A wide range of mammals, birds and fish have been kept as ornamental animals.
Ornamental animals have often formed the basis of introduced populations, sometimes with negative ecological effects, but a history of being kept as ornamental animals has also preserved breeds, types and even species which have become rare or extinct elsewhere.
This article does not cover animals kept in zoos, wildfowl collections or aquaria.
Some ornamental animals have escaped from captivity and have formed feral populations.
The following are breeds or species whose history has included a significant period as ornamental animals, either globally or in particular regions (animals kept primarily in modern zoos, aquaria or waterfowl collections are not included): Birds' ornamental value derives in part from their feather coloration.