#lhinelle

oh interesting question! i can definitely see where that stereotype is coming from with their industrious behavior, but i actually think beavers are more suited for xSFJs (particularly ESFJs), likely 1w2s or 2w1s! let me break down where i’m coming from!

beavers are highly communal and expressive animals. they live in family unit colonies with very little in-fighting and frequent demonstrations of allogrooming and assisting others in breaking down branches. in my opinion i feel like animals that suit ISTJs need a degree of independence or social tolerance, having hallmark of confidence to engage in goal-achieving behavior alone. i think the comparison between a european badger (which i feel is xSTJ, especially ESTJ... american badger is more ISTJ, but clearly so due to their stark independence) and the beaver illustrates this difference.

with the badger, they’ve got a little more flexibility in terms of social behavior. european badgers can be found denning alone (though this is rare) or in clans, which can range between just two individuals to up to 20. these clans are similar to beaver colonies in that they’re highly territorial and engage in grooming and play behavior, but badgers within a clan actually demonstrate very little cooperative behavior unlike the beaver. badgers will hunt and forage on their own, contrary to the beaver, who will collect food in a cache to feed the entire colony. badger clans have hierarchy similar to a beaver clan and pretty interestingly, even though they’re not monogamous like the beaver, the dominant male is tolerant of related males still hanging around in the group! badgers are a lot more aggressive of animals than the docile beaver however: in-fighting is common during mating season, and they’re vicious when it comes to territory defense.

if you’ve liked my calligraphy so far buy me supplies off my amazon wishlist and i’ll write what you want up to 100 words

Whiskey... and Pepsi? Sweet summer child. We all go through the liking weird drinks phase, you'll learn too

lhinelle replied to your post “guess who bought alcohol legally 4 the first time in her life today”

Oh damn I am rude. Congratulations on your birthday! The drink combo just struck me as odd is all.

oh ho skunks are one of my favorite forms, thanks for letting me ramble about this!

i’ll start with some pretty fundamental skunk traits imo! in general skunk people are going to be independent. even the most social of skunks (the striped skunk) aren’t the type to seek new people out or go looking for social situations; they more so just accept it when it comes to them. this isn’t to say that skunk people are anxious or shy — the opposite in fact, a skunk person is going to be assertive and typically a confident person, unafraid to be honest and assert their boundaries. they aren’t provocative people and i don’t particularly see a skunk soul instigating something... unless they’re simply being outspoken about their opinions and someone takes offense to that, as they don’t see much need to temper their true feelings. these guys are independently curious and adventurous, they’re loose-bonding and noncommittal, not bothered by change and happy to drop something and move onto the next project if it isn’t work. they definitely get indulgent about their interests... but again, this isn’t something that’s typically shared with others, as they don’t have a strong need for that emotional dependence and group mentality.

going into breeds of skunks! let me know if one catches you eye, i can expand on things too!

striped skunkthis is a hardy individual! like i said before, striped skunks are the most social, but even this is going to manifest in someone who’s socially tolerant and has a few friends kicking around, probably the type who don’t mind the striped skunk’s independence and infrequent communication — though I do get classic ExTP energy from these guys, as they tend to be possessive over their close relationships and their “person”, and do have jealous tendencies despite not being clingy or dependent people. definitely a defining trait of striped skunks is how ambitious and competitive they are. they're stubborn and long-fused, but they don’t like being bothered or needled... their eye is definitely on their goals and they can be risk-taking to get there — though turn tail and find a different path if things get stressful or tough.

spotted skunkoh spotted skunks, my favorite! they’re absolutely more loose-bonding and independent than the striped skunk, though again aren’t terribly bothered by socialization, they just know they can do things better on their own. spotted skunk individuals have an excitability and sense of adventure that propels them, contrary to a striped skunk’s more even temper and determination. these guys are classically curious and open-minded people, but usually are more careful about going into risky situations and less bold than the striped skunk. you’re not going to find a patient person with a spotted skunk daemon: they need stimulation and new situations, and if they’re not being fulfilled, they’re going to seek it out. like all skunks, they’re self-confident but with a splash of dramatics owing to their more emotional demeanor.

hooded skunkthe hooded skunk is a private creature but such an interesting animal — they’ve been observed breaking eggs by throwing them between their legs to crack them! i imagine a hooded skunk would be an intensely personal being, tolerant of social situations but not inclined to them. not quite the risk-taker that is the striped skunk and is likely less bold to boot, but is more tolerant and willing to diversify than its goal-oriented relatives. these individuals, while hardy and defensive, are more willing to make things work and are less fickle. i’d characterize them as “work smarter not harder” types of people... but they’re no less touchy than other skunks, and will snap if someone encroaches on their boundaries.

