You’ve probably spent hours shaking trees. Or maybe you've spent millions of Bells on a bridge that nobody else on your island seems to help pay for. It’s the Animal Crossing life. But when you really look at your neighbors, you start to notice that the variety of animal crossing animal types is actually what makes the game’s ecosystem work. It’s not just about who’s cute. It’s about the sheer diversity of species that Nintendo has packed into these games over the decades.
Some people want an all-cat island. I get it. Cats are iconic in this franchise. But if you limit yourself to just one of the 35+ species available in New Horizons, you’re missing out on the weird, quirky animations that only certain body types have. Have you ever seen a Hippo do yoga? It's different than when a Hamster does it. Trust me.
The Massive Variety of Animal Crossing Animal Types
There are exactly 35 different species of villagers you can have living on your island in the current iteration of the series. That is a lot. Honestly, it’s a staggering amount of character modeling when you consider that each species needs to be able to wear almost every piece of clothing in the game.
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From the towering Elephants to the tiny, round Birds, the way clothes fit is totally different. A dress on a Gorilla looks like a tank top. A hat on a Frog? Usually tiny and perched right between their eyes. It’s these little details that make the animal crossing animal types feel like more than just reskinned NPCs.
You’ve got your basics. Dogs, Cats, Bunnies. These are the "Big Three" that most players hunt for on Nook Miles Islands. But then you have the niche categories. Anteaters? We’ve got those. Octopuses? They are technically the rarest species because there are only four of them in the entire game: Marina, Zucker, Octavian, and Cephalobot. If you find one, it feels like winning the lottery because the game’s RNG (random number generation) first picks a species and then picks a villager within that species.
Why Species Size Actually Matters
Size isn’t just aesthetic. It affects how you design your island. If you have a bunch of big species—think Bulls, Horses, and Alligators—your villager houses and the paths around them start to feel cramped. On the flip side, an island full of Squirrels and Mice feels cavernous.
Ever noticed how the "cranky" personality seems to suit certain animals better? There is something inherently funny about a tiny, angry Mouse like Limberg having the deepest voice in the game. Conversely, having a giant Bear like Teddy be a "jock" who is obsessed with his tiny biceps is the kind of irony Nintendo excels at.
Breaking Down the Popularity Rankings
People get really intense about villager tiers. It’s kinda wild. While "cuteness" is subjective, the data from sites like Nookazon shows that certain animal crossing animal types consistently fetch higher prices in the player-driven economy.
- Cats: Generally considered the gold standard. Raymond and Ankha are basically celebrities.
- Deer: Very elegant designs. Shino and Beau are huge fan favorites because they look "aesthetic."
- Wolves: They have a cool, edgy silhouette that appeals to a lot of players.
- Octopuses: Because there are so few, they are highly collectible. Plus, Zucker looks like a takoyaki ball.
Then you have the species that people... well, they don't love them as much. Gorillas and Hippos often end up on "most hated" lists. It’s a bit unfair. Most of the hate comes from the fact that their character models are bulky and clothes don't always sit right on them. But if you give a Hippo like Bertha a chance, you might find she’s actually the sweetest neighbor you’ve ever had.
The Weird Ones: Species That Defy Logic
There are some animal crossing animal types that aren't even really animals. Or, at least, they are "special" versions. Take the robots. Ribbot (the Frog) and Cephalobot (the Octopus) are clearly mechanical. Then you have Stitches, who is a literal patchwork teddy bear. He’s a "Cub" species-wise, but he’s stuffed with fluff.
And don't get me started on the food-based villagers. Frita is a Sheep that looks like a burger and fries. Merengue is a Rhino with a strawberry for a horn. When you start looking at the sub-types within the species, the game gets way deeper than just "this is a dog."
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Personality vs. Species
A common misconception is that certain animal crossing animal types are locked into certain personalities. That’s not true. Any species can theoretically have any personality, though Nintendo does seem to favor certain pairings.
