Top 10 Most Influential Animals in Human History

1. Cat

   

   The cat (Felis catus) is a domesticated small carnivorous mammal. It is the only domesticated species in the Felidae family and is commonly called the domestic cat to distinguish it from wild felines.

   Cats can be house pets, farm cats, or feral. They are often valued for companionship and for... read more

   They are another significant pet, and they have influenced most of us at one point or another.

   My cat is the only one that can make me happy sometimes.

2. Horse

   

   The horse is a hoofed mammal of the family Equidae. Its primary domesticated subspecies is Equus ferus caballus, although wild subspecies persisted into recent history. All modern horses descend from the Pleistocene species Equus ferus. Horses evolved over 45 to 55 million years from the small multi-toed... read more

   Horses are beautiful. They love you no matter what. I also read somewhere that when you meet a horse and they like you, that horse will miss you if you don't come back.

   They are incredibly humane creatures and can actually understand more of the human language than most people think. They are amazing and definitely deserve to be number one.

   By far the most important domestic animal, although mosquitoes may indeed have had more actual influence by simply killing people.

   The horse was originally used for war, and then for the chariot. They were also a significant part of the Mongol army.

3. Cow

   

   Cattle (Bos taurus) are large, domesticated, cloven-hooved herbivores. They are a prominent member of the subfamily Bovinae and the most widespread species of the genus Bos. Adult females are referred to as cows, while adult males are called bulls.... read more

   Cows are my favorite animals. They are very useful in helping humans plow their fields and provide us with milk.

   They are also extremely important for the rise of capitalism. They were used to carry cargo and were used as trams before the automobile and steam-powered tram were invented. They remain very influential and important for our modern society, and I want science and you to develop technology to make the cow more influential.

   Cows are believed to be holy in the Hindu religion. Also, they were some of the first animals to be domesticated.

4. Mosquito

   

   The word "mosquito" comes from Spanish and means "little fly." Mosquitoes are small flying insects known for transmitting numerous infectious diseases. These include malaria, yellow fever, chikungunya, West Nile virus, dengue fever, filariasis, and Zika virus, making them one of the deadliest animal... read more

   Oh, these little pests... they are an obstacle to humans. They have carried many diseases such as malaria and West Nile Virus and have helped kill off early European civilizations in America.

   Oh mosquitoes! Why do you spend your days sucking blood, making me itch, and spreading malaria?

   I think it's the only animal that needs to be exterminated on this planet.

5. Camel

   

   A camel is an even-toed ungulate belonging to the genus Camelus, known for the distinctive fatty humps on its back. These humps store energy in the form of fat, which camels can metabolize when food and water are scarce. Camels are native to arid regions of Asia and Africa and have been domesticated... read more

   The camel was used in early attempts to cross the Sahara Desert. The Asian camel could store more water than the African camel. When used for the first time to attempt the crossing of the Sahara, Ibn Battuta found salt deposits and became very wealthy.

   He explored African civilizations and saw institutions such as schools and universities. When he shared this knowledge with Europe, it helped Europe exit the Dark Ages.

6. Dog

   

   The dog, or domestic dog (Canis familiaris or Canis lupus familiaris), is a domesticated descendant of the wolf and is characterized by an upturned tail. Derived from an ancient, extinct wolf species, the modern wolf is its closest living relative. Dogs were the first species to be domesticated by humans... read more

   These animals light up our days with their cute appearance and their little doggy kisses.

   Called man's best friend for a reason. We're so useful to each other.

   Without dogs, many of us wouldn't have a reason to live.

7. Flea

   

   Fleas, classified under the order Siphonaptera, comprise about 2,500 species of small, wingless insects that are external parasites primarily of mammals and birds. These insects survive by feeding on the blood of their hosts using specialized mouthparts adapted for piercing skin and sucking blood. Adult... read more

   They spread the Black Death, which killed off one-third of Europe's population.

8. Fish

   

   Fish were a very early source of food. Without them, we possibly would have been extinct.

9. Rat

   

   Rats are various medium sized, long tailed rodents of the superfamily Muroidea. "True rats" are members of the genus Rattus, with the black rat (Rattus rattus) and the brown rat (Rattus norvegicus) being the most significant to humans. These species are commonly found in urban areas and are known for... read more

   They were another animal involved in the spreading of the Black Plague.

10. Pig

    

    A pig is any animal in the genus Sus, within the Suidae family of even-toed ungulates. Pigs include the domestic pig and its ancestor, the common Eurasian wild boar, along with other species. Related creatures outside the genus include the peccary, babirusa, and warthog.

    Pigs provide pork, and piglets are so cute.

