#9: Rats
Rat tails help keep them cool by expanding and contracting blood vessels to regulate body temperature.
Ron Weasley’s pet Rat, Scabbers, is a bit of a lazy bum who is constantly napping. Characterized by a ragged left ear and an amputated finger, Scabbers could be some sort of agouti rat, at least judging by the coat color. First obtained from Ron’s older brother, Percy, Scabbers was later revealed to be none other than the animagus form of Peter Pettigrew, hiding from the dark lord himself. An animagus is a witch or wizard who can turn into an animal at will. The revelation of Scabber’s true identity would continue to have significant ramifications throughout the remainder of the series.
#8: Owls
The snowy owl is also known as the Arctic owl.
In the wizarding world, snowy owls are the ultimate postmasters: they have the ability to deliver mail even without knowing the recipient’s address. Harry’s companion and pet owl, Hedwig, is one of the most famous animals in Harry Potter given to him by Hagrid on his 11th birthday, proving her loyalty throughout the series.
In real life, the snowy owl is a large, majestic bird that comes from the north Arctic. The male is dressed in all-white feathers, while the females and juveniles also have dark stripes or spots. Although the bird is only 27 centimeters long, the yellow eyes are the size of a human’s, making them proportionally huge in size compared to the head. Because the eyes always remain in a fixed position, the owl has to turn its head (up to 270 degrees) to look around.
#7: Spiders
Jumping spiders have incredible hearing.
Many of the animals in Harry Potter are often exaggerated forms of real animals. The acromantula is no exception. This giant eight-legged magical spider is believed to be native to the rainforests of the Pacific Island Borneo. Ron and Harry meet Aragog, Hagrid’s blind acromantula, on the edge of the Forbidden Forest, where he lives with thousands of his creepy crawly children. Aragog produces deadly venom and reaches up to 15 feet tall, but it is otherwise quite intelligent and even able to speak human languages. He gave Harry some important clues to identify the real monster in the secret room, provided they could survive an encounter with his children.
#6: Cats
Cats, like Crookshanks, are very intelligent.
The Harry Potter universe is populated by both real cats and Kneazles (a magical creature that resembles a cat). Despite their magical abilities, Kneazles can interbreed with normal cats and produce offspring. Hermione’s house cat, Crookshanks, is half Kneazle. Highly intelligent and an excellent problem solver, Crookshanks helped uncover Rat Scabies’ true identity as Peter Pettigrew.
#5: Dogs
The Neapolitan Mastiff makes an excellent watchdog.
dogs appear several times in the Harry Potter universe. Hagrid’s huge dog, Fang, is played by a Neapolitan Mastiff in the movies, but is a Danish dog or boarhound in the books. He accompanies Hagrid on his journeys to the Forbidden Forest and offers him protection. On the more fantastical side of the animals in Harry Potter is the three-headed dog Fluffy, who is based on the Cerberus, the guardian of the underworld in Greek mythology. After being bought by Hagrid, he was given the task of guarding the precious Philosopher’s Stone, which had incredible powers to extend one’s lifespan and turn metal into gold.
Despite being an excellent one? guard dogFluffy had one major weakness: He couldn’t quite resist falling asleep to the sound of music. In the movie version, each of Fluffy’s heads had different personalities: one was sleepy, the other smart, and the last alert.
#4: Horses
Horses can only breathe through their nose.
winged horses are a common staple of human myths from around the world, the most famous of which is the Pegasus of Greek mythology. Several species of winged horses also inhabit the magical world of Harry Potter. For example, the Abraxan is a large, powerful horse that resembles a palomino. They make a few brief appearances in the Harry Potter series, the first of which takes place during the Triwizard Tournament, where they pull a carriage from the Beauxbatons Academy of Magic. The Thestral, who has a black skeletal body with leathery wings and reptilian features, is another magical horse in the wizarding world. They can only be seen by people who have experienced death and fully understand its implications. Despite their horrific appearance, when treated with kindness, they allow people to ride on their backs. The winged horse is a possible form of the Patronus incantation (which summons a spirit animal). The Patronus is summoned by focusing on the happiest memory.
Another creature that is heavily based on real mythology is the unicorn. Although the myth of the unicorn dates back thousands of years, possibly from South Asia, it is also a magical creature in the wizarding world. They are first born with a golden coat, turn silver around age two and eventually develop a pure white coat in adulthood. The silver blood has incredible healing properties that can save one from death, albeit with unforeseen consequences.
#3: Griffins
Griffons, though mythical, have wings like an eagle.
The griffin is a pure mythological creation, perhaps from ancient times Egypt and Iran, but they do have the parts of real animals, including the body and tail of a horse and the face and wings of a Eagle. A griffin named Buckbeak formed a special bond with Harry Potter in the book “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.” After saving the vale from execution, Buckbeak helps Harry rescue Sirius Black in return. Although he played no other role in the films, Buckbeak did continue to appear in the book series.