The Guardians of the Galaxy if they were animals
These are my headcanons, so I go by my own biases, ideas, point of view, opinions and vibes I get from the characters. I wondered one day “what species the guardians would be if they were animals”? I discussed it with @luci-j and @rebel-21 a bit and it was a lot of fun. I thought it would be fun to also share it on tumblr.
Rocket: Okay, so, Rocket is already a raccoon and it works perfectly with his personality and actions. But if there was a second option, I think he could either be a Rat or a Beaver. They’re also smart animals, destructive and good at solving problems.
Peter Quill: I’ve seen people on the internet either think he’d make a good raccoon (mostly the roquill shippers community), an orange cat or a fox. A fox makes a lot of sense for me, but personally, I lean more on the idea of a Golden Retriever. They’re jokesters, optimists, charmers, and if they need to, they’ll bite. Both Star-Lord and golden retrievers are very charismatic and quite popular. The similar hair colour doesn’t hurt either. @rebel-21 found the idea with me. :)
Gamora: I think she’s either a lone Wolf or a Hawk, as @luci-j suggested. They’re both efficient hunters, majestic creatures and they are precise in their killings. There’s a mystic that surrounds them just like Gamora who is seen as dangerous and an apex predator. She’s also breathtakingly beautiful.
Drax: A big Kodiak Bear. It just makes sense. Big, powerful, dangerous and a big eater too. Not only that, but also, when I think of Drax, I think of a papa bear. He uses his blades like sharp teeth or claws. A second contender; a Boar (as suggested by @luci-j ). He used to have a domestic life with his family before Ronan and Thanos. But once a pig is released into the wild, they grow their tusks.
Mantis: She’s not a praying mantis because 1) that’s just lazy, and 2) they are a bit scary so that doesn’t fit Mantis much. She’s probably more like a Bunny. At first glance, bunnies look cute and innocent but, if you’re used to them, you know they can be a little bit badass and they can seriously hurt. And just like Mantis, they are not to be underestimated. “Kick names and take ass”, as she would say. A strong feisty warrior in a cute and fluffy package.
Nebula: Two ideas for Nebula; either a Black-Footed Cat or a Shark. For the black-footed cat, I was thinking that even though they look like cute, little desert housecats, they are technically the best hunters of the feline family. They can catch up to 60% of their prey! Nebula is known to be a terrible foe and a living weapon. She has a very cat-like way of walking/moving. The other choice, suggested by @luci-j , is a shark because sharks are the predators of the sea and can be blue. The big black eyes also help to make the connection.
Groot Senior: Both Groots would be horses in my opinion. For Groot senior, I picture him as some kind of Mustang Horse. Wild, free, but can also be kind and tame if they are domesticated. They are used for cattling and Groot Sr. was a bit like the glue of the original guardians in volume 1, trying to herd a bunch of assholes.
Groot Junior: I based this one mostly on Groot junior once he’s a young adult in volume 3. I see him as a Draft Horse. He’s a tank, a powerhouse but also a gentle giant. It’s perfect for him.
Kraglin: A Spotted Hyena. Hyenas are a pack animal like the ravagers and the males are total doormats when it comes to dealing with the females. They have a high respect for hierarchy. Hyenas are underdogs and they are seen as lackeys in popular media, just like Kraglin. He's also a bit of a giggler. A second option is an Alley Cat, which I find also interesting.
Yondu: @rebel-21 said it could be a Bat, and I think it’s a very good idea. Bats are associated with the dark, villains and live in groups (like the ravagers). Also, they make a specific sound and use it as their “super ability”, aka echolocation. Yondu whistles to control his arrow, so there’s some kind of connection we can make there. The other animal I associate with him is a Raven. They are also associated with “dark” things, they can be intimidating, they are smart and have a weakness for pretty, shiny little things.
Cosmo: Cosmo is cosmo. Cosmo is a good dog.
Adam Warlock: A Lion. Ayesha and Adam remind me of a lioness and her cub. He’s also seen as very important in the Sovereign society and he has a very prince-like vibe and attitude. He’s proud, powerful and regal.
Phyla-Vell: I know she’s technically some sort of super modified fish, but for some reason she reminds me of an Ermine. Adorable, small, quick with an intelligent spark in her eyes and a fun personality.
High Evolutionary: A Spider. I don’t know what kind exactly, but a spider nonetheless. He wants to build a perfect world like his perfect web and everything he does is venomous.
Ego: The bitter side of me want to say he’s a dung beetle because fuck him and his shit planet (that’s actualy him). But the most reasonable side of me tends to agree with @luci-j that he could be a Snow Leopard. Small like a dog, pure white like a bunny or a cat, a very beautiful animal. But still a killing machine.