SAN ANTONIO – The Texas horned lizard became the official reptile of the Lone Star State in 1993.
American Indians like the Anasazi and Mimbres painted horned lizards on pottery, as a symbol of good health and happiness.
Although the exact number of species is hard to determine, Texas boasts a stunning 76 species of snakes. If you include both species and subspecies in that number, it gives you a grand total of 115 or more -- the highest number in all of the United States, according to Texas Parks and Wildlife.
Reptiles found in Texas:
- Alligators
- Geckos
- Iguanas
- Skinks
- Alligators
- Lizards
- Whiptails
- Snakes
- Turtles
- Tortoises
The American alligator, the least aggressive species of crocodilia, can be found in areas throughout Texas.
Alligator fun fact: They have 80 conical-shaped teeth and swallow their food whole.
In Texas, the largest wild alligator harvested since the reopening of the season was a male, measuring 14 feet 4 inches taken near West Columbia, in Jackson County, according to Texas Parks and Wildlife.
Did you know an armadillo is not a reptile? It’s a mammal. People see the armadillo’s scaly armor and assume it’s a reptile, when it’s actually warm-blooded.
Watch the video below to see a 150-year-old alligator snapping turtle attack an alligator.