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Topographic map of Texas
This is a list of mammals of Texas. Mammals native to or immediately off the coast of the U.S. state of Texas are listed first. Introduced mammals, whether intentional or unintentional, are listed separately.
The varying geography of Texas, the second largest state, provides a large variety of habitats for mammals. The land varies from swamps , Piney Woods in the east , rocky hills and limestone karst in the central Hill Country of the Edwards Plateau , desert in the south and west , mountains in the far west (the Trans-Pecos ), and grassland prairie in the north, also known as the Panhandle .[ 1] [ 2] [ 3] The state's many rivers, including the Rio Grande , the Colorado River , and the Trinity River , also provide diverse river habitats.[ 4] [ 5] Its central position in the United States means that species found primarily in either the western or eastern reaches of the country often have their ranges meeting in the state. Additionally, its proximity to Mexico is such that many species found there and into Central America also range as far north as Texas.[ 1]
Texas recognizes three official mammals: the nine-banded armadillo , the Texas Longhorn , and the Mexican free-tailed bat . State law protects numerous species. The state also recognizes the Texas State Bison Herd at Caprock Canyons State Park since 2011,[ 6] the state Longhorn herd at multiple state parks since 1969,[ 7] [ 6] and the state dog breed, Blue Lacy since 2005.[ 6]
The state mammals were all named by the legislature in 1995.
[ 8]
Dasypodidae is a family of armoured mammals found mainly in Latin America .[ 9]
Vespertilionidae
Species
Common name
Distribution
Status
Image
Aeorestes cinereus
Hoary bat
Found in mature forested areas across the state[ 11]
Antrozous pallidus
Pallid bat
Commonly found in the western half of Texas, including the panhandle.[ 13] [ 11]
Corynorhinus rafinesquii
Rafinesque's big-eared bat
Found in small localities in the Pineywoods of East Texas.[ 11]
Corynorhinus townsendii
Townsend's big-eared bat
Commonly found in the western half of Texas, including the panhandle. Population in West Texas and Panhandle are divided into subspecies.[ 11]
Dasypterus ega
Southern yellow bat
Found in seven counties in the Rio Grande Valley .[ 11]
Dasypterus intermedius
Northern yellow bat
Occurs in the eastern and southern part of the state, including along the coast.[ 11]
Dasypterus xanthinus
Western yellow bat
Reported in the southernmost counties of Texas surrounding Big Bend National Park .[ 11]
Eptesicus fuscus
Big brown bat
Found primarily iy the eastern, northern and western parts of the state.[ 11]
Euderma maculatum
Spotted bat
Found only in Big Bend National Park .[ 11]
Lasionycteris noctivagans
Silver-haired bat
Found in forested areas across the state, not seen often in cities.[ 11]
Lasiurus blossevillii
Desert red bat
One specimen found in Presidio County in 1988[ 11]
Lasiurus borealis
Eastern red bat
Found state-wide, but most commonly found in the eastern and central part of the state[ 11]
Lasiurus seminolus
Seminole bat
Found in the eastern part of the state[ 11]
Myotis austroriparius
Southeastern myotis
Found in eastern Texas caves[ 11]
Myotis californicus
California myotis
Found primarily in the Chihuahuan Desert and Trans-Pecos region of Texas[ 11]
Myotis ciliolabrum
Western small-footed myotis
Found primarily in the Trans-Pecos mountains and small populations in the panhandle[ 11]
Myotis occultus
Arizona myotis
One found in Hudspeth Co., likely a migrant individual.[ 11]
Myotis septentrionalis
Northern long-eared myotis
Only one specimen ever found in Dimmit Co.[ 11]
Myotis thysanodes
Fringed myotis
Found in the Trans-Pecos region, with one migrant speciment collected in the Panhandle.[ 11]
Myotis velifer
Cave myotis
Found in most areas in Texas except the Pineywoods.[ 11]
Myotis volans
Long-legged myotis
Found in the Trans-Pecos region, with one migrant speciment collected in the Panhandle.[ 11]
Myotis yumanensis
Yuma myotis
Found in south Texas along the Rio Grande River.[ 11]
Nycticeius humeralis
Evening bat
Found widespread throughout the state except for the Panhandle, with westward expansion of their range.[ 11]
Parastrellus hesperus
Canyon bat
Found in the western half of the state, especially the Trans-Pecos Mountains.[ 11]
Perimyotis subflavus
Tricolored bat
Found in most regions of Texas except the Trans-Pecos.[ 11]
Canidae
Species
Common name
Distribution
Status
Image
Canis latrans
Coyote
ubiquitous throughout Texas
Canis lupus
Gray wolf
all subspecies previously found in Texas are either extinct or extirpated; see below
C. l. baileyi
