The posture helps to reinforce the behavior of the body. More than just an aesthetic issue, its aspects influence how the animal positions itself, moves and uses its limbs, conveys intentions, physical and mental state and even cultural traits.
All of this is consistent with who the animal is and its context. Observing these norms helps to understand not only the natural instincts of the species, but also to apply them effectively in creating furries.
The analysis will be made on a broad list of postures of vertebrates and invertebrates, exploring their variations and including examples of these groups of animals, from the simplest to the most complex and visible.
Standard Postures
These are the basic postures of animals, with no specific purpose. They serve as support for performing tasks.
Vertebrates
The skeletal body, spine, joints and muscles of vertebrates contribute to their postures. This set creates recognizable positions and works with gravity and the center of balance.
Terrestrial mammals keep their spines straight or arched, while aquatic mammals have an undulating spine.
Birds balance on two limbs, with wings retracted and a highly mobile neck. They have curved or more upright postures depending on the species.
Reptiles have a low posture, lateral limbs, tail and body extended or at rest on the ground, with slow movements and directional focus on the head.
In amphibians, the posture is arched or elongated and is compact and close to the ground, with bent joints and a moist appearance.
In aquatic environments, fish position themselves horizontally, adjusting the inclination to rise or fall. It has an undulating body and continuous lateral symmetry.
Invertebrates
Invertebrates have big variety of postures despite not having a rigid internal skeleton. They depend on factors such as weight distribution, support, flexibility, symmetry, orientation to the environment and internal tensions of the body.
Arthropods have a symmetrical body segmented into 3 parts, a low posture and arched legs usually facing to the side.
Molluscs have extremely malleable postures or maintain a curved posture due to the shell or elongated body. Their postures are neutral, fluid and symmetrical.
Echinoderms have a flexible and radial posture. Limbs or spines maintain a symmetrical orientation. Movement is subtle, but body presence is firm and stable.
Nematohelminthes have a cylindrical and smooth body. They react by rapid longitudinal contractions, and this can generate arched postures.
Platetermites have a flat body and allow a crawling posture. They can form wide curves and partially withdraw, forming gentle spirals.
Annelids have a segmented and elongated body capable of extending and contracting through bristles or peristaltic movements.
And jellyfish have a pulsating body which helps them float. Radial symmetry can result in centralized postures, with circular movements.
Sessile animals, which include poriferans and some cnidarians, do not have an active posture. These creatures are immobile, although they can acquire movements in anthropomorphic adaptations.
Social Coexistence
Living with other animals is fundamental to collective well-being and is governed by a network of interactions between individuals in a group.
Hierarchy
A hierarchy is an organizational structure where an order of status is established and unnecessary confrontations are avoided.
•Dominance
Body erect, head raised, fixed gaze and tail raised (in mammals) so that other animals obey.
Examples: Leading wolves keep their chests puffed out and their tails raised. Roosters puff out their chests and raise their crests to demonstrate superiority. Gorillas beat their chests and stand on their hind legs.
•Submission
Body lowered, eye contact averted, belly exposed (in some cases) and tail between the legs to reduce the perception of threat from the dominant.
Examples: Submissive wolves lie on their backs and expose their bellies to a dominant. Chimpanzees bow their bodies and avoid eye contact with group leaders. In flocks of birds, submissive individuals keep their wings closer to their bodies and their heads lowered.
Coalition
The strategies below are used to form alliances and achieve common goals, thus ensuring the survival of the species.
•Affiliation
Some animals adopt gestures and body positions to strengthen social bonds together, and form synchronized postures to increase protection against predators.
Examples: Emperor penguins stay together in large circles to keep warm in the cold. Dolphins swim together and touch each other with their flippers as a form of social interaction. Shoals of sardines create a “living ball” effect to disorient predators.
•Symbiosis and Mutualism
Some postures facilitate social bonds and cooperative interactions between different species.
Examples: The cleaner fish adopts a “dancing” posture to indicate that it is available to remove parasites from larger fish. Ants and aphids raise their abdomens to release sugary substances, which the ants collect and, in return, offer protection. Hermit crabs share shells with sea anemones, which provide protection in exchange for food.
Care for the Offspring
In some species, the young are cared for in a shared manner, while in others, care is primarily the responsibility of one or both parents, mostly the female mom.
•Transport
The animal adapts its posture to carry or protect their offspring.
Examples: Gorilla mothers carry their infants on their backs or chests. Male seahorses carry their eggs in an abdominal pouch until they are born. Wolf spiders carry their spiderlings on their backs shortly after hatching.
