Domestic Animals

Domestication involves forming a mutual relationship between humans and animals that does not include predation. Not only do the animals affected change their behavior, but some animals, like the zebu and the sheep, also undergo physical changes.

The reasons behind the domestication of an animal vary. Some were commensals, i.e., lived close by and adapted to human life, while others were specifically targeted and reared for food or draft purposes. As per historical records, the first animal to be domesticated was the dog.

List of Domestic Animals

Mammals

Alpaca
Bali Cattle
Domestic Bactrian Camel
Domestic Cat
Domestic Chicken
Domestic Dog
Domestic Donkey
Domestic Ferret
Domestic Goat
Domestic Horse
Domestic Mink
Domestic Pig
Domestic Rabbit
Domestic Sheep
Domestic Water Buffalo
Domestic Yak
Domesticated Silver Fox
Dromedary
European Cattle
Fancy Mouse
Fancy Rat
Four-toed Hedgehog
Gayal
Guinea Pig
Indian Long-eared Hedgehog
Llama
Long-eared Hedgehog
Zebu

Birds

Barbary Dove
Cockatiel
Domestic Canary
Domestic Duck
Domestic Goose
Domestic Guineafowl
Domestic Muscovy Duck
Domestic Pigeon
Domestic Swan Goose
Domestic Turkey
Homing Pigeon
Society Finch
Sri Lankan Junglefowl

Invertebrates

Carniolan Honey Bee
Caucasian Honey Bee
Domestic Silkmoth
Egyptian Honey Bee
Greek Honey Bee
Italian Honey Bee
Saharan Honey Bee
Western Honey Bee

Fish

Goldfish
Koi

FAQs

1. When were animals first domesticated?

Dogs were first domesticated around the Late Pleistocene era.

2. Why can’t every animal be domesticated?

Theoretically, it might be possible to domestic any animal. But domesticating is not the same as taming and involves years of breeding to acquire desirable traits. This makes it difficult to domestic some animals.

3. How did animal domestication change society?

When early humans began domesticating animals, they shifted from nomadic hunters to a society more focused on hunting and gathering.