Mexican wolf
extirpated
C. l. monstrabilis
Texas wolf
extinct
C. l. nubilus
Great Plains wolf
extinct
Canis rufus
Red wolf
extirpated
Urocyon cinereoargenteus
Gray fox
Ubiquitous throughout Texas.[ 11]
Vulpes macrotis
Kit fox
Found in the Trans-Pecos and Edwards Plateau regions.[ 11]
Vulpes velox
Swift fox
Found in the Panhandle region.[ 11]
Mustelidae
Species
Common name
Distribution
Status
Image
Lontra canadensis
North American river otter
Found historically along tributaries and rivers of the Red River . Has been limited further east,[ 11] but recently found as far west as Abilene.[ 18]
Mustela nigripes
Black-footed ferret
Extirpated. Before extirpation, was found wherever prairie dogs were in the Panhandle.[ 11]
Neogale frenata
Long-tailed weasel
Secretive species with few scientific records across the state. Found in a variety of habitats where water is present. Not found in the northern Panhandle.[ 11]
Neogale vison
American mink
Found in the eastern half of the state where water is present.[ 11]
Taxidea taxus
American badger
Found throughout the state except the far eastern Pineywoods.Habitat loss pushes it further east.[ 11]
Tayassuidae
Species
Common name
Distribution
Status
Image
Dicotyles tajacu
Collared peccary
Mostly restricted to western Texas and south of San Antonio. Introduced populations occur in north Texas[ 11]
Antilocapridae
Species
Common name
Distribution
Status
Image
Antilocapra americana
Pronghorn
Native to Central and Western Texas; considered the pronghorn's easternmost range
Erethizontidae
Species
Common name
Distribution
Status
Image
Erethizon dorsatum
North American porcupine
Found in the western half of the state.[ 11]
Balaenopteridae
Species
Common name
Distribution
Status
Image
Balaenoptera acutorostrata
Minke whale
Seen stranded occasionally, rare sightings. Last seen in Texas in the 1980s.[ 28] [ 11]
Balaenoptera brydei Balaenoptera edeni
Bryde's whale
Seen yearly in every season but the fall in shallow waters. Taxonomy up to debate[ 11] [ 28]
Balaenoptera musculus
Blue whale
Balaenoptera physalus
Fin whale
Megaptera novaeangliae
Humpback whale
Kogiidae is a family of whales.
Physeteridae is a monotypic family of whales only containing the extant Physeter macrocephalus .
Physeteridae
Species
Common name
Distribution
Status
Image
Physeter macrocephalus
Sperm whale
Introduced/invasive mammals[ edit ]
Canidae
Species
Common name
Distribution
Status
Image
Vulpes vulpes
Red fox
While native to North America, red foxes were introduced to Texas and have expanded over most of the state, except the far western and southern regions[ 11] [ 32] [ 33]
Suidae
Species
Common name
Distribution
Status
Image
Sus scrofa
Wild boar
Ubiquitous throughout Texas
Bovidae (antelopes & sheep)[ edit ]
Bovidae
Species
Common name
Distribution
Status
Image
Ammotragus lervia
Barbary sheep
Antilope cervicapra
Blackbuck
Boselaphus tragocamelus
Nilgai
Muridae (Old World mice & rats)[ edit ]
Muridae
Species
Common name
Distribution
Status
Image
Mus musculus
House mouse
Ubiquitous throughout Texas
Rattus norvegicus
Brown rat
Widespread throughout Texas, however not as common in the southern half of Texas as Rattus rattus [ 11]
Rattus rattus
Black rat
Ubiquitous throughout Texas
Myocastoridae (nutria)[ edit ]
Myocastoridae
Species
Common name
Distribution
Status
Image
Myocastor coypus
Nutria
Invasive species in eastern two-thirds of Texas, currently expanding westward[ 34]
Notes and references [ edit ]
^ a: Conservation status at a world level of the species according to the IUCN Red List :
Conservation status - IUCN Red List of Threatened Species :
EX - Extinct
EW - Extinct in the wild
CR - Critically endangered
EN - Endangered
VU - Vulnerable
NT - Near threatened
LC - Least concern
DD - Data deficient
NE - Not evaluated
^ a b c "Texas Ecoregions" . Texas Parks & Wildlife Department . Archived from the original on November 5, 2020. Retrieved October 3, 2020 .
^ "Native Habitats & Ecosystems" . Audubon . December 17, 2015. Archived from the original on March 16, 2018. Retrieved October 3, 2020 .
^ "Ecoregion Download Files by State - Region 6" . Environmental Protection Agency . March 9, 2016. Archived from the original on July 25, 2020. Retrieved October 3, 2020 .
^ "Texas River Guide" . Texas Parks & Wildlife Department . Archived from the original on September 29, 2020. Retrieved October 3, 2020 .
^ "Texas" . National Wild and Scenic Rivers System . Archived from the original on October 2, 2018. Retrieved October 3, 2020 .
^ a b c "Texas State Symbols" . Texas State Library and Archives Commission . Retrieved October 18, 2023 .
^ "Legendary Longhorns" . Texas Historical Commission . Retrieved October 18, 2023 .
