A great majority of tattoo galleries across the world devote a good majority of their selection to pictures inspired by the animal kingdom. Whether worn as a visual witness to animal rights and protection or as a personal testimony of religious or spiritual convictions and beliefs, animal tattoo designs are being worn by humanity all across the globe. Indeed, animals have been viewed by some religions with such respect that all of their followers refuse to eat meat or other animal products. Others revere certain creatures (like cows in India) and offer them special protection and/or homage. Still others avoid particular animals because of undesirable capabilities or. Throughout the ages, mankind has come to respect certain living things for their strengths and capabilities. This is attested to by the number of popular proverbs, clichs and metaphors that extol (or admonish against) certain animals characteristics. A few would include: Butterflies, dolphins, eagles, horses and more, animal tattoo designs come in all shapes and sizes.
Popular Animal Inspired Body Art
Different types of people are attracted to different kinds of wild life. Despite this diversity, it isnt difficult to categorize the different animal themed tattoo designs together. From here on, we will classify different animal selections by their habitat or environment.
NOTE: Due to the growing belief and reverence towards the concept of animal totem spirits integrated with tribal, Celtic and New Age tattoo designs, the popular totem significance of each animal will be listed whenever possible.
Flying Animals
- Eagle tattoo designs In demand amongst Patriots and bikers, environmentalists and extremists, the eagle is here to stay in the world of tattoo images. The energy of the eagle includes potency, freedom and illumination.
- Hawk tattoo designs Ruthless and majestic; with a terrifying scream and powerful talons the hawk has become a favorite among body art enthusiasts, especially in Celtic and Native American tribal designs. The spirit of the hawk is one of truth, awareness, and perceptiveness.
- Owl tattoo designs With its signature hoot and nocturnal habits, the owl is a favorite of both young and old. The owl is a spirit of vision, wisdom and insight.
- Raven tattoo designss Popular amongst Poe fans and occult enthusiasts, the raven black feathers and all-knowing gaze are showing up in more and more tattoo designs. The Raven symbolizes the unknown and Otherworld travel.
Forest Animals
- Bear tattoo designs Towering over so many of the creatures who share its territory, the bear is a primal testimony of strength, self-preservation and wisdom.
- Cougar tattoo designs Also referred to as the mountain lion, these lone rangers of the forest strike fear into their prey with their far reaching screams. The cougar speaks of leadership, loyalty and courage.
- Deer tattoo designs Quiet and somewhat nave, these beautiful, graceful creatures are a favorite wild life tattoo subject. The spirit of the deer is one of peace, sensitivity and gentleness.
- Fox tattoo designs Wily and quick, the fox has been referred to many animal metaphors and similes. Not surprisingly, the message of the fox is one of cleverness, discretion, and cunning.
- Wolf tattoo designs The wolf often appeared in tattoo design because of its magnetic appeal to humanity. The feral version of our more domesticated dog, the wolf represents the skill of teaching, loyalty and cooperation.
Water Animals
- Frog tattoo designs Able to cover incredible distances in each leap, frogs are a colorful and playful addition to any tattoo image gallery. The frog has long been respected for its healing powers, as an indication of peaceful change and as a testimony to adaptability.
- Salmon tattoo designs Always fighting against the current, the salmon has long been a symbol of determination. The same holds true of its animal totem nature, which tells of persistence and single-minded dedication.
- Turtle tattoo designs Able to escape the world with the comfort of its shell, there are many people who identify well with this aquatic creature. The spirit of the turtle is one of protection, healing and inner knowledge.
- Dolphin tattoo designs A mammal of the sea, the dolphin has long enchanted mankind with its intelligence and social nature. When the dolphin spirit becomes your guardian, it is an omen of harmony, communication and intelligence. Dolphin tattoos can often be found on an ankle or lower back.
Domesticated Animals
- Cat tattoo designs First domesticated by the Egyptians thousands of years ago, the cat has made its way into the hearts and homes of many men and women across the world. The spirit of the cat is one of independence, quick recovery and freedom of thought.
- Dog tattoo designs Long time companion and mans best friend, the dog has bonded with humans in a way that few other animals have. True to its nature, the spirit of the dog is one of loyalty and friendship. Many people have portraits of their own family dog tattooed as part of their body art collection.
- Horse tattoo designs People across the ages have been captivated by the horse, this free spirit of great power and strength who has chosen to align itself with humanity. The totem of the horse speaks of freedom, strength and movement.
- Parrot tattoo designs These beautiful, colorful birds have made fabulous tattoo designs. Grey, green, blue or red, the parrots beauty and mimicking ability have endeared them to us. As a guardian, the parrot lends us communication, flight, beauty and mockery.
Jungle Animals
- Lion tattoo designs King of the Jungle, the lion speaks to us of pride, leadership and magnificent courage. Lion tattoos often include whole packs of lions, a lioness and her cub, or simplified but powerful Celtic or tribal designs.
- Lizard tattoo designs Just as the lizard is able to drop its tail in order to escape danger, so the lizard totem shows us the principles of letting go and self-protection. A popular lizard for tattoo designs in the gecko, which appears often in Polynesian tribal tattoos.
- Tiger tattoo designs Tigers are very popular tattoo subjects. The largest of all of the big cats, the tiger has a spirit of enormous power and potency. If the tiger has recently become your guardian, be prepared for new adventured and an awakening of both your power and passion.
- Jaguars (and Panther) tattoo designs Solitary and camouflaged, the jaguar and panther are masters of disguise. Lethal predators, they rely heavily on their ability to seemingly disappear. As a totem, the jaguar is very mystical, a shape-shifter, bringing with it psychic energy and nocturnal tendencies.
Desert Animals
- Scorpion tattoo designs Known for its powerful body and deadly sting, the scorpion has a long time history in the world of tattoo designs. The spirit of the scorpion is one that warns of coming danger or difficult transformation.
- Dragon tattoo designs Though mythical, dragons have often been associated with the land of the desert. As a totem, the spirit of the dragon shows longevity, wisdom, all that is infinite, and the ability to move between worlds. The dragon has powerful medicine.
- Coyote tattoo designs Often referred to as the Trickster, this mischievous creature serves as a playful (in the sense of practical joke playful) guardian spirit. The coyote speaks of reversal of fortune (for better or for worse), cunning and humor (even if it is at your expense).
- Tortoise tattoo designs Slow and incredibly hardy, tortoises are provided with facilities that make it more resilient in difficult seasons of life. As a totem, the tortoise offers us patience, non-violent action and ancient wisdom.
Possible Animal Tattoo Placement
Animal tattoos have unlimited possibilities for placement. If you can conceive or believe it, your tattoo artist can do it for you.
Below, youll find a list of suggested body locations for your tattoo image:
- Wrists
- Forearms
- Upper arms
- Shoulders
- Upper back
- Lower back
- Tailbone area
- Chest
- Breasts
- Abdomen
- Hips
- Pelvic / Groin areas
- Thighs
- Calves
- Ankles
- Feet
Whether you want a butterfly tattoo on your lower back or a panther on your shoulder, animals can be a great choice for any body art collection. They can be rendered in a realistic style or can be drawn as tribal or Celtic designs. Animal tattoo designs are often pictured alone or combined with other subjects such as fairies or landscapes. Armed with a little knowledge, youre can find or create nearly any picture, style or placement for your animal tattoo design. So, go ahead and unleash it. What animal is dying to escape from you?
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