The most common American Indian totem animals and their meanings - American Indian tribe tradition involves animal totems, or animal spirit guides. Animals embody specific traits that are used as powerful symbols for human nature. The tribes believe that everyone shares a connection with one animal in particular and that this animal then acts as a spiritual guide throughout that person's life. Legends of America compiled a list of the most common totem animals and the traits they symbolize. Scroll through them in the following gallery. Do you identify with any of these animals?

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Totem animal - A totem animal is a sacred and spiritual being that symbolizes a tribe, individual, or family. American Indian tribes believe that animal guides offer power, wisdom, and support throughout our lives. Each animal symbolizes and embodies various characteristics.

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Whale - The whale symbolizes intelligence, nurturing, communication, and navigation.

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Buffalo - The buffalo symbolizes abundance, life, strength, and stability.

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Bear - The bear symbolizes healing, courage, introspection, and will power.

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Fish - The fish symbolizes gracefulness, fertility, good luck, and slyness.

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Horse - The horse symbolizes stamina, freedom, power, and nobility.

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Hawk - The hawk symbolizes cleansing, intuition, victory, and visionary power.

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Dolphin - The dolphin symbolizes playfulness, deep emotion, wisdom, and happiness.

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Dove - The dove is a spirit messenger symbolizing peace, love, and communication. 

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Llama - The llama symbolizes security, responsibility, curiosity, and adaptation. 

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Flamingo - The flamingo symbolizes heart healing, flirtation, color, and the power of illusion.

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Deer - The deer symbolizes compassion, intellect, grace, and innocence.

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Wolf - The wolf symbolizes loyalty, success, spirit, and freedom.

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Hummingbird - The hummingbird symbolizes energy, vitality, affection, and playfulness.

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Cow - The cow symbolizes community, fertility, love of home, and joy.

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Dog - The dog symbolizes obedience, guidance, faithfulness, and nobility. 

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Butterfly - The butterfly symbolizes transformation, vulnerability, balance, and lightness. 

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Fox - The fox symbolizes quick wit, invisibility, wildness, and diplomacy.

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Badger - The badger symbolizes courage, healing, confidence, and focus.

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Moose - The moose symbolizes longevity, self-esteem, determination, and wisdom.

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Bee - The bee symbolizes organization, fertility, defensiveness, and community. 

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Crow - The crow symbolizes magic, spiritual strength, creativity, and change.

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Alligator - The alligator symbolizes aggression, stealth, quickness, and instinct.

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Ant - The ant symbolizes patience, purpose, activity, and self-sacrifice. 

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Goat - The goat symbolizes stubbornness, independence, stability, and virility. 

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Caribou - The caribou symbolizes mobility, sensitivity, surety, and adaptability to adversity. 

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Beaver - The beaver symbolizes determination, motion, subconsciousness, and protection.

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Armadillo - The armadillo symbolizes safety, boundaries, trust, and peace.

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Cobra - The cobra symbolizes energy, swiftness, power, and transformation. 

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Anteater - The anteater symbolizes nosiness, lethargy, problem-solving, and the ability to detect trouble.

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