1. Upper Gulf Coast: Extends from the Sabine River to the Guadalupe River. It is characterized by low, flat relief with numerous bays, estuaries, and marshes. The climate is humid subtropical with hot summers and mild winters.
2. Central Gulf Coast: Extends from the Guadalupe River to the Rio Grande. It is characterized by a more rugged topography with rolling hills and some coastal bluffs. The climate is subtropical with hot summers and mild winters.
3. Rio Grande Plain: Extends from the Rio Grande to the Pecos River. It is characterized by a semiarid climate with hot summers and mild winters. The vegetation is mostly desert scrub with some areas of grassland.
4. Coastal Bend: Extends from the Guadalupe River to the Rio Grande. It is characterized by a diverse topography with sand dunes, barrier islands, and lagoons. The climate is subtropical with hot summers and mild winters. The area includes some of the most important wildlife habitats in the state.
5. Piney Woods: Lies along the upper Gulf Coast and extends from the Louisiana border to the Guadalupe River. It is characterized by a dense forest of pine trees with some areas of hardwood forest. The climate is humid subtropical with hot summers and mild winters.