list of domesticated animals

This is a list of animals that have been domesticated by humans. The list includes species or larger formal and informal zoological categories that include at least some domesticated individuals. To be considered domesticated, a population of animals must have their behavior, life cycle, or physiology systemically altered as a result of being under humans control for many generations. (Please see the main article on domestication for more information.) Animals included in this list that do not fully meet this criterion are designated "captive-bred". This list is organized by the original or primary purpose for which the animals were domesticated. Animals with more than one significant human use have been listed in more than one category.

Food

Livestock

Fowl

Other human food sources

Raised as food for other animals

cricket (captive-bred)
mealworm
nightcrawler or earthworm (captive-bred)

Labor

alpaca
camel
dog
donkey
elephant (captive-bred)
horse
llama
oxen
reindeer (domesticated caribou)
water buffalo
yak

Commodities

Fiber (for textiles)

chinchilla (captive-bred)
rabbit
sheep
silk worm

Leather or furs

alligator (captive-bred)
cattle
ermine (captive-bred)
fox (captive-bred)
mink (captive-bred)
ostrich (captive-bred)
otter (captive-bred)

Other commodities

pearl oyster (captive-bred)

Pets

(See main article on pets)

carp
cat
dog
ferret
goldfish
guinea pig
hamster
rabbit
skunk
tilapia
Some species of reptiles, such as the ball python and leopard gecko

Research and science

dolphin (captive-bred)
fruit fly
mice
rat
silver fox (isolated Russian experiment)

Other purposes

ladybug (captive-bred)
leech (captive-bred)
sterile insects (for control of their wild fellows)