great-tailed Grackle
House Sparrow
Carolina Wren
Red-tailed Hawk
Northern Harrier
Reptiles
Alligator
Red-eared Slider
Texas River Cooter
Common Snapping Turtle
Three-toed Box Turtle
Texas Rat Snake
Bullsnake
Gopher Snake
Western Hognose Snake
Common Kingsnake
Texas Garter Snake
Plains Garter Snake
Common Garter Snake
Diamondback Water Snake
Northern Red-bellied Snake
Northern Ring-necked Snake
Smooth Green Snake
Long-nosed Snake
Western Yellow-bellied Racer
Plains Black-headed Snake
Northern Rubber Boa
Western Ribbon Snake
Western Worm Snake
Queen Snake
Coachwhip Snake
Texas Brown Snake
Rough Green Snake
Texas Red-bellied Snake
Rough Earth Snake
Western Patch-nosed Snake
Trans-Pecos Rat Snake
Texas Night Snake
Texas Coral Snake
Broad-banded Copperhead
Northern Cottonmouth
Western Diamondback
Timber Rattlesnake
Mojave Rattlesnake
Prairie Rattlesnake
Desert Massasauga
Western Massasauga
Western Pigmy Rattlesnake
Green Anole
Texas Spiny Lizard
Eastern Fence Lizard
Greater Earless Lizard
Texas Horned Lizard
Mexican Spinytail Iguana
Five-lined Skink
Short-lined Skink
Texas Spotted Whiptail
Amphibians
American Bullfrog
Southern Leopard Frog
Rio Grande Leopard Frog
Blanchard’s Cricket Frog
Green Treefrog
Cope’s Gray Treefrog
Great Plains Toad
Gulf Coast Toad
Eastern Tiger Salamander
Spotted Salamander
Smallmouth Salamander
Central Newt
Texas Blind Salamander
Eastern Newt
Greater Siren
Gulf Coast Waterdog
Fishes
Largemouth Bass
Striped Bass
White Bass
Guadalupe Bass
White Crappie
Black Crappie
Channel Catfish
Blue Catfish
Northern Pike
Texas Shiner
Flathead Catfish
Redfish (Red Drum)
Black Drum
Gulf Flounder
Sheepshead
Speckled Trout
Southern Flounder
Spanish Mackerel
King Mackerel
Atlantic Croaker
Gulf Menhaden
Bluegill
Redbreast Sunfish
Walleye
Alligator Gar
Longnose Gar
Spotted Gar
Insects and Invertebrates
Monarch Butterfly
Black Swallowtail Butterfly
American Cockroach
Texas Wasp
Texas Mosquito
Texas Longhorn Beetle
Ladybug
Eastern Lubber Grasshopper
Giant Katydid
Texas Cicada
Texas Paper Wasp
Texas Leafcutter Ant
Western Conifer Seed Bug
Texas Millipede
Bold Jumping Spider
Black Widow
Brown Recluse Spider
Striped Bark Scorpion
Texas Brown Tarantula
State Animals of Texas
State Large Mammal
Texas Longhorn
State Small Mammal
Nine-banded Armadillo
State Flying Mammal
Mexican Free-tailed Bat
State Bird
Northern Mockingbird
State Reptile
Texas Horned Lizard
State Fish
Guadalupe Bass
State Insect
Monarch Butterfly
State Shell
Lightning Whelk
State Horse
American Quarter Horse
State Dog
Blue Lacy
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.
FAQ
What are the most dangerous animals in Texas?
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.
What are some common nocturnal animals in Texas?
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.
