The plant and animal kingdoms in Texas are a source of fascination. Thousands of plant varieties and more than 500 animal species call Texas home, and their compelling assortment is as diverse as the state’s landscape. There’s the expected (cacti, armadillos, and longhorn cattle) and the unexpected (pine forests, badgers, and cougars).
More than 750 miles separate the eastern and western portions of the state, and the northern and southern tips are nearly 800 miles apart; the resulting broad range of life throughout Texas is rather stunning. Texas’s foliar variety mirrors its geographic regions, with 10 corresponding vegetational areas ranging from Gulf Marshes to High Plains. The state’s wildlife is tied to its geography and climate. Most of Texas’s mammals (aside from livestock) live in warmer, forested areas, and many exceptional birds and insects pass through the state on migratory routes.