What is the most commonly used species of animal in research?
Animals used for research include (in decreasing order of frequency) mice, rats, birds, rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, farm animals (such as pigs and sheep), dogs, primates, and cats. Frogs and fish are also widely used, but current usage statistics are unavailable. Click here for information on each species. It is important to note the most common laboratory animals—rats and mice bred for research, who make up 85–90 percent of all animals used—are not counted in the annual statistics that the USDA collects on the use of animals in the United States; nor are they covered under the Animal Welfare Act.