The Newcomers
11. ?

    Chicken

    

    The chicken is a domesticated bird descended primarily from the red junglefowl. It is one of the most common and widespread domestic animals, with a global population exceeding 26.5 billion as of 2023. Chickens are kept primarily for their meat and eggs and are found in nearly every part of the world... read more

    Hugely important. Eggs and meat without the big investment that a pig or cow involves. No long-term worry about spoiling.

    As a bonus, they provide alarm clocks, feathers, and they weed gardens.

    This needs to be higher on the list.

12. ?

    Boar

    
The Contenders

13. Rhinoceros

    

    A rhinoceros, commonly abbreviated to rhino, is a member of any of the five extant species (or numerous extinct species) of odd-toed ungulates in the family Rhinocerotidae. The term can also refer to extinct species in the superfamily Rhinocerotoidea. Two of the extant species are native to Africa, while... read more

    They may not be very influential overall, however, they are the main target of poaching, which is a worldwide crisis.

14. Elephant

    

    Elephants are the largest land animals alive today. There are three recognized species: the African bush elephant (Loxodonta africana), the African forest elephant (Loxodonta cyclotis), and the Asian elephant (Elephas maximus). These are the only surviving members of the family Elephantidae. Extinct... read more

15. Goat

    

    The domestic goat (Capra hircus) is a domesticated animal species that is part of the goat-antelope group. It was domesticated from the wild goat (Capra aegagrus) in regions of Southwest Asia and Eastern Europe. Goats belong to the family Bovidae and the tribe Caprini, making them close relatives of... read more

16. Sheep

    

    The sheep is a quadrupedal, ruminant mammal typically kept as livestock. Like all ruminants, sheep belong to the order Artiodactyla, the even-toed ungulates. They are commonly raised for their wool, meat, and milk across various parts of the world.

17. Bee

    

    Bees are flying insects in the order Hymenoptera that are essential for pollinating flowering plants. They play a vital role in agriculture and natural ecosystems by facilitating plant reproduction. Bees also produce honey and beeswax, and some species live in complex social colonies.

18. Polar Bear

    

    The polar bear is a carnivorous bear whose native range lies largely within the Arctic Circle, encompassing the Arctic Ocean, its surrounding seas, and surrounding land masses. It is the largest land carnivore and is well adapted to life on sea ice. Polar bears primarily hunt seals and are classified... read more

19. Owl

    

    Owls are birds of prey from the order Strigiformes, which includes over 200 species. Most owls are solitary and nocturnal, and they are recognized by their upright stance, large heads, forward-facing eyes, excellent hearing, and feathers adapted for silent flight... read more

20. Donkey

    

    The donkey, also known as the ass, is a domesticated member of the horse family, Equidae. Its wild ancestor is the African wild ass, Equus africanus. Donkeys have been used as working animals for more than 5,000 years and are valued for their strength, endurance, and ability to navigate difficult terrain... read more

21. Elk

    

22. Zebra

    

    Zebras (subgenus Hippotigris) are African equines with distinctive black-and-white striped coats. There are three living species: the Grévy's zebra (Equus grevyi), plains zebra (E. quagga), and mountain zebra (E. zebra). Zebra stripes vary among individuals and species, with evidence suggesting they... read more

23. Beaver

    

    The beaver is a primarily nocturnal, large, semiaquatic rodent. The genus Castor includes two extant species: the North American beaver (Castor canadensis) and the Eurasian beaver (Castor fiber). Beavers are known for building dams, canals, and lodges, significantly shaping their ecosystems and creating... read more

    They were responsible for us expanding out west in America. Fur trappers laid the path for the America we see today. It's hard to imagine an America limited to the east of the plains.

24. Tiger

    

    The tiger (Panthera tigris) is the largest living cat species and a member of the genus Panthera. It is immediately recognisable by its dark vertical stripes on orange fur and white underside. An apex predator, it primarily hunts ungulates such as deer and wild boar. It is generally solitary and territorial... read more

25. Cheetah

    

    The cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) is a large cat native to Africa and central Iran. It is the fastest land animal, capable of reaching speeds between 80 and 128 km/h (50 to 80 mph), with the fastest reliably recorded speeds being 93 and 98 km/h (58 and 61 mph). The cheetah has adaptations for speed, including... read more

26. Seagull

    

27. Hyena

    

    Hyenas, or hyaenas, are carnivorous mammals belonging to the family Hyaenidae. With only four extant species, they represent the fifth-smallest biological family in the order Carnivora. Despite their small number, hyenas play a vital role as both predators and scavengers in their ecosystems.