Animagus Registry #627 - #656
#627 - lukecanwaltz88 - Norwegian Forest Cat
At first, this was a difficult choice, but the more I read about the Norwegian Forest Cat, the more like me it sounded. First and foremost, the coloring. I'm a ginger and the Norwegian Forest Cat can have orange coloring, as linked above. Second, I love the way Norwegian Forest Cats are described in terms of sociability. It is said that they like being in the company of other pets, but they particularly enjoy being with their human companion. This is just like me! I'm definitely someone who enjoys spending time with others, but at the end of the day, I want to go home to the people who matter the most to me. And I tend to like to do it on my terms. I'm not quite a bossypants like some cats can be, but I prefer to have my own program and do things on my own time.
Also, the life of this breed of cat really seems like my speed. I would definitely prefer to be a domestic animal, and it is said that the Norwegian Forest Cat is suited for domestic life. Some of its behavior traits also end up being like mine; they're prone to bursts of energy followed by curling up and taking a nice long nap. That's basically how I live my life. The Norwegian Forest Cat is also well-suited for cold weather; I grew up in New England and I'm definitely used to a colder climate!
I went into this whole process really excited to see what people would choose for me; I'd thought about having a feline form, but wasn't particularly attached to it as a "must". Now, I see that this is most definitely the best choice for me!
Jessica, Hufflepuff
2013-07-04
#629 - erethesunrises - Dhole
This was tricky for me to figure out, as I kept agonizing over my choices, trying to sell myself on each one but when I sold myself on one, traits of the others came out and made me reconsider. Ultimately I decided I did want my animagus to be ‘different’ and ‘special’ in some way. While the pony was a big appeal because of how much I could do as one, the traits of the Dhole kept getting to me, as well as their size making it a bit easier roam around urban environments (and while I know they don’t, I will as an animagus).
Canines have always been important to me. I’ve had dogs growing up all my life and in my opinion, they’re the best companions a person can have (or at least, I can have). Which gets me to my second point: companionship. I am very much a people person and Dholes are very social animals, who live in clans and separate into smaller packs to hunt (speaking of, I am definitely a meat eater, as canines also are). They are also very physical animals, and I am a physical person, especially by way of affection. Before going out to hunt, they partake in nuzzling and body rubbing which I am definitely here for. They are also animals very tied to the earth because of their dens and while I can and enjoy swimming, ultimately being on an earth terrain is my preference.
The personality of the Dhole is appealing to me because they seem playful as well as very active. I’m not extremely atheletic as Dholes are, but I wanted stamina and energy because I do like to go out and do and given what physical animals they are (especially living amongst tigers and leopards), that is appealing to me. They also wag their tails when they’re happy and work to take care of one another, and I am very much a happy people-person. Furthermore, given they have monogamous pairs and I am definitely somewhat of a romantic person, I like that as well.
Ultimately I am very satisfied with this choice and believe I will thrive as my animagus whenever I transform!
Anya, Gryffindor
2013-07-20
#630 - kaitydid33087 - North American River Otter
I think, I'm a lot like the North American River Otter, in several ways. First of all, the Otter is at home in the water and on land, which is where I like to spend a lot of my time. I'm EXTREMELY happy in the water, but also super content on land. Either one is fine, and I can be happy either place. The Otter is also very playful, and well, if you know me very well, you'll know that I'm in general a pretty playful person. I like to run around and have fun, and hang out with my friends and just goof off. The Otter is also a semi-social creature. They can be found in groups of about 17 or so. Which, I like to be around smaller groups of people, not too big, and not too small. Too big and I get nervous and intimidated. The Otter also, can be found more nocturnal, during the spring and summer. During the summer, I tend to stay up later, because the sun stays out longer. During the winter, the Otter doesn't stay up as late, which, I don't either, because the sun goes down earlier. In conclusion, the Otter and I like water and land, are playful, like smaller groups, and depending on the season, will either stay up later, or not.
Kaitlyn, Hufflepuff
2013-07-20
#631 - wasureneba - Pacific Parrotlet
I was unsure at first whether the parrotlet or the peafowl would be a better choice for me, but as I've thought about it, I think that ultimately the Pacific parrotlet is a fantastic choice for me. Pacific parrotlets are described as having "a large parrot personality in a small parrot body" and that is me to the core. (People often think that I'm about three or four inches taller than I actually am; I joke that it's because my personality is so big.) Personality-wise, they're stubborn and strong-willed, which are very much traits of mine; I can be a very contrary person and although I'm easily swayed by good logic, I'm not so easily swayed otherwise. They're also very out-going birds that are active & easily bored and need things to play with. This is also very much me: I love having fairly constant stimulation. Finally, parrotlets are chattery birds, and can be taught to talk. I love talking, and since my job is literally to study language, I love the idea of being a bird that can be taught to mimic human language!
Socially, parrotlets are flock birds, and can be very affectionate; this is true of me as well. I like being around others and am definitely affectionate, especially to people I love. However, parrotlets can get territorial and defensive, especially in captivity, which are also traits I have. I love being around others a great deal, but I need to have some me-space, too.
