Reptile and Amphibian Tattoos

Even though the words reptile and amphibian may conjure up images of biology classes or laboratories, the tattoo world of animals simply could not get by without them. The snake is an excellent example, used in many different types of tattoo designs from the Classic Americana Battle Royale to the circular snake that eats its own tail (ouroboros) or the snake that encircles a dagger proclaiming "Death Before Dishonor."

One of the reasons that reptiles and amphibians can find their way into so many different types of tattoos is that their symbolism is one centered around change, much like the forms that they take during their lives. There is a distinct cyclical nature to the snake shedding its skin, for example, or of the cycle of life that leads from tadpole to frog. In addition, amphibians also carry their own traits of being able to exist in two worlds, in two types of environments.

Battle Royale - Classic tattoo design includes an ages old theme that represents opposing forces locked in combat. The most frequent images used are those of a bird of prey, such as an eagle, which represents the sun, the sky, and the heavens and a serpent such as a snake which represents the ground and the water, or the earth and life-giving waters. These two together (although sometimes with other animal additions) represent the forces of creation and fertility and the forces of nature which are ever in opposition but always in balance.	Because of its longevity, the turtle has frequently served as a symbol for long life. In several different cosmologies across the world, a giant turtle’s back is the origin of dry land in the midst of the sea or even carries the world on its back. In modern interpretations it has become a symbol for a steady if slow pace, something dependable and methodical. Because of the large number of eggs that it lays, it was also sometimes a symbol of fertility. The hard shell and the ability of the turtle to withdraw into it for protection has also been associated with strength. In the maritime tradition of tattoo, it marked a seaman who had crossed the equator.	The frog is an ideal design choice since it can be incredibly and vividly colorful, with texture or wetly gleaming, by itself or in its watery environment. When symbolism does enter into a consideration of a frog design, however, there is a vast and incredibly rich history behind it. From the Romans to the Aztecs and from India to Japan, these small but vocal creatures have come to symbolize all manner of emotional and spiritual aspects, drawn mostly from their natural behavior. Two common threads that seem to run strong, though, is their symbolism of fertility and also of magic. In the west, we have not far to look for both of these when it comes to fairy tales of enchanted princes.