Snake://

> japanese Pronunciation: (HE-bi)

> English name: Snake / Serpent

> Distinctive features: you know what a snake looks like.. Long, scaled body, often coiled or twisting. can be more of a scary venomous monster or mystical ethereal creature.

> Powers: Venom, constriction, regeneration, shapeshifting in some stories.

> Habitat: Forests, rivers, mountains, and hidden groves; sometimes seen guarding shrines or sacred springs.

> Claim to fame: Snakes are revered in Japanese folklore as both dangerous and divine. They serve as protectors of shrines, messengers of deities like Benzaiten, and symbols of water and agricultural fertility. Stories often show them as shapeshifters, cunning tricksters, or bringers of luck and misfortune, reflecting their dual nature.

> Common tattoo depictions: Coiled around branches, swimming in water, entwined with flowers or skulls. snakes work well with most imagery and make the best gap fillers. 

> Tattoo symbolism: Rebirth, transformation, hidden strength, cunning, protection, longevity, and the duality of danger and wisdom.