This native Texas fox is about the size of a typical house cat with the distinctive fluffy tail and long snout characteristic of most fox species.
You may also like: 8 Species of Woodpeckers in Nebraska (Pictures) Swift Fox Swift fox in the field | image by USFWS Mountain-Prairie via Wikimedia Commons Since then, the species has been given protection by both the federal government and the state government in Texas to ensure the species does not further fall in population size. Unfortunately, the species has been exploited for the pet trade, leading to their status being listed as threatened in 1977. Texas tortoise | image by Valley Nature Center via Flickr | CC BY 2.0 Although they can eat meat, they’re mostly known to be gentle animals that prefer eating vegetarian diets. This unique tortoise has horned plates on its shell, making it stand out from other similar species. The Texas tortoise is another threatened species that are native to Texas. The species is relatively social and lives in troops, mostly consisting of related females. They’re small carnivorous animals that mainly feed on insects, small rodents, and lizards. The coati belongs to the Procyonidae family, along with raccoons and ringtails. They are widely found in Mexico and Central America but range up into southern Texas. The white-nosed coati is a threatened species in Texas, primarily found in woodlands and canyons. Coati Coati sitting on a tree branch | image by zoofanatic via Flickr | CC BY 2.0 The Texas horned lizard is listed as threatened on the IUCN Red List. The species nests and hibernates in the ground, so always look down for the best chance to spot one of these lizards as they may be sitting in loose sand or soil. The Texas horned lizard prefers sparse plant cover rather than very wooded or forested areas. When looking for one of these reptiles in Texas, look at arid habitats that have open areas.
This lizard is sometimes referred to as a “horny toad” due to its flat body. However, the Texas horned lizard only ranges from Colorado to Kansas, then down into northern Mexico. Total, the family comprises about 14 species that can be found in North America. This lizard (pictured above) belongs to a larger family of reptiles with spiky bodies. The Texas Horned Lizard Texas horned lizard on rocky surface | image by Paul Hurtado via Flickr | CC BY-SA 2.0 In northern areas they sometimes move further south for the winter. They prefer to nest on the ground near shallow water such as ponds. These animals thrive in the warm climates of Texas and Mexico, and in recent years their numbers have been rapidly increasing. Scientific name: Dendrocygna autumnalis autumnalis However, their bites are relatively harmless. They can reach as long as six feet, and can act aggressive towards humans. This non venomous rat snake can be found all over the state of Texas, and have been found as far as Louisiana and Arkansas. Scientific name: Elaphe obsoleta lindheimeri Texas rat snake Texas rat snake | image by Ed Utham via Flickr | CC BY 2.0
This makes for a diverse grouping of native wildlife. Because of Texas’s proximity to Mexico, many species that cannot be found in most North American states migrate to southern Texas. However, many native animals to Texas are unique and harder to spot in other states. This includes raccoons, coyotes, white-tailed deer, the Mexican free-tailed bat, and gray squirrels. Some of the native animals found in Texas are species that are seen across the entirety of the United States. Because of the wide diversity of species, this article will break down some of Texas’s wildlife into categories such as native vs. Texas not only has some very unique animals, but they also have rare and at-risk species. Texas is an excellent place for wildlife lovers, with over 140 different mammals calling the state home.
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