Physically, the parrotlet is a good choice, too. They're small (hey, me too!). They're also not the height of elegance or grace, although they're decently agile and certainly cute--which is pretty much my M.O. Being a parrotlet would allow me to fly around to my heart's content, and although I could be a bit showy I would also be able to hide a bit in my green surroundings.
Anie, Ravenclaw
2013-08-10
#632 - starfaerie82 - Blue Whale
I have to say that this was a bit of a tough choice to make because all of my choices were either marine creatures, or spent all their time in the water. Though seeing the piranha as a choice made me giggle a little, I think I'd be happier in the vastness of the ocean than in fresh water. I've always been drawn to the ocean and it's not something I can explain really because I have never lived close to one. When doing a bit of research, I took into consideration the habitats, dietary needs and what predators or dangers I might have to avoid while in this form.
I love that the Blue Whale swims so fast, but only for short distances, and then slows down for longer jaunts. I do the same because I have never been a sprint swimmer, always a distance/endurance swimmer who swims slower, but steadily and can swim for hours upon hours on end. The blue whale also has a life expectancy (from what is known anyway) of around the same as humans, which is also a nice thing to know.
Blue whales, like their smaller cousins the humpbacks, also have been known to sing when calling for mates, feeding, and staying in contact with their pod/family. I love to sing as well, much to the chagrin of anybody who rides in the car with me on long trips I'm afraid. I am also really attracted to the ability to stay submerged for extended periods of time before coming up for air. The blue whale also has a double blow hole, which is unique to this species as far as I can tell from my research. Another characteristic of whales is breeching, which is a type of excited activity for whales. It makes an enormous splash, as does tail fluke splashing. I kind of like the idea of getting people (researchers in this case) soaking wet. It's my more mischievous side I suppose.
All in all, I really think the blue whale is a good fit for me because it has no known natural predators, though I will have to be careful of whaling boats! It swims all its life, and even gets playful once in a while, plus it also sings. The ocean is so vast and there is so much to explore in the more frigid waters where many of this type of whale are found. The undersides of iceburgs comes to mind as a particularly interesting and gorgeous sight to behold. Definitely happy to see this as a choice, and confident I will enjoy my new form to the fullest!
Bry, Ravenclaw
2013-08-10
#634 - lumoslaurie - Icelandic Arctic Fox
I was reading something a person wrote who had lived with two arctic foxes, and he said that they were very affectionate with people they felt comfortable around, which is me to a t. I'm a very affectionate person, but only around those I'm close to. Foxes in general are mostly solitary creatures. They don't form packs, and they prefer to blend into the background, and use it to their advantage. But they are very loyal, and they are usually monogamous.
Foxes are also crafty. They will try to figure out different ways to get what they want. They are depicted in media doing things like sneaking into henhouses to steal eggs. They have very acute hearing, and this can help them find prey, even if the prey is hidden beneath snow. They won't always hunt for their own food either, though this is unusual. They'll also scavenge remains from animals that others have left behind. It's another way they're adaptable to environments. Sometimes polar bears will leave behind seals they've killed, and the fox can pick from that.
Reading about the animal symbolism of them (in accordance with totems), their solar attributes are described as passion, desire, intensity, and expression, and the qualities the fox totem would facilitate are focus, determination, and right-action. I also value intelligence over brute strength, like this fox.
Arctic foxes don't have much in the forms of territory - I especially thought of this in terms of location, rather than just possession. I've lived a few different places, and I don't have just one "home" anywhere. - but they do what they can to protect what they do have. You don't want to get in between them and what they hold dear. They don't just run into fights, they hang back and plan what they're going to do.
Arctic foxes are the smallest wild canid, which is better to hide/escape if needed, and it helps blend into the background. Their fur is the warmest of mammals, so they could handle the cold weather, and I'm always the one being lectured for going out in the cold without any kind of jacket. I love the cold.
Arctic foxes are also nocturnal burrowers, and I identify with this a lot, because I tend to sleep during the day and stay up the entire night/morning. These foxes will hunt for food and move around at night.
Laurie, Hufflepuff
2013-08-30
#636 - alwaysawkward - Common Genet
Out of all my options I immediately was drawn to the Common Genet. The Common Genet is a member of the viverridae family which includes civets and linsangs.
The Common Genet is pretty much my perfect match. They are generally solitary creatures and have wonderful hearing (which is a definite bonus) and vision (which would be wonderful since mine is horrible). They are nocturnal creatures, usually only coming out to hunt and be active long after the sun has gone down. It may have been a few years since I've stayed up until two in the morning, but it's when I'm at my best. I love the night, it's when I feel most alive.
The environment that they live in is also perfect. They live in moderate climates, usually areas with caves, forests or marshland. I'm not as big a fan of the marshland, but I have two other options so it's all good. Seeing as I get to pick the area I'd be in, out of the savannah, Middle East and the Mediterranean, I'm definitely going to say the Mediterranean. That'd be the perfect climate for me.
The Common Genet also has retractable claws, like a cat, which will definitely come in handy. Their diet matches mine as well. Mostly meat with a little bit of fruit and veg as well. I'm also excited by the fact that they are splendid climbers. I always have enjoyed climbing trees. Common Genets also have an awesomely long and striped tail. I am proud to claim that as mine. They also just look really cool, which is a definite plus.
