Wildlife Techniques: Texas Ecoregions

Pineywoods

Far East Texas

Covered in Pines & Oaks with Rich Bottom Lands

Avg rainfall: 36 - 50 in

Animals: Gray Fox, River Otter, Flying Squirrel, Bull Frog, Swamp Rabbit

Gulf Prairie / Marshes

Texas Coasts

Includes barrier islands, salt-grass marshes. estuaries, and woodlands

Avg rainfall: 30-50 in

Elevation: <150ft

Animals: Muskrat, Black Bear, Spoon Bills, Alligators, Whooping Crane

*Hot Spot for fish spawning and bird migration

Post Oak Savanna

East Central Texas

Serves as a transition between the Oak forest and Great Plains

Avg Rainfall: 28-40 in

Elevation: 300-800 ft

Animals: Elms/Maples, Deer, Blue Stem Grasses, Armadillo, Cotton-tails

*Cattle ranching is the main industry

Blackland Prairies

East Central Texas

Known for Black Soils

Avg rainfall: 28 - 40 in

Elevation: 300-800 ft

Animals: Skunks, Timber Rattlesnake, Bald Eagle

*Agriculture and Cattle are primary industry

Cross Timbers

North / Central Texas

Includes plains, prairies, and scattered trees

Avg Rainfall: 28 - 40 in

Elevation: 500 - 1500 ft

Animals: Pecans/oaks, Bobcats, quail, coyote

South Texas Plains

South Texas

Includes Thorny shrubs/trees and subtropic woodlands

Avg Rainfall: 20 -32 in

Elevation: 19-810 ft

Animals: Mesquite/Acacia/Prickly Pear, Leopard frog, jackrabbit, indigo snake, TX tortoise

*Agriculture & Livestock are the primary industry

*Home to subtropic species from Mexico as well as various other grassland and desert species

Edwards Plateau (Texas Hill Country)

Central / Southwest Texas

Includes Springs, Stony Hills, Canyons underlain with limestone

Avg rainfall: 15 - 34 in

Elevation: 100-3000 ft

Animals: Bald Eagle, Badgers, Guadalupe bass, Mexican free-tailed Bats, Juniper/oaks

*Ranching is the primary industry

*Edwards Aquifer and other rare species dwell in this area

Rolling Plains

NOrth Central Texas

Includes Broad flats, rolling hills, rivers, mesquites and short grasses

Avg rainfall: 20-28 in

Elevation: 800-3000ft

Animals: Mountain lion, Turkey, Deer, Juniper/yucca

*Crop and livestock are primary industry

High Plains

Panhandle

Includes high plateaus that are separated by Caprock escarpment

Avg rainfall: 15-22 in

Elevation: 3000-45000 ft

Animals: Swift Fox, Red-tailed Hawk, Cottonwoods

*Irrigated Croplands

*Agriculture is primary industry

Trans-Pecos

Far West Texas

Avg rainfall: <12 in

Elevation: 2500-8800 ft

Animals: Agara, Yucca, Mountain Lions, collard lizard, Kit fox, TP rat snake

*Ranching is the primary industry

Animals in Cross Timbers

Quail, Bobcat, Coyote

Animals in Pineywoods

Grey Fox, River Otter, Swamp Rabbit

Animals in Gulf Prairie / Marshes

Alligators, Muskrat, Spoonbills

Animals in Post Oak Savanna

White tail deer, armadillo, cotton-tail

Animals in Blackland Prairie

Skunk, Timber rattlesnake, Bald Eagle

Animals in South Texas Plains

Indigo snake, leopard frog, TX tortoise

Animals in Edwards Plateau

Badgers, Bald Eagles, Guadalupe Bass

Animals in Rolling Plains

Mountain Lion, Deer, turkey

Animals in the High Plains

Red tail hawk and swift fox

Animals in the Trans-Pecos

Mountain lions, Kit Fox, collard lizard

How many mammal species are there in Texas?

202

How many reptile species are there in Texas

160

How many bird species are there in Texas

600

How many amphibian species are there in Texas

71

How many freshwater species are there in Texas

260

How many mammal species are endemic?

name one species

6

Texas Pocket Gopher

How many reptile species are endemic?

Name one species

8

Texas Cooter

How many amphibian species are endemic?

Name one species

8

Texas Blind salamander

How many freshwater species are endemic?

Name one species

1

Guadalupe Bass

How many species in TX are threatened?

80