Species of the Wizarding World

The world inhabited by wizards and witches is populated by a vast and diverse array of sentient, non-sentient, magical, and non-magical species. The term “species” in this context is a broad classification encompassing everything from Humans and Goblins to magical creatures like Dragons and non-corporeal entities like Ghosts. The official classification of these different life forms is handled by the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures at the Ministry of Magic, which divides them into three primary categories: Beings, Beasts, and Spirits. This system, however, is not without its historical controversies and exceptions.

The definitions for Being, Beast, and Spirit were established to create a legal framework for the rights and responsibilities of all intelligent life within the magical community. These definitions are detailed in the in-universe textbook, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.

• Being: Defined as “any creature that has sufficient intelligence to understand the laws of the magical community and to bear part of the responsibility in shaping those laws.” This category grants a creature representation on the Wizengamot. Initially, this included Humans, Goblins, Vampires, and Hags. The inclusion of the latter two caused Centaurs and Merpeople to reject the “Being” status, as they did not wish to be grouped with such Dark creatures.
• Beast: This category includes any magical creature that does not meet the criteria for a “Being,” either due to a lack of human-like intelligence or because they have explicitly rejected the “Being” classification. It is the largest and most diverse category, ranging from the highly intelligent Centaur to the non-sentient Flobberworm.
• Spirit: This classification is for amortal, non-corporeal entities. The most common types of spirits are Ghosts, who are the imprints of deceased wizards and witches, and Poltergeists, which are indestructible spirits of chaos.

The following is a list of some of the most prominent species encountered in the wizarding world, organised by their Ministry of Magic classification.

• Beings
  • Humans: The dominant sentient species on the planet, consisting of a magical populace (Wizards and Witches) and a non-magical one (Muggles). Individuals with magical ancestry but no magical ability are known as Squibs. Interbreeding with other species is possible, resulting in half-breeds such as Rubeus Hagrid (half-Giant) and Fleur Delacour (part-Veela).
  • Goblins: Highly intelligent beings with a distinct form of goblin magic, known for their skill in metalwork and their control of the wizarding economy through Gringotts Wizarding Bank. They have a long and often contentious history with wizards over issues of rights and ownership.
  • House-elves: Small, humanoid creatures who are magically bound to serve a wizarding family or institution for life, unless freed by being presented with clothes. They possess a powerful and unique brand of Magic that does not require a wand. Notable examples include Dobby, Kreacher, and Winky.
  • Vampires: Humanoid beings known for drinking blood. They are classified as “Beings” but are not explored in great detail in the novels. A vampire named Sanguini attended Horace Slughorn's Christmas party.
  • Hags: Dark creatures described as resembling ugly, old witches. They are known to practice a rudimentary form of Magic and have a taste for the flesh of human children.
• Beasts (by Choice or Definition)
  • Centaurs: Proud and intelligent creatures with the upper body of a human and the lower body of a horse. They are skilled in archery, healing Magic, and Divination through stargazing. They reside in herds, such as the one in the Forbidden Forest, and deliberately chose “Beast” status to maintain their independence from wizard laws. Notable centaurs include Firenze, Bane, and Ronan.
  • Merpeople: Sentient aquatic beings who live in underwater communities around the world, including the Great Lake at Hogwarts. They have their own language (Mermish) and a sophisticated culture. Like centaurs, they rejected “Being” status.
  • Giants: Enormous humanoids possessing immense strength but limited intelligence compared to humans. Their population has dwindled due to their own internal conflicts and persecution by wizards. Rubeus Hagrid's half-brother, Grawp, is a full-blooded giant.
  • Veela: Semi-human magical beings who appear as stunningly beautiful women. When angered, they transform into harpy-like creatures with scaly wings and the ability to throw fireballs. Their dance is magically hypnotic to men.
  • Acromantulas: Monstrous, eight-eyed spiders capable of human speech and possessing near-human intelligence. They are highly dangerous and carnivorous. The colony in the Forbidden Forest was led by the patriarch Aragog.
  • Sphinxes: An Egyptian creature with the head of a human and the body of a lion. It is highly intelligent and used by wizards to guard treasures, posing riddles to those who try to pass. Harry Potter encountered one in the Triwizard Tournament maze.
  • Trolls: Large, brutish magical creatures of prodigious strength and immense stupidity. Several types exist, including Mountain Trolls, Forest Trolls, and River Trolls. Professor Quirrell infamously let a Mountain Troll into Hogwarts in Harry's first year.
• Spirits
  • Ghosts: The transparent, three-dimensional imprints of deceased magical individuals who chose to remain on the mortal plane. They can pass through solid objects but can still interact with their surroundings to a limited extent. The Hogwarts ghosts include Nearly Headless Nick, the Bloody Baron, the Fat Friar, and the Grey Lady.
  • Poltergeists: Amortal, non-corporeal entities of chaos that are never truly alive. They can manipulate physical objects and delight in causing mayhem. The most famous example is Peeves, the resident poltergeist of Hogwarts.

• Much of the detailed information regarding the official classification of species comes from the supplementary book Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, written by J.K. Rowling and presented as an in-universe textbook owned by Harry Potter.
• J.K. Rowling has occasionally expanded on the nature of certain species, such as Vampires, on the Pottermore/Wizarding World website, clarifying that while they exist, they do not play a significant role in the main story arc. (Pottermore)