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W H A T S O U T HA F R I C A N A N I M A LA R E Y O U ? ©2021 The Enneagram in Business by Ginger Lapid-Bogda PhDThe Enneagram in Business Mini-Book

South Africa is enthralling - a place of beauty, calm,wildness – plus the animals are spectacular. In this mini-book, you’ll learn more about why eachSouth African animal represents a specific Enneagramtype, and why the nature and behavior of this animalso closely align with the number. As a result, this mini-book may clarify some nuances of the 9 Enneagramtypes. Come take an up-close and personal Safari throughthe Enneagram.Ones: ZebraTwos: ElephantThrees: WildebeestFours: GiraffeFives: LeopardSixes: Cape BuffaloSevens: AntelopeEights: LionNines: Alligator

Zebras are so elegant and regal, yet, at the same time, sosturdy and practical, just like most Ones. Ones above allelse are pragmatic, with enormous stamina for doingwhatever they do well and right. Many Ones are also quiteregal in bearing and dress style. Here are more reasonswhy zebras are like Enneagram Ones: How They LookZebras, with their familiar horse-like physique and theirdistinct black and white striping pattern, are among themost recognizable of all mammals.No animal has a more distinctive coat than the zebra. Eachanimal’s stripes are as unique as fingerprints – no twoexactly alike – although each of the three zebra species hasits own general pattern. It was previously believed thatzebras were white animals with black stripes since somezebras have white underbellies. Embryological evidence,however, shows that the animal’s background color is blackand the white stripes and bellies are additions.Enneagram Ones: Zebra

Enneagram Commentary: Although it is hard to determineanother’s type with accuracy just by looking at or listeningto another person, who hasn’t thought that Ones are easierto recognize than some other types? With their uprightregal physiques, their strong opinions readily vocalized, andtheir dress style more impeccable and well-matched thanmost, Ones dress somewhat like one another, yet each Oneputs his or her own taste or spin to the tailoring test. Zebrastripes look so perfect. And the fact that they are black andwhite stripes also fits Enneagram style Ones, metaphoricallyat least. Most Ones engage in black and white thinking –that is, right or wrong; correct or incorrect; accurate orinaccurate; and so forth. Yes, Ones are zebraesque!Their Core AttributesZebra facts show that they have wonderful and accuratehearing and eyesight capabilities. It is believed that they cansee in color (not all animals do). Zebras have excellenthearing and tend to have larger, rounder ears than horses.Like horses and other ungulates, zebra can turn their earsin almost any direction. In addition to eyesight and hearing,zebras have an acute sense of smell and taste.Enneagram Commentary: If anything, Ones are alert, withacute sensing ability that serves as excellent discriminators.While it is not likely they can turn their ears in any direction,Ones are pretty outstanding in their attention to detail andnuance. Ones do seem zebra-like.Their Basic CharacterAttempts have been made to train zebras for riding sincethey have better resistance than horses to African diseases.Most of these attempts failed, though, due to the zebra’smore unpredictable nature and tendency to panic understress.

Zebras communicate with each other with high-pitchedbarks and whinnying. Grevys zebras make mule-likebrays. A zebra’s ears signify its mood. When a zebra is in acalm, friendly, or even tense mood, its ears stand erect.When it is frightened, its ears are pushed forward. Whenangry, the ears are pulled backward. When surveying anarea for predators, zebras will stand in an alert posture –ears erect, head held high, and