# Minecraft Animal Mobs Reference Guide

Canonical: https://guides.gaialegends.pro/posts/minecraft-animal-mobs-reference-guide
Published: 2026-10-15
Updated: 2026-10-15
Version scope: Java Edition & Bedrock Edition

> Animal mobs in Minecraft are a category of creatures based on real-life animals. They are classified as Animal or Water Animal in the code, are mostly passive or neutral, can breed, follow players holding food, and spawn on Peaceful difficulty. Exceptions include hoglins and killer bunnies. This guide covers their properties, the full list, and related mobs.

<TldrBox>Animal mobs in Minecraft are a category of creatures based on real-life animals. They are classified as Animal or Water Animal in the code, are mostly passive or neutral, can breed, follow players holding food, and spawn on Peaceful difficulty. Exceptions include hoglins and killer bunnies. This guide covers their properties, the full list, and related mobs.</TldrBox>

## Key Takeaways

| Point | Details |
| --- | --- |
| Animal mobs are classified | Animal mobs are classified as `Animal` or `Water Animal` in the game code. |
| Most animal mobs can | Most animal mobs can be bred, follow players holding their favorite food, and trigger the "Two By Two" and "The Parrots and The Bats" advancements. |
| Unlike monsters, animal mobs | Unlike monsters, animal mobs can spawn on Peaceful difficulty, with the exception of undead mounts. |
| Several mobs based on | Several mobs based on real-life animals (like bats, spiders, silverfish) are not classified as animals in the code. |
| Community-voted animals like the | Community-voted animals like the crab, meerkat, and ostrich have not yet been implemented. |

Minecraft groups many of its familiar creatures into a category simply called animals. Whether you are building a self-sustaining farm or trying to unlock every advancement, understanding which mobs are classified as animals is the first step.

> Animal refers to a category of mobs that are mainly based on real-life animals.

## Shared Properties and Behaviors

While they come in all shapes and sizes, animal mobs share a core set of traits. They are usually passive (fleeing from the player) or neutral (fighting back briefly when provoked). There are a few dangerous exceptions to this rule.

> Animals are usually either passive (fleeing) or neutral (fighting), with the only exceptions being the undead mounts while ridden, hoglins and killer bunnies,‌\[JE only\] which are hostile mobs.

Most animals can be bred, and they will follow you around if you are holding the [food item used to breed them](/posts/minecraft-food-mechanics). This makes moving them into pens or farms relatively straightforward.

> Most follow the player if they are holding the item used to breed them.

## Breeding, Taming, and Advancements


![Minecraft Animal Mobs Reference Guide supporting Minecraft scene 1](/images/posts/minecraft-animal-mobs-reference-guide-inline-1.webp)

Breeding animals is a core part of the game. When you successfully breed two compatible animals, most of them trigger specific advancements like "The Parrots and The Bats" and "Two By Two".

Several animals can also be tamed or leashed. Chickens follow you when you hold seeds, and parrots can be tamed using seeds as well. A lead can be used to guide most animal mobs back to your base.

## Peaceful Difficulty Spawning

One of the key differences between animal mobs and hostile creatures is their spawning behavior.

> Animal mobs can also spawn in the Peaceful difficulty, with the exception of the undead mounts.

This means your farms will remain populated even if you prefer a relaxed experience without the threat of zombies or skeletons.

## Animals vs. Animal-Inspired Mobs and Blocks

It is easy to confuse animals with other mobs that look like animals. Many mobs are based on real-life creatures but are not treated as animals in the code.

> These mobs are based on real life animals, but are not treated as such in the game code - rather as Ambient or Monster only.

This list includes bats, cave spiders, endermites, and silverfish. Similarly, several blocks are based on animals, such as coral, sea pickles, and sponges, but they are blocks, not entities.

## Unimplemented and Seasonal Animal Mobs

The Minecraft community has voted on several animals that have not been added to the main game.

> These community vote options are based on animals, but have not been added to the game.

The list includes the Crab, Meerkat, Moobloom, Ostrich, Penguin, Termite, and Vulture. Additionally, the game has seen April Fools' updates featuring joke mobs like the Diamond Chicken and Moon Cow. The game is always evolving; for example, a Bedrock Edition preview added new chicken variants to the game.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What is the difference between an animal mob and a monster in Minecraft?

Animals are classified as `Animal` or `Water Animal` in the game code. They are usually passive or neutral, can be bred, and can spawn on Peaceful difficulty. Monsters are hostile, cannot be bred, and do not spawn on Peaceful difficulty. Some real-life animal-based mobs like bats and spiders are classified as Ambient or Monster, not animals.

### How do I breed animals in Minecraft?

Find two of the same species of animal mob, feed each one its specific breeding food (like wheat for cows and sheep, seeds for chickens, carrots for pigs and rabbits), and they will produce a baby animal.

### Why is my chicken not following me?

Chickens will only follow you if you are holding seeds (wheat seeds, melon seeds, pumpkin seeds, or beetroot seeds). Make sure you have seeds in your hand and are close enough for the chicken to see you.

## Sources

- Animal refers to a category of mobs that are mainly based on real-life animals. — [Animal](https://minecraft.wiki/w/Animal)
- Animals are usually either passive (fleeing) or neutral (fighting), with the only exceptions being the undead mounts while ridden, hoglins and killer bunnies,‌\[JE only\] which are hostile mobs. — [Animal](https://minecraft.wiki/w/Animal)
- Most follow the player if they are holding the item used to breed them. — [Animal](https://minecraft.wiki/w/Animal)
- Animal mobs can also spawn in the Peaceful difficulty, with the exception of the undead mounts. — [Animal](https://minecraft.wiki/w/Animal)
- These mobs are based on real life animals, but are not treated as such in the game code - rather as Ambient or Monster only. — [Animal](https://minecraft.wiki/w/Animal)
- These community vote options are based on animals, but have not been added to the game. — [Animal](https://minecraft.wiki/w/Animal)