List of Zodiac Animals with Pictures

Last updated on July 17, 2024 by Isabella Claire

The zodiac animals, also known as the Chinese zodiac, is a system of astrology that has been used in China for centuries. It is based on a 12-year cycle, with each year represented by a different animal from the lunar calendar. This reference aims to teach vocabulary to English learners through explanations of the Chinese zodiac and its significance.

List of Zodiac Animals

Names of Zodiac Animals
Names of Zodiac Animals – Created by 7ESL
  • Rat
  • Ox
  • Tiger
  • Rabbit
  • Dragon
  • Snake
  • Horse
  • Goat
  • Monkey
  • Rooster
  • Dog
  • Pig

What Are Zodiac Animals?

As mentioned above, zodiac animals are animals assigned to each year based on a repeating 12-year cycle of the lunar calendar. Everyone has a zodiac animal that correlates with the year they were born. The twelve zodiac animals are the Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Pig, in that order. After a 12-year cycle, the zodiac begins again with the Year of the Rat.

The legend of the zodiac animals is that a Chinese Emperor challenged all the animals to a race and said that the first twelve to cross the river would have a year of the zodiac named after them. According to the legend, the reason that the Year of the Rat is first is because the rat tricked the ox into carrying it across the river on its back and then jumped onto the bank first, making the Year of the Ox second.

The zodiac animals are also used to determine things like compatibility. For instance, those born in the Year of the Tiger are considered to be a good match with those born in the Year of the Dog or the Year of the Horse. This is because people born under different signs are considered to have different personality traits that will mesh well with some but not with others.

Each animal is believed to have its own unique qualities and characteristics. For example, the rat is known for being clever and resourceful, while the ox is known for being hardworking and dependable. People born in a particular year are said to inherit the traits of that year’s animal, and these traits are thought to influence their lives and fortunes.

There are four Trines that the zodiac animals are organised into. In astrology, a trine relates to what is natural and innate, and is an aspect of how the planets align at the time of a person’s birth.

Zodiac Animals Trine

The First Trine

  1. Rat
  2. Dragon
  3. Monkey

These signs are intense, powerful, confident, eloquent and charming, amongst other things. They can also be vengeful, aggressive, jealous and deceitful.

The Second Trine

  1. Ox
  2. Snake
  3. Rooster

These signs are loyal, modest, meticulous, hard-working and moral, amongst other things. They can also be vain, petty, egotistical and judgemental.

The Third Trine

  1. Tiger
  2. Horse
  3. Dog

These signs are humanitarian, productive, idealistic, enthusiastic and independent, amongst other things. They can also be anxious, stubborn, rebellious and argumentative.

The Fourth Trine

  1. Rabbit
  2. Goat
  3. Pig

These signs are compassionate, obliging, sensible, creative and tactful, amongst other things. They can also be pedantic, indecisive, insecure and pessimistic.

Zodiac Animals and Their Characteristics

Though they can be organized into trines based on their characteristics, each zodiac animal has its own set of characteristics that are believed to be innate to a person born under that sign. Some zodiac animals have similar traits, but each sign is also completely individual.

Below is a list of the zodiac animals and their corresponding characteristics:

  • The Rat – creative, quick-witted, funny, curious, clever.
  • The Ox – goal-oriented, stubborn, introverted, steadfast, serious.
  • The Tiger – authoritative, courageous, intense, charming, ambitious.
  • The Rabbit – popular, sincere, conflict-avoidant, compassionate, homebody.
  • The Dragon – energetic, charismatic, leader, egotistic, driven.
  • The Snake – generous, analytical, smart, dangerous, hard-working.
  • The Horse – free-spirited, self-reliant, impatient, traveller, sharp-witted.
  • The Goat – high-strung, thinker, shy, amicable, gentle.
  • The Monkey – fun, upbeat, active, honest, problem-solver.
  • The Rooster – practical, trusting, resourceful, perfectionist, neat.
  • The Dog – faithful, temperamental, sensitive, cautious, kind.
  • The Pig – good-mannered, helpful, intelligent, exclusive, positive.
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