The texture characteristics and the relationship between texture and tensile properties at room temperature and superplasticity at high temperatures in a hot extruded AZ61 alloy are examined in this paper. After warm extrusion, the alloy exhibits a of refined grains microstructure and a sharp basal (0001) texture. The tensile properties at room and elevated temperatures in extruded with the loading axis oriented at 0 degrees, 45 degrees and 90 degrees to the extrusion direction are tested. It is found that the 45 degrees specimens exhibit has lower yield strength and higher ductility. The possible causes for mechanical anisotropy are also analyzed based on the Schmid factor calculations.