Steph, Gryffindor
2013-09-07
#638 - cassinea - Polar Bear
I'm big on cold weather and flexibility so the polar bear's ability to live in water and on ice/earth, plus both swim and run across land is perfect for me. I wanted to be a carnivore (which I pretty much am in real life, give or take daily fruits) and this is the only marine mammal in existence so not only am I unique but also a meat-eater! Bears have a reputation for hibernating but not this fella. They're active all year round and hug the arctic circles during summer.
I said in my application that I didn't want to be a prey animal or if I had to be, at least one with teeth to bite back! As far as I know, there isn't anything that eats polar bears so they are at the top of their food chain. I'm a swimmer so the fact the polar bear is a warm-blooded water machine is superb. The fact that they get along well equally fine on their own or in a group fits me too. In general, I'm the kind of person who's very relaxed and enjoys going with the flow. That sure sounds like a serene polar bear to me!
Cass, Slytherin
2013-09-07
#639 - rabidmunkee - Arctic Wolf
I feel the Arctic Wolf would be just like me. They love cold weather, and are permanently protected from it by their coats. I also love cold weather (and what I wouldn't give to be permanently protected from it!). Also they can live up to 5 months with no sunlight. I'm more of a nocturnal creature as it is, so 5 months of no sunlight wouldn't bother me in the least. They do live in packs, but their packs consist of their family only. This is me to a T. I still live with my parents (I'm an only child), so I'm still living with my family. I also don't really like big groups of strangers, so a pack of just my family is perfect for me. In my application I said I'd rather live in a rural area, and what is more rural than the Canadian Arctic, Greenland, or Alaska? There are less people there, so I wouldn't be as bothered and anxious. I wouldn't have to worry about being shot since there aren't as many people in these parts of the world. I also said I'd like to be an omnivore. The wolf is a carnivore, but it eats animals who are herbivores. So it's kind of like being an omnivore. I would just have to eat an animal that eats plants. And I'd have big teeth to protect myself from other prey. Though I'm not sure who else would mess with an arctic wolf other than humans. Overall, I feel a deep connection with an Arctic Wolf. I have always liked wolves (I actually got to pet a wolf hybrid that doesn't let anyone pet it), and they're just one of the most beautiful creatures. I would be honored to be able to have a wolf as my animagi. They are just such beautiful graceful creatures.
Shawn, Hufflepuff
2013-09-21
#640 - liriene - American Shorthair
Historically, the American Shorthair is a cat whose ancestors came across the Atlantic from Europe. Like the American Shorthair, I am the descendant of immigrants. My father's side of the family came from China, but they have been living in Southeast Asia for several generations and have adapted in many ways to the region over time.
Physically, the American Shorthair and I have short hair and relatively rounded faces. The American Shorthair does not require much grooming, which fits in very well with the fact that I hardly ever put on make-up or do my hair.
Socially, the American Shorthair is a highly affectionate breed of cat which nevertheless does not need constant attention. I think this fits with my personality, since though I am sweet and like having people around, I am usually occupied with my own things. Like the American Shorthair I am generally easygoing with people, but like the female of the breed, I also tend to bustle about doing things!
Intellectually, the American Shorthair and I are both intelligent and curious about the world around us. The American Shorthair is known to like watching the outside world from the windowsill even when indoors, and I think this fits well with my academic inclination.
Personality-wise, the American Shorthair is an independent-minded cat even though it may be affectionate. This fits with how I need to be convinced that something is the right course of action before I proceed with it - as my doctors will tell you, I am not a very "compliant" patient at all. I also tend to critically analyse information rather than take them at face value. Apart from that, the American Shorthair is a hardworking creature. It has a long history as a working cat, coming across to America as working cats on board ships, where their task was to keep their ships free of mice. I am a generally hardworking student, and I think I would being an American Shorthair would mesh very well with this aspect of my personality too.
For all the reasons above, I think I would do very well having an American Shorthair as my Animagus form, and think I will make a very happy cat!
Emily, Hufflepuff
2013-09-21
#641 - a-deadletter - Blue-winged Goose
The Blue-winged Goose seems to be the best mix of qualities that I am looking for. I'm very non-confrontational and often don't like to be noticed, so in the animal world that translates to a desire to be camouflaged. However, I'm not a complete shut-in: there are many times when I desperately want to be noticed, I just want to have the choice of when I am noticed and not noticed. The Blue-winged Goose has top feathers that blend in very well with its rocky habitat, but when it spreads its wings it reveals a beautiful blue color; this also camouflages against the sky, but it could be used for showing off. The blue peaks out a tiny bit when its wings are folded in; my hair does a similar thing where the under-bits are a slightly different color than the outer-bits.