There are eight main personality types:
- Lazy
- Jock
- Cranky
- Smug
- Normal
- Peppy
- Snooty
- Sisterly (Uchi)
If you want a balanced island, you need a mix of these. The interaction between a Smug Bird and a Cranky Wolf is where the best dialogue happens. If you fill your island with only "Lazy" Cats, the conversations get repetitive fast. They’ll all just talk about the bugs in their floorboards and how much they love snacks. It’s cute for a week. After a month? You’ll want to hit them with a net.
The Impact of Animation
Different species have different "skeletons" in the game code. This dictates how they walk, sit, and interact with items.
The way a Penguin waddles is fundamentally different from the way a Kangaroo hops. Also, Kangaroos are the only species that come with a "bonus" character—the baby in their pouch. The baby actually mimics the mother's facial expressions. It’s a bit creepy if you think about it too long, but it’s a unique animation quirk you won't find in any other animal crossing animal types.
How to Curate Your Island Neighbors
If you’re trying to build a specific "vibe," you need to look at the silhouettes of the species.
For a "Cottagecore" island, you probably want Deer, Rabbits, and Squirrels. Their small frames and natural colors blend into the forest aesthetic perfectly. If you're going for a "Cyberpunk" or "Urban" look, Wolves and Cats usually fit better because they have sharper lines and more "stylish" default outfits.
But honestly? Some of the best experiences come from the villagers you didn't plan for. I once had a Chicken named Goose. I hated him at first. He was loud, obsessed with his "pecs" (which he didn't have), and wore a hideous shirt. But after two weeks, his constant energy grew on me. He became the heart of the island. That’s the magic of the different animal crossing animal types—they surprise you.
Finding Rare Species
You can't really "force" a specific species to show up on a mystery island tour. The game uses a two-step roll. First, it rolls for the species (1 in 35 chance). Then, it rolls for the specific villager within that species.
This is why finding a specific Cat is much harder than finding a specific Octopus. Since there are 23 different Cats, your chance of getting a specific one (like Raymond) is 1/35 times 1/23. That is math you don't want to do when you're burning through your last Nook Miles Ticket at 2:00 AM.
Actionable Steps for Your Island
Stop hunting for the "top tier" villagers for a second. Try these steps to actually enjoy the diversity of animal crossing animal types without burning out on the grind.
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- Audit your personalities first: Before you look at species, check your map. If you have three "Jocks," get rid of two. You’re missing out on unique DIY recipes and reactions that only "Snooty" or "Smug" villagers give you.
- Give "Ugly" species a three-day trial: Invite that Hippo or Gorilla from the campsite. Watch their animations. See how they look in the clothes you give them. You might find that a "bulky" villager actually fills a space on your island better than another tiny bird.
- Check the "rarity" math: If you are hunting for an Octopus, you only need a few tickets because there are only four options once the game rolls the "Octopus" slot. If you want a specific Dog or Cat, you’re better off using an Amiibo card or trading with another player online.
- Focus on the tails: Seriously. Look at the tails of the Squirrels versus the tails of the Bunnies when they walk away from you. The animation work there is some of the best in the game.
The beauty of the animal crossing animal types isn't just in their rarity or their market value on Discord servers. It's in how they make your digital island feel like a living, breathing place. Whether you have a town full of elite Wolves or a ragtag group of "misfit" Anteaters and Chickens, the game is designed to reward you for the relationships you build, not just the species you collect.
Next time you see a villager you think is "ugly" at the campsite, look at their species traits instead of their face. You might just find your new favorite neighbor.
Actionable Insight: Go to your Resident Services terminal and check your current villager list. If you have more than two of the same species, you are likely seeing repeated dialogue and animations. Aim for a "Rule of Two"—no more than two of any species—to keep your island's visual and social variety at its peak. This also maximizes the different types of furniture and clothing they will gift you, as certain species often have "favored" item tags in their internal logic.
Pro Tip: If you're looking for a specific villager, use the "campsite method" or the "move-out bubble" trick rather than relying on Nook Miles Tickets, especially for high-population species like Cats or Dogs where the RNG odds are heavily stacked against you.