•Begging for Food
Young animals ask for food or help with specific postures.
Examples: Baby birds open their beaks wide and quiver their wings to signal hunger. wolf puppies bend down and lick the adults’ snouts to request regurgitation of food. King penguin chicks quiver and make high-pitched sounds while raising their beaks.
•Mating and Courtship
Choreographed movements, displays of vibrant colors, expansion of limbs, and swelling of body parts are done to demonstrate suitability for reproduction. Not a direct care for young animals, but the starting point of it.
Examples: Peacocks spread their tails in a large fan to impress females. Birds of paradise perform elaborate dances with movements of their wings and feathers. Peacock spiders vibrate their colorful abdomens to win females.
Guard
Refers to the strategies that animals employ to scare, hunt, protect themselves, their resources or their offspring from potential risks.
Attack
Involves actions with the aim of neutralizing or eliminating an opponent. They often use their physical abilities to scare away predators or rivals.
•Fight and Conquest
The animal positions itself to attack an opponent of the same species in territorial or hierarchical disputes.
Examples: Red deer tilt their heads and clash their antlers in combat. Kangaroos rest on their tails and kick with their hind legs. Hermit crabs fight each other by clashing their pincers and pushing rivals to fight for shells.
•Predation
Body low to the ground, slow and controlled movements and intense visual focus. Ideal posture for maximum speed when chasing prey. Many become invisible or well positioned for attack.
Examples: Lions and tigers lower their bodies and advance stealthily before attacking. Praying mantises keep their front legs raised before grabbing prey. Storks and herons remain still with their necks retracted before striking.
Defense
This group of postures includes those for protection, when organisms give a warning to their opponents.
•Threat
Inflated body, sudden movements, exposure of teeth, claws or stingers, the animal changes its appearance to appear larger, more dangerous or to confuse predators.
Examples: Cats arch their backs, bristle their fur and show their teeth. Octopuses change color and expand their tentacles to appear larger. Spiders raise their front legs in a defensive posture.
•Pretending to Charge
Involves quick and sudden movements, suggesting an imminent attack, but without actually carrying it out, which discourages predators or rivals without the energy cost of a real fight.
Examples: Bisons lower their heads and dig the ground before a possible attack. Rattlesnakes perform false lunges before a real attack. Geese spread their wings and advance on intruders with their necks extended.
•Territorial Display
Increasing the silhouette, adding intimidating sounds or movements to defend their territory against intruders. Some of them prevent the advance of threats or protect individuals in the group.
Examples: Bullfrogs inflate their bodies and emit loud croaks to warn rivals. Electric rays adopt a curved posture before emitting electric discharges against invaders. Moles create earth barriers around their burrows to prevent invasions.
Escape
Involves trying to get away from danger when an animal feels it is unable to fight or defend itself adequately.
•Panic and Withdrawal
Body shrinking, attempting to hide, or extreme reaction to escape. Some animals facilitate the release of harmful chemicals.
Examples: Armadillos curl up completely to protect vulnerable parts. When cornered, rats tremble and vocalize at high frequencies and may bite desperately. Some birds feign injury to ward off predators from their nests.
•Camouflage
These adjust their posture to blend in with their surroundings and its resources such as branches, trunks or light, reducing the chance of being detected. Changing colors and body mold can contribute.
Examples: Leaffish Swims at an angle, imitating a floating leaf in a river. Orchid mantises take on the shape and color of a flower to capture unsuspecting insects. Chameleons adjust their skin color and flatten their bodies to hide in tree trunks or leaves.
•Mimicry
Some animals adopt postures and body patterns to imitate dangerous species and avoid predators.
Examples: The false coral snake curls its body and displays colors similar to those of real venomous snakes. Monarch and viceroy butterflies adopt similar wing patterns to deceive predators. False cleaner fish copy the behavior of real cleaner fish to deceive and bite other fish.
•Thanatosis
Some animals pretend to be dead, remaining completely still to deceive predators who prefer to hunt live prey.
Examples: The water snake turns its belly upward and releases a foul-smelling liquid that simulates decomposition; on land, opossums do the same thing. The flounder fish remains motionless on the seabed when threatened. The death beetle retracts its legs and remains paralyzed.
•Surveillance
The animal keeps its head up and its ears or eyes alert for potential threats.
Examples: Meerkats stand on two legs and observe their surroundings. Deer keep their ears upright and their tails half-raised when detecting predators. Archerfish hover near the surface of the water, watching for potential prey.
•Flee
Some animals position themselves before quickly staying away from a threat.