Personality-wise, it's a good fit because it's quiet, docile, and lazy. Its call is soft and non-obnoxious like the typical goose honk. This fits me very well because I don't feel comfortable using my voice to represent myself in a conflict, I fear I don't have a way with the spoken word. It chooses to spend most of its time with one mate and is long-term monogamous, but it is friendly and approachable, and several personal websites I came across mentioned how the Blue-winged Geese they encountered looked as if it could eat from their hand, it was so calm. As for the laziness, it's perfect. It's very good at both swimming and flying, it just chooses not to most of the time -- just how I mostly choose not to do anything but lie on the couch and watch TV, but every once and a while I'll get up the desire to go swimming or running. It's a grazer, as am I (mmm snacks), and it's largely nocturnal, which is not a direct representation of me but I tend to stay up til 3 am and do some of my best introspection at this time.
It also works very well for what qualities I want from an animagus. I am absolutely a water type and feel a sense of calm when I'm by the water, but I've always wanted to have wings and know what it's like to fly in a not-plane. I have flying dreams all the time and I'm always really good at it. A water-bird is the best of both worlds (which is why most of my chosen animals were water birds!), but this one matches my personality better (in that it's non-aggressive) and is quite small (which I didn't put on my app, but I realize now that I prefer). I considered choosing the Hawaiian Monk Seal, but I realized I'd much prefer to have the choice to swim/glide or fly at a moment's notice, and the Blue-winged Goose gives me that choice while retaining the laziness factor of the Monk Seal that I liked. Also... look at the widdle face! I want to pet it!
Oh and it's also still a mystery to science because we don't know who its ancestors are yet, and that's cool because science.
Anah, Gryffindor
2013-10-03
#642 - magfrump - Northern Flying Squirrel
I've long felt a connection to squirrels, and the Northern Flying Squirrel might be a best pick among all of them. A nocturnal, airborne mammal strongly complements my recent Bat Patronus stamp. Being more of a meat-eater than other squirrels is consistent with my carnivorous habits, and their habitat in the colder northern reaches of North America is my own habitat in real life as well.
The flying squirrel plans ahead by caching food, and resourcefully exploits amazing adaptations to glide and see at night. It nests in holes in old-growth trees; something I often did in the redwoods with my friends as a kid. Inside a dead redwood stump was one of the places I first watched Firefly. Flying squirrels use clever tactics to avoid predation when landing, and when caught out of their element, such as when grounded, they can freeze up under pressure and want to hide, which has happened to me on occasion.
They are intensely adorable, and if I could casually adopt the form to, say, glide out the window of my second floor apartment or climb the wall back up rather than the stairs I would do so constantly. And perhaps the most potent clincher for me was that one of their main predators is domestic cats, which while I love them are the only animal I'm allergic to!
Mitchell, Slytherin
2013-10-03
#643 - sapphoatsunset - Atlantic Puffin
The first thing I thought when I found the atlantic puffin among my choices was "oh my god, how adorable!" That impression still stands, but I love how resourceful they are and I feel like I'm already bonding with the cutie. It was certainly the best fit among the choices in regards to my social yet independent nature. I definitely go through a cycle with my social habits where I hang out with people a lot in a concentrated time frame and then retreat back to my own domain for expended periods of time.
One thing that really stood out to me was that each time puffins meet, they reaffirm their mating bonds. I think that's really beautiful and much more fluid. The other choices were quite monogamous in a more traditional way that just doesn't fit my personality. I'm more the type to retain my independence while building a connection of souls and nurturing it when we're together. It actually fits my pattern of dating very well too. I tend to date for short periods of time and not more than once a year because the time I have to myself for 9 to 10 months of the year is as valuable to me as the time I spend with a significant other. And by not solidifying things, neither side of the relationship is allowed to grow complacent. ♥
Beyond the fluidity in relationships, there's also an environmental fluidity and practicality that resonates with me, and the fact that the motherhood process is so short. Both fit my modus operandi very well, and I can't help but think I'm just a puffin at heart!
Bei, Ravenclaw
2013-10-03
#644 - cyn_ful - Olinguito
I found myself torn at the choices for my animgaus, so I had to sit and concentrate on who I was. As mentioned in my app, I have always had an affinity for the fox, the red fox especially. They are adorable and playful. I got so excited to see it as one of my choices, but knowing that I cannot just choose my animal, I knew I needed to look at the others. The fennec fox was a good choice. I do love the warmth, but not necessarily desert conditions, even though the ears would help with that. I even loved the porcupine. I have played with a little hedgehog, so I know how adorable all the prickly animals are. Neither of them is me. That is when I looked closely at the olinguito.
The olinguito is a new species, well new to us. It is the first newly discovered carnivorous mammal in thirty five years. I find that I am still discovering myself now and I was only a wee little girl when the last one was discovered. Not too long after that is when I began to build my own walls and masks. It takes quite a while to truly discover me. In addition to that, I know how to remain hidden in plain sight. The Olinguito was on display in zoos and no one ever knew. She just blended into the background. I do that quite well.
The habitat of the olinguito is completely awesome, the cloud forest in Colombia and Ecuador are simply beautiful. I have honestly dreamed of them before and feeling as if you are flying through the sky because of the height that you are at. One thing that I do not mention often is that I love the forests. I love being in the forests. As a baby I would lie outside and gaze up into the trees. I loved climbing trees, which is where the Olinguitos live. I also cannot imagine having more than one baby at a time. They are pretty smart in that.
