[[https://avatar.fandom.com/wiki/Fauna_in_the_World_of_Avatar|Various animals]], many of them so-called "hybrids," exist in the world. It is generally theorized that the more unusual creatures at least owe their existence to the intervention of powerful spirits involving themselves in the working of mundane nature. 

[[Avatar/Bending Animals|Some animals]] possess elemental bending powers; like humans, they are associated with a particular element, and are usually, but not always, native to the homeland of the elemental nation associated with their element. For example, badgermoles are indigenous to the Earth Kingdom and are natural earthbenders.