Zoophobia or animal phobia may have one of two closely related meanings: a generic term for the class of specific phobias to particular animal

Animal

Animals are a major group of multicellular, eukaryotic organisms of the kingdom Animalia or Metazoa. Their body plan eventually becomes fixed as they develop, although some undergo a process of metamorphosis later on in their life. Most animals are motile, meaning they can move spontaneously and...

s, or an irrational fear or even simply dislike of any non-human animals.

Examples of specific zoophobias would be entomophobias, such as a bees (apiphobia

Fear of bees

Fear of bees or bee stings is one of common fears among people. Apiphobia , melissophobia , is a fear of bees and a kind of specific phobia.-Cause and effects:Most people have been stung by a bee or had friends or family members stung...

). Fears of spiders (arachnophobia

Arachnophobia

Arachnophobia or arachnephobia is a specific phobia, the fear of spiders and other arachnids such as scorpions. It is a manifestation of zoophobia, among the most common of all phobias. The reactions of arachnophobics often seem irrational to others...

) and snakes (ophidiophobia

Ophidiophobia

Ophidiophobia or ophiophobia is a particular type of specific phobia, the abnormal fear of snakes. Fear of snakes is sometimes called by a more general term, herpetophobia, fear of reptiles and/or amphibians...

) are also common. See the article at -phobia for the list of various phobias. Sigmund Freud

Sigmund Freud

Sigmund Freud , born Sigismund Schlomo Freud , was an Austrian neurologist who founded the discipline of psychoanalysis...

mentioned that an animal phobia is one of the most frequent psychoneurotic diseases among children.

Zoophobia should not be confused with sensible fear of dangerous or threatening animals, such as the fear of wild bears or venomous snakes.