The olinguitos also have sharp claws. I like that. A very good weapon at defending one’s self. They also have sharp teeth. Their coloring is between browns and orange and a mixture of the two.
From the family and combination of animals that the olinguito looks like, it is a perfect mix for me. I have always wanted to see baby bears (aka teddy bears in my head). Cats have always been my favorite animal, I have two right now. One of my other favorites was the raccoon of which the olinguito is in the family of. I can pretend that its shading can be slightly redder to match the fox I always believed I was, but I can accept knowing that I am an olinguito.
Cyn, Slytherin
2013-10-21
#645 - bowl_of_glow - Forest Cottontail
And, in a left-field move, I chose the tapeti! I thought that if I was given a cat as an option I would go for it without a second thought. And yet, the Tapeti immediately caught my eye - partly because it was cute, partly because I felt drawn to it, even if I couldn’t put my finger on what it was exactly that I found appealing.
So, why not the Bengal cat? It's gorgeous and I loved it. I’ve always felt a strong affinity for cats, and felines in general, ever since I was little. I still think of myself as very much cat-like, in many ways, but if I was a cat I’d probably be an aloof one, one that minds its own business, sleeps a lot and isn’t much of a cuddler. The Bengal cat seemed to be the opposite of that, as it was described as extremely active and friendly, sociable and playful. Had it been another cat I might have chosen it, but as I read about the Bengal cat I couldn’t find anything in particular that made me think “oh, that’s so me".
So I did what a Ravenclaw does, and I started to research a bit more. I couldn’t find an awful lot about the tapeti in particular, but I did read about rabbits. Once I got over what I would like to be or the things I would like to do in my animagus form and focused on choosing something that might actually match my personality, I could see why a rabbit could be an appropriate choice. It’s a gentle, diffident, non-aggressive animal. It’s prey to a lot of different animals, so it has to keep its wits about it order to survive. In fact, reading about rabbit in folklore and different cultures, I thought it was a very interesting animal as it is often portrayed as cunning and clever, capable of out-witting his enemies despite being so unassuming. Yet it’s very ambiguous too, as it can be both symbol of cunning and foolishness, sexuality and chastity, luck and bad luck - and I like this fact as well, since I dislike labels myself and I don’t like to be put into neat little boxes.
I also like the fact that one of the first registered animagi in the HP canon is a rabbit - Babbity Rabbity, a fictional character in a tale for children but a clever woman nonetheless, and another example of how quiet and humble people shouldn’t be underestimated. Even in Chinese astrology, people born in the year of the Rabbit are described as intuitive, intelligent, sensitive and peace-loving, which are all traits I can relate to.
As for the forest cottontail rabbit in particular - I love that it’s a forest animal and it lives close to swamps and rivers. It’s a wild animal and as such it’s very different from domestic rabbits; they are solitary animals, and baby cottontails are very precocious and can take care of themselves shortly after their birth, so they are self-sufficient even when they still look small and fragile: they are, in way, stronger than they look.
But what really tipped the scale was asking my mom, “Do you think I’m more cat-like or rabbit-like?". And she said maybe I’m more like a rabbit and I’m more "innocent and sweet-natured" anyway. So I’m going to trust my instinct (and my mom, who knows me fairly well after all) and claim the tapeti.
Giulia, Ravenclaw
2013-10-25
#646 - astraeas_world - Common Nighthawk
Of the four animals selected from the votes, I chose the common nighthawk, as it was one of the choices that immediately jumped out at me as being a possibly-good fit. After looking more deeply into each of the choices only served to strengthen that connection. The titmouse was cute, and I liked its curiosity, but they line their nests with snakeskin, and I'm not overly fond of snakes. The hummingbird was definitely loveliest of the choices, but the bird is more active than I am overall and more of a daytime animal. I almost chose the crow, since I do like corvids and they're omnivorous, monogamous birds that enjoy a similar climate to me, but after doing more research, I decided that the nighthawk was the best fit.
The nighthawk is most active at dawn and dusk; the same, particularly the latter, is true of me as well. Like me, it's "primarily solitary," and its tendency to stay by itself felt relatable, since I'm fairly introverted and spend a lot of time by myself as well. Its territory and the climate that it enjoys are similar to my own - I didn't realize that there are nighthawks in my area of the States! - and like me, it's a creature of temperate climes that can thrive in the city, country, or suburbs. They're also monogamous birds, which tends to mesh with my own personal life/habits.
I also found an interesting discussion on a photography page that talked about some of the nighthawk's habits. It apparently "appear to be having one hell of a good time while flying, occasionally performing impressive acrobatics for no apparent reason" which, I have to admit, perfectly describes what my actual behavior would be if I was a bird Animagus. (Seriously, who wouldn't use a flying Animagus form to randomly try to do cool stuff in mid-air?) Also, apparently occasionally they've been mistaken for UFOs. (I have no idea how reliable a source that actually is, but...the more I read about this bird, the more it sounds like a quirky, fun kind of bird of prey - in appearance, it looks like it blends in and isn't very showy, but it's . Also, I can sympathize with the fact that these birds don't do well when they can't find food - I'm the same way. (Don't feed me, and I am not a productive or happy person.)