^ "Learn About Texas State Symbols" (PDF) . Texas Parks and Wildlife Publications . Texas Parks & Wildlife. Retrieved October 18, 2023 .
^ "Armadillo" . Britannica . Archived from the original on October 18, 2020. Retrieved October 16, 2020 .
^ "Nine-Banded Armadillo" . Texas Parks & Wildlife Department . Archived from the original on October 18, 2020. Retrieved October 12, 2020 .
^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba bb bc bd be bf bg bh bi bj bk bl bm bn bo bp bq br bs bt bu bv Schmidley, David. "The Mammals of Texas, Online Edition (7th Edition)" . Texas Tech Natural Science Research Laboratory . University of Texas Press. Archived from the original on October 24, 2020. Retrieved October 17, 2020 .
^ "Ghost-faced Bat (Mormoops megalophylla )" . Texas Parks & Wildlife Department . Archived from the original on October 14, 2020. Retrieved October 13, 2020 .
^ "Pallid Bat (Antrozous pallidus )" . Texas Parks & Wildlife Department . Archived from the original on October 17, 2020. Retrieved October 16, 2020 .
^ "Velvety Free-tailed Bat" . iNaturalist . September 10, 2023. Retrieved February 5, 2024 .
^ Giordano, A.J. (2016). "Ecology and status of the jaguarundi Puma yagouaroundi : a synthesis of existing knowledge" (PDF) . Mammal Review . 46 (1): 30–43. doi :10.1111/mam.12051 .
^ Kays, R.W.; Wilson, D. E. (2002). Mammals of North America . Illustrated by Sandra Doyle, Nancy Halliday, Ron Klingner, Elizabeth McClelland, Consie Powell, Wendy Smith, Todd Zalewski, Diane Gibbons, Susan C. Morse, Jesse Guertin. Princeton and Oxford: Princeton University Press. ISBN 0-691-07012-1 .
^ "NatureServe Explorer 2.0" . explorer.natureserve.org . Retrieved August 10, 2023 .
^ Procopio, Michael (February 2020). "North American River Otter at Abilene State Park" . iNaturalist . Retrieved October 18, 2023 .
^ Meyer, John R. (December 2006). "The Last Texas Grizzly" . Texas Parks & Wildlife . Archived from the original on August 10, 2020. Retrieved October 12, 2020 .
^ "Mexican grizzly bear (extinct)" . Bear Conversation . Archived from the original on December 27, 2019. Retrieved October 12, 2020 .
^ NatureServe. 1989. Cervus elaphus merriami , Merriam's Elk. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. Available https://explorer.natureserve.org/Taxon/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.103499/Cervus_elaphus_merriami . Accessed 9 December 2021.
^ Texas Parks & Wlidlife. "Texas State Bison Herd" (PDF) . Texas Parks and Wildlife . Retrieved July 7, 2021 .
^ "Eastern Mole" . Natural Science Research Laboratory . Texas Tech University. Archived from the original on October 19, 2020. Retrieved October 16, 2020 .
^ Matson, J.; Woodman, N.; Castro-Arellano, I.; de Grammont, P.C. (2015). "Scalopus aquaticus " . IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2016 . doi :10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T41471A22319923.en . Retrieved October 14, 2022 .
^ "West Indian Manatee" . Natural Science Research Laboratory . Texas Tech University. Retrieved October 16, 2020 .
^ "Texas (TX) United States" . Observation.org . Retrieved February 5, 2024 .
^ "Virginia Opossum (Didelphis virginiana )" . Texas Parks & Wildlife Department . Archived from the original on October 17, 2020. Retrieved October 16, 2020 .
^ a b Würsig, Bernd (June 27, 2017). Habitats and Biota of the Gulf of Mexico: Before the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill . New York, NY: Springer. pp. 1489–1587. doi :10.1007/978-1-4939-3456-0_5 . ISBN 978-1-4939-3456-0 . S2CID 134821188 . Archived from the original on October 26, 2020. Retrieved October 22, 2020 .
^ "Killer Whale" . Natural Science Research Laboratory . Texas Tech University. Archived from the original on October 18, 2020. Retrieved October 24, 2020 .
^ Baker, Ed (August 5, 2005). "The Legendary Snow Monkeys of Texas: A brief open season on monkeys resulted in protections for them in the Lone Star State" . The Austin Chronicle . Archived from the original on June 5, 2011. Retrieved May 3, 2011 .
^ Born Free USA: Primate Sanctuary: About the Sanctuary , 2003–2011, archived from the original on April 20, 2011, retrieved May 3, 2011
^ Potts, Allen (1912). Fox Hunting in America . Washington: The Carnahan Press. pp. 7 , 38. Retrieved July 9, 2016 .
^ "Introducing Mammals to Young Naturalists - Red Foxes" . Texas Parks & Wildlife . Archived from the original on October 23, 2020. Retrieved October 22, 2020 .
^ "Nutria" . Natural Science Research Laboratory . Texas Tech University. Archived from the original on October 17, 2020. Retrieved October 17, 2020 .