hog-nosed skunkfinally the hog-nosed! here you’ve got an intensely private and independent person, someone who’s withdrawn and secretive and not terribly interested in getting to know others. hog-nosed skunks truly walk their own path: they’re defensive people who will stand up for their opinions and keep others at arm’s length. regarding their internal life, they’re classically curious and hardy people. maintaining this reputation is essential to them and they’re big on achieving. they’ve got a definite willingness to be flexible and innovative. steady workers but can be prone to corner cutting if it benefits them.

hey!!

absolute great start — weasels especially are perfect for xsfps. i wanted to delve into that a little more and suggest some specific species i think would fit. it is worth mentioning that any weasel soul is going to come with chaos: if you’re not a person who’s high energy and reactive, these guys are probably out. for an esfp i’d immediately recommend the domestic ferret, but they may be too sociable for you, so maybe look into the black-footed ferret! they’re more solitary homebodies, and i’d peg them as less aggressive and more avoidant than other species in the weasel family like the stoat and sable… which you might look into if you are someone who is more confrontational, blunt, and proud. lastly definitely check out the marten who i think would fit an isfp really well! they’re more solitary and selectively affectionate souls, but similar to the black-footed ferret in how energetic, fun-loving, and curious they are. the marten is going to have stricter boundaries, be less prone to cooperation, and be more opportunistic than the ferret. with the black-footed ferret, you’re going to see someone who’s more agreeable but needs their time alone.

that was long! moving onto cats, a domestic cat absolutely would fit an isfp well, particularly a more even-tempered breed… what comes to mind is something like the persian, ragdoll, birman, or turkish shorthair. a small wild breed of cat would potentially fit an isfp as well, but one that is boundary-keeping, self-sufficient, and opportunistic. my first suggestion would be the sand cat if you’re someone who’d like to be left alone most of the time and get lost in your inner world; they’re conflict-avoidant and polite people, but very into their solitary passions. the leopard cat is also in a similar vein, perhaps a bit more inclined to be spontaneous but also very withdrawn, sensitive, and peace-seeking.

corvids i would traditionally place with people who have high Ni or Ne, and most of them are social species or at least very socially tolerant! for a sensor i would lean into a canada jay perhaps? they form small flocks and with their caching behavior would be the type to plan ahead. the siberian jay (hierarchical, will aggressively keep boundaries) is in that same family and could also be worth a look.

going to throw in a few species you haven’t mentioned! i thought the mongoose was similar to the weasels you were checking out: they enjoy company and their friends as long as it’s followed up by some healthy alone time, and are very passionate people in general… though prone to procrastination, especially if it’s not what they’re inspired to do in the moment. the mongoose has a reputation for being fierce but really they’re peaceable unless directly bothered, again suggesting high boundary-keeping and a willingness to stand up for the self and others. if you’re a more bold and protective vein of isfp, this might be worth a look. mahogany glider fits in this “okay with socializing but doesn’t like the be bothered, will stick up for self” category too.

the dwarf porcupine also came to mind. these guys are very independent and calm, but expressive and intuitive people. with their quills they’re definitely self-assured in their own ability. tree kangaroo is a potential option if you’re an easygoing, slow and steady, and comfort zone-oriented person.

wow thanks for the huge response! I live in the upper Midwest, so I always thought a marten or fisher would be appropriate. What's your take on skunks? And how did you get into researching all this so much? it's very cool and I hope the book comes out soon lol

both of those i think are really great choices! i went digging for some distinctions between someone who would have an american marten versus a fisher because both fit a very similar ecological niche — martens seem to be more willing to drop something that isn’t working and adapt to a new strategy, as well has be more selectively active (both of these animals are not consistent workers and are more opportunistic, but martens are characterized by short bursts). it seems to be more essential for a marten person to reserve their time and energy for what’s going to pan out... in that sense they’d be more fickle than fishers, who will more readily stick to routine until it’s no longer working.

aa oh my gosh i should have suggested skunks, they’er also one of my favorite forms! the striped and spotted skunk are both found in the midwest, with the hog-nosed too far south for you if you’re looking for a local species. the striped skunk definitely has an edge to it; they’re bold around predators and don’t hesitate to act. i’d expect someone with a striped skunk to be a practical, confident person... definitely less bothered by company than the marten or fisher, who are intensely private, and more simply tolerant and amiable. more just walking their own independent path unbothered if that makes sense? definitely very self-focused and not cooperative, but also opportunistic like the marten and fisher are, and willing to take risks. the spotted skunk’s similar in regards to independence, risk-taking, and composure, but with a more passionate and adventure-seeking sense of curiosity. still very self-focused and obstinate when someone is bothering them, but typically have a more amicable and flippant exterior.