What really sealed this for me was that the nighthawk has an "erratic, looping" pattern of flight that differentiates it from other birds of prey. I didn't mention this on my application, but IRL I have an issue with my eyes not being exactly level with one another, which leads to some vision problems, but also a slightly erratic pattern of walking (I don't tend to notice it, but everyone else comments that I tend to drift sideways - special lenses in my glasses mostly fix this issue, but don't entirely compensate.) So I was surprised to find that one of my choices actually had a slightly erratic flight pattern, and that definitely made me feel a kinship with it!
Julie, Ravenclaw
2013-11-08
#648 - latrans - Mexican Coyote
While I was thrilled to see that my choices were all large, mammalian predators, none of them could really hold a candle to the coyote. My handle is "latrans", after all. I did vaguely consider the Kodiak bear, but, as awesome as I think bears are, I don’t relate to them as much. So I had to stick with my gut and go with the Mexican coyote.
I have loved coyotes since I was a little girl in the southwest, growing up on stories of Coyote the Trickster creator-and the word “coyote” stems from the Nahuatl word coyotl, which means “trickster”. Fitting, I think, for a girl who delighted in creating elaborate pranks when she was younger and who still appreciates a good April Fools gag. As I’ve grown older, my connection with these animals has remained, as they have lived in all the places I have, whether mountain or forest or urban or desert. Like the coyote, I am a southwestern native and have no natural ties to the east coast, but I am here now and thriving. They are extremely adaptive when it comes to their environment and can live wherever they have any kind of a wide variety of food, which is one of the reasons I snubbed the top predators-many people think top predators rule their environment, but the reality is the exact opposite and I am not that specific when it comes to my habitat requirements. I can live just about anywhere and eat almost anything. I mean, one of my favorite foods is cow cheeks.
Their social behavior is also extremely adaptive and, like the coyote, I prefer having one other constant companion with the option for more, though I’m completely capable of being on my own for long periods of time. As a fairly talkative person, I would like an animal that has a range of vocal communication and the ability to be very quiet for long periods of time as well, like the coyote. They are territorial and their territory size varies depending on resources, and the time they are most active depends on what works best in that area. While I tend to prefer mornings, that is mostly due to external factors and I wouldn’t say I “naturally” prefer any given time of day. And they are very good observational learners, beyond even domesticated dogs, which works well for me since I am very much an observational learner myself.
Lastly, coyotes are extremely active. They can run at high speeds and they are excellent swimmers, which has allowed them to colonize islands that would otherwise be out of their reach. As a runner and a swimmer, I would appreciate having those capabilities in my Animagus form.
Bonus round: I think getting the Mexican subspecies is a bit serendipitous since I was writing a term paper on the importance of animals in Aztec culture about the same time as I was wrapping up my senior thesis on coyotes and the ancient capital of the Mexica Empire, Tenochtitlan, is located at the heart of the Mexican coyote’s range. I was only one class shy of a history minor with a focus on Mesoamerica, I can actually read some Nahuatl, and am regaining some of my fluency in Spanish. The Mexican coyote marries my two biggest academic interests pretty well, actually.
Kaz, Gryffindor
2013-12-01
#649 - superficiality - Great White Shark
I was torn between all of my Animagus choices but, ultimately, I decided to go with the great white shark.
First of all, I was very drawn to aquatic animals. I love spending time in the water and, when I take vacations to the beach, I will easily spend hours swimming around. I'm so into the ocean that I even learned how to scuba dive last year. I was enthralled with the idea of being able to spend so much time in the deep waters of the ocean, and breathing underwater was one of the most thrilling new experiences.
I also feel a certain affection and awe towards marine life because I think all sea creatures have a compelling eerie, alien quality to them. The great white, in particular, is a perfect Animagus choice for me because they have a certain toughness I admire, and I relate to the ways sharks are referenced in popular culture. My friends have affectionately and jokingly referred to me as being a shark (more in the career woman sort of way, though) because of my ambitious, dominant, go-getting, impatient, and tough nature. In the course of my “research” (Googling), I also discovered that sharks aren't as indiscriminately aggressive, as movies like Jaws would suggest. They're actually very intelligent and curious creatures, which I think also describes my personality. I was also surprised, but delighted, to learn that the great white shark can be a relatively social animal.
I initially had some reservations about the great white because I thought they were solitary creatures, but I felt much more of a kinship when I learned they often travel in stable “clans.” These clans are much like a wolf pack, with a clearly established rank, and I feel like that's very evocative of my own social life. I often travel with a posse, and like having a sense of what roles each person fulfills. Relatedly, I was charmed to read that sharks show a variety of different behaviors when they get together, from “open mouthed gaping” to “assertive body slams.” These are good animal translations of reactions I have to other people.
Lastly, I was felt especially attached to the great white shark to learn that they are basically impossible to keep in captivity. Much like great white sharks and Miley Cyrus, I cannot be tamed.
