Animals are a type of creatures that inhabit the world of D&D. They are usually not considered fantasy monsters, but rather natural beings that can be found in various environments. Animals are a subcategory of the broader category known as beasts, which includes any non-humanoid creature that is a natural part of the fantasy ecology. This page contains a list of the standard or common animals that can be encountered in D&D, as well as some examples of fantasy animals that are classified as beasts. The list is not exhaustive, and the DM may create or modify animals as they see fit for their campaign.
Some animals may have magical or supernatural abilities, such as the ability to teleport or breathe fire. These creatures are not technically standard animals, but they may still be classified as beasts, which is the same category as animals. Examples of such creatures are the blink dog and the owlbear. However, this is not a definitive classification, and different editions or settings may have different criteria for what counts as an animal. Ultimately, it is up to the DM to decide how to categorize the creatures in their world, and whether to include them in this section or not.