Examples: Hares crouch low before running in a zigzag pattern to confuse predators. Flying fish leap out of the water and glide for short distances to escape marine predators. Basilisk lizards run on water, using their broad feet to create lift.
Preservation in their Environments
Nature offers a vast amount of resources that animals find when analyzing the present places and spend part of the journey looking for the ideal body temperature and staying in their safe spots or marked territories.
On the move
This part includes behaviors of animals interested in knowing the environment and overcoming obstacles.
•Exploration and Curiosity
Alert position, tilting of the head and movement to get to know the place better, with the body leaning forward, eyes alert, ears or antennas erect.
Examples: Dogs tilt their heads when they hear new sounds. Cats approach unknown objects cautiously, keeping their hind legs ready to retreat. Some reptiles, such as iguanas, raise their heads and look around before moving.
•Adaptive Locomotion
Animals adapt their postures to maintain balance in challenging environments.
Examples: Humpback whales swim in a spiral to create whirlpools and surround schools of fish. Jumping spiders adjust the position of their legs to stabilize their jump and estimate the distance to their prey. Mountain goats keep their bodies rigidly aligned to walk on steep slopes.
At Pause
When not in action, animals need to slow down or stop moving temporarily in a safe spot to recover.
•Energy Conservation
Some animals adopt specific postures to conserve energy in adverse conditions.
Examples: Great white sharks swim slowly with their mouths half open to minimize the effort of breathing. Land snails withdraw into their shells and seal the opening with mucus to reduce moisture loss. Marsh frogs enter a state of torpor in winter, partially freezing their bodies to survive the extreme cold.
•Thermoregulation
The animal adjusts its position to absorb or avoid excessive heat.
Examples: Crocodiles keep their mouths open to release heat and avoid overheating. Dogs lie down on their bellies on the cold ground to reduce body heat. Butterflies open their wings to absorb heat or close them to prevent moisture loss.
•Rest
Relaxed body, slow breathing, comfortable position. Animals adopt specific positions to sleep, recover energy and increase security. Some of them take the winter to hibernate.
Examples: Cats sleep curled up to conserve heat. Elephants support part of their weight on one leg when resting standing up. Birds raise one leg and hide their beaks in their feathers to sleep. Bats sleep hanging upside down to facilitate a quick escape.
Some of these postures can perform more functions and coexist in addition to those described. An animal may attack when it feels threatened, but may resort to flight if that doesn’t work.
Adjusting Animal Body Behavior for Furries’ Postures
The postures should reflect the identities and species that furry characters. Always think about how their behaviors aggregate and sometimes replace dialogues, whether in a static illustration or a narrative sequence.
Starting with Anatomy
Choose a clear animal reference and study its anatomy and locomotion patterns in order to maintain its basic structures and visual credibility.
Silhouette
A character and its postures should be understandable by its outline alone, without details. This helps ensure its legibility.
Body Weight
It’s where the character’s shape and propping emerge. The center of gravity needs to be consistent with the feet and the posture as a whole. At rest, it should be supported. In action, it becomes propelled.
Avoid Neutralization, the Standard Still Pose
Use parts such as the tail, paws, and others as extensions of the posture. A small detail, such as a tucked tail and body turned downwards, changes everything. Even at rest, the character should appear alive, with slight inclinations, organically distributed weight, and a compatible silhouette.
Position and its Transitions
What is the character thinking at the moment? Notice the muscle tension, gaze, and weight distribution, in order to avoid generic postures. And how does the character move from one position to another in a sequence? The movement between them reveals as much as the pose itself.
Pay Attention to your Surroundings
Try out the poses with your own body or observe other real people and animals, enriching the naturalness of the gestures and motivations.
Use Pictures as References
If you have photos or drawings of the figures you’re looking for to study, trace the silhouettes, trend points, center of support, and proportions.
Training in these subtleties help captivate and bring furry characters to life.
Summary of the Physical Identity of Animals in Posture
Throughout this article, we have seen how the posture of animals plays a crucial role in their behavior, with other living beings and the environment, and tips on how to adapt them to furries. Each phylum or class communicates and interacts with others and the environment in search of survival.
In the appearance of the characters, a posture has an immediate power: it guides the audience’s understanding of the character. Even before the characters talk or move, they already intuit who they are, through the way they occupy space.
When building your characters, let their body speak for them. Think about the way they rest, how they react, how they project themselves, and what this says about their origin, function or personality before even drawing a face or writing a dialogue. It is the physical presence that captures the eye, which is born from their posture.