Alice, Slytherin
2013-12-05
#650 - fangss - South China Tiger
There were many great choices for my animagus form. I even found myself leaning towards the wolverine at one point. However, my personal favorite animal and the species of animal that I have always held the strongest connection towards is the tiger. It’s a gut feeling that I have held since I was a child and I was over the moon to see it as one of my choices. The allure and mystery of the tiger is a big appeal, and with the South China Tiger they are extremely rare and under the critically endangered list. Not as much is known about this subspecies as others because they are so rare. I have often been described by those who know me as being mysterious, even if it is not my intention. The personality of the South China Tiger is relatable to me in the way that they are aggressive, but sneaky, hunting their prey from the side or behind and rarely being heard before they make their attack. This oddly reminds me of myself when I am simply walking around and friends/family have gasped claiming that I walk too quietly and they had no idea I was there. Big cats also tend to be regarded as images of passion, protection and stubbornness, all of which I feel I can be. The South China Tiger is also the smallest breed of tiger within Asia, a fact that I did not know and find very endearing. I am the youngest of five children and my siblings are distantly older than me. I can understand being the smallest tiger amongst the larger, more popular, species. Everything about the South China Tiger is exactly what I desired from my animagus form. They are strong and harbor resilient survival instincts when their environments are destroyed and their species is hunted near extinction. They are alluring in both physical form with a striking look and within the notable presence they project. I have always held a strong connection with tigers, and now I find myself relating to a very specific subspecies in the South China Tiger who I feel represents both my personality and physical appearance well.
Tiffany, Slytherin
2014-01-07
#652 - cotton_tail - Giant Panda
I really feel as though I relate to the Giant Panda for a multitude of reasons. Personality wise I certainly feel a harmony with this animal as we both have very lazy and lethargic tendencies. These animals eat and sleep up to 20 hours every day. I enjoy eating and lounging more than almost anything in the universe; however, I also really love to swim which is one of the only physical activities that Giant Pandas partake in. My main goal in life is to eat and sit. I really do not enjoy strenuous activities and going on adventures.
I also relate heartily to their exclusive and reclusive nature. I am a very shy and I rarely wish to be in large groups or to make a show of myself. Even after mating, Giant Pandas remain secluded and the male pandas leave the female to raise the cubs. My shyness is really showcased within this animal choice. While the Giant Panda is classified as a carnivore, they do tend to eat more bamboo than anything else. I also tend to eat on both sides of the spectrum.
In terms of physicality, I feel as though I do resemble a Giant Panda as I do have very dark circles under my eyes and I have very white skin. I also have extremely dark hair and eyes. While I might not be anywhere as large as a Giant Panda, I think that physically speaking I resemble the animal to quite an extent in terms of coloring and markings.
Out of all the awesome choices that I was given, I feel as though this animal certainly aligns best with my personality, physical demeanor and the general spirit that I have as a human. I feel the most comfortable with this choice and I honestly feel as though I would truly enjoy having this as my animagus.
Kristy, Hufflepuff
2014-02-04
#653 - empressempoleon - Midland Painted Turtle
I think that I am most fit to be the Midland Painted Turtle. First of all, we are similar in our characteristics. The Painted Turtle does include meat in its diet, but not very much, as opposed to the other choices I was given that I eat more meat. The turtle suits me more because I am vegetarien. The turtle is also very comfortable in the water like I am, and, while functional on land, is slow and not very agile, just like me. It is also not very threatening and will simply pass problems along, rather than getting caught up in them, just like me.
It also does not fight back, which is a big part of who I am. I am a passive person, and if someone makes an attack at me, I do not fight back, mainly because I simply don’t want to or can’t find the courage to. I just ignore it and move on. The turtle, rather than fighting back, uses its shell to ignore the predator attacking it, while also hurting it in the process because of how the predator will try to chomp on the hard shell. The turtle is very close to me in this way, and this is the main reason why I think I should have the Midland Painted Turtle as my animagus.
Empress, Hufflepuff
2014-03-13
#654 - abcdefghijkatie - Yellow-Headed Amazon
I’ve chosen the yellow-headed amazon as my animagus form. I found it so difficult to choose between all of my choices (especially the tropical mockingbird because I’m totally an obnoxious songbird in human form, and the scarlet macaw because it’s so pretty and I love macaws in general) but after delving into the characteristics and traits of the yellow-headed amazon, it just felt like a perfect fit! I wanted to be an animal that was either a great swimmer or a great flyer and my choice, being a parrot, is obviously a fantastic flyer. The yellow-headed amazon is also one of the best “talking” birds, second only to the African grey parrot. It loves to mimic human speech or sing and I have a tendency to copy noises I hear or randomly burst into song.
The yellow-headed amazon is a monogamous bird, as am I! It also needs intellectual stimulation and social interaction or it becomes depressed or destructive. I’m not very extraverted but I do enjoy the company of my friends and wouldn’t choose to be alone for an extended period of time. Because of their intelligence, a pet yellow-headed amazon would require a bit of effort and research before befriending and trusting just any human trainer. I’m similar in this regard in that it takes me a very long time to share personal stories with anyone new until they’ve shown me that they are trustworthy and I’m comfortable with them. If anyone mistreats (or even offends or opposes) the yellow-headed amazon, it can get nippy and defensive which I can relate to as well.
