Texas has three state animals: the nine-banded armadillo, the Mexican free-tailed bat, and the Longhorn cattle. Armadillos have nine bands on their scaly skin and give birth to identical quadruplets. Mexican free-tailed bats use echolocation to fly and gather in groups to raise their young. Longhorn cattle are raised for beef and are a symbol of Texas, even used as the nickname for the University of Texas sports teams.
There are a number of state animals in Texas, divided into categories. Texas’ small state animal is the nine-banded armadillo. The scientific name of its species is Dasypus novemcinctus and it is native to Mexico. The flying mammalian state animal of Texas is the Mexican free-tailed bat or Tadarida brasiliensis, a species of medium-sized bat. The large state mammal of Texas is the Longhorn, a breed of cattle with characteristically long horns, which are often used as a symbol of Texas.
The nine-banded armadillo, state animal of Texas in the small mammal class, gets its name from the nine bands in its scaly skin or armor, although the number may differ. They are normally the size of a cat and are found in all areas of Texas with a mild climate. They do not survive in areas that are too dry or have freezing conditions as they rely on the ground soft enough to dig for food and make burrows. Their diet consists mainly of insects and larvae, although they may sometimes eat vegetation and eggs.
Nine-banded armadillos are one of a small group of animals that produce identical, same-sex quadruplets from an egg, every time they reproduce. The gestation period is around 150 days and they give birth in a burrow. The babies stay with their mother for up to a year after birth before moving in on their own.
The state animal of Texas, in the flying mammal category, is the Mexican free-tailed bat. They are about 3.5 inches (9 cm) tall, a good portion of which is the tail, hence the name. They live in groups, mostly in caves, but may roost in buildings. Mexican free-tailed bats, like other bats, are nocturnal and fly using echolocation rather than vision. Their diet consists mainly of insects.
Mexican free-tailed bats produce one baby at a time. During the mating season, the females gather in an area called the crib, where they raise the young together. The gestation period is about 12 weeks and the young remain with their mothers for up to seven weeks after birth.
Longhorn cattle are the large state animal of Texas. They are a beautiful breed of cattle and their distinctive horns are probably one of the best known symbols of the state of Texas. Cattle are generally raised for beef. Indicative of the longhorn’s statewide popularity, the University of Texas sports teams are known by the nickname the Texas Longhorns.
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