Here I will discuss the history and symbolism's of various tattoo as per "The Tattoo Sourcebook by the editors of tattoofinder.com".
History:
Human beings have always had a fascination with the animal kingdom, and have long decorated themselves with feathers and furs in a shamanistic attempt to infuse themselves with the spirit and qualities of the creature in question; qualities of speed, ferocity, power, and intelligence which, it was hoped, would magically transfer to the wearer. Animal tattoos are an extension of this idea, to align with the nature of the creature in question and also to tell the world of those qualities. The idea of the animal as a guardian or totem in this world, or as a psychopomp to guide us to the next, is so ancient as to be virtually impossible to date. Aboriginal peoples such as Maurois and Native Americans still subscribe to this viscerally powerful idea.
Symbolism:
Animals pack a heavy symbolic punch; think of the sharp eyes of the eagle, the power and speed of a horse, the savagery of the tiger, the pride of the lion. Then there is the other side of the coin; the spiritual dolphin, the mystical cat, the magic hare. It's well worth researching the symbolic meaning of animals since they often have hidden depths; the rabbit may be a symbol of cuddliness but it is also a symbol of sexual promiscuity. The horse stands for strength and beauty but also for fertility. The fact that animals appear in a quarter of all tattoos is testament to our continuing fascination with them. Big cats, such as the lion, the panther or the leopard, representing power, agility, and danger. Paw prints and skin patterns - for example tiger skin or leopard skin - are a more oblique nod to the notion of "the animal within." Native Americans believed that animal tattoos were a kind of shadow imprinted by the spirit of the animal upon our lives. This may be especially meaningful in the case of pet portrait tattoos.
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