Katie, Hufflepuff
2014-03-13
#655 - asphodel_rain - Finnish Lapphund
I quite like dogs, and feel more of a connection with them than with guinea pigs or Japanese Macaques, so I narrowed down my choices to the Finnish Lapphund and the Great Pyrenees. In the end, I went with the Finnish Lapphund because, although the two breeds do share similarities and I like that the Great Pyrenees is nocturnal, I feel like my personality is more similar to that of the Finnish Lapphund. For example, the Great Pyrenees can be slow to learn commands whereas I tend to pick things up and adjust to them pretty quickly. Also, the Great Pyrenees is more of a guard dog while the Finnish Lapphund is more of a watch dog, and I'm usually pretty decent at noticing things but not necessarily good at knowing how to protect people.
The Finnish Lapphund is a good watch dog because it often barks at unfamiliar things and tends to avoid threatening situations or else reacts quickly to them (such as quickly stepping out of the way to avoid a reindeer about to step on it, deriving from the breed's past as reindeer herders). I'm a bit quieter but otherwise I do sometimes avoid situations I perceive to be threatening (which is often unhelpful if the situation is something that is in reality not very threatening, like asking a sales person for help in a store) and I startle easily but in actual threatening situations I can step up my game and focus on doing what I need to do in order to get out of the situation. Finnish Lapphunds are also known for thinking through their actions first, which is also something I do. I can be very spontaneous at times, but I usually do think through the consequences first. We both can be aloof around strangers but care very deeply about the people we're close to, are friendly and calm, and work well with children. We both respond better to positive reinforcement than punishment (when I'm punished it makes me want to avoid doing the thing I got in trouble for ever again, and also the people who punished me) because we have a need to please the people we care about.
I like that the breed comes from colder climates (because I prefer cold weather to hot weather) but also has a coldproof, weatherproof coat. One of the things I don't like about being outdoors is the physical discomfort of being too hot or too cold that you don't really get inside climate-controlled buildings, but this takes away that problem! I do like spending time outdoors though so I think it's cool that Finnish Lapphunds are one of two dog breeds allowed to live outside in Finland. Finnish Lapphunds are also versatile because they do well in cold areas but also do well in warm climates, and I think that this ability to live pretty much anywhere is one that I share. City, rural, hot, snowy, I'll figure out a way to make it work. Also I really appreciate that this dog looks a bit like a wolf, since I think wolves are beautiful, and it's cool that they often have eye markings that look like spectacles, which is relevant because I wear glasses.
Julian, Gryffindor
2014-05-02
#656 - carola_d - Tasmanian Tiger
I never expected to find among the four choices an animal as enigmatic as the Tasmanian Tiger. Before knowing the four animal choices, I was almost sure that I was going to pick a wild feline because they have always been my favorite. For that reason, deciding between the Thylacine and the Asiatic Lion has been very difficult, I've read every information I've been able to find about these animals. Finally, I inclined myself towards the Tasmanian Tiger simply because it is a fascinating creature, it is so singular that its identification has been topic of debate for centuries, and it still is, even after its extinction. There is no doubt that it is a marsupial but its appearance is more similar to a dog, wolf or even a big cat. It has received a lot of names: Tasmanian Tiger, Marsupial Wolf or Thylacine. I identify with this because I usually give first impressions that can be quite contradictory (it depends on how comfortable I feel in the place and with the people I am meeting). I've been told I talk too much, I've been told I am always silent; I've been told I am always laughing, I've been told I am very serious...
These animals didn't use long chases to catch their preys, which actually connects with me because I am not a runner at all. The Tasmanian Tiger was an ambush animal, which equivalent for humans would be to wait for the best moment to do or ask for something you want to achieve and that's usually my strategy. We only know about their hunting techniques because of their flexible paw movement, similar to those of tigers and cats. And funny enough, my ankles are very flexible, to the point that is really difficult for me to break an ankle. They are carnivore and this was a very important requisite because I love meat. They are solitary animals and even when I don't consider myself solitary, I absolutely need to be alone from time to time to pursue my hobbies. The Tasmanian Tigers are originally from Australia, where the weather is warm and dry. I am used to hot weathers and I can stand heat a lot better than cold climates.
I am very curious about the past and I love to talk and learn about legends, supernatural creatures, ghosts, etc. I am the opposite of skeptical, I don't believe in the supernatural per se but I enjoy meditating about the existence of that kind of things... so having an animal from the past as my animagus form sounds just right, specially considering the Tasmanian Tiger is a mix of different species that reminds me of a magical creature instead of a normal animal. The Tasmanian Tiger is officially extinct, but there are people who swear to have seen one recently, nothing has been confirmed, turning this animal into a legend like the Bigfoot or the Loch Ness monster (maybe what they have seen was actually an animagus :D)
Let me end my essay with a quote I found in my research about the Tasmanian Tiger:
"I don't think there's anything like it around today," she said. "It's sort of like a cat-like fox."
Carola, Gryffindor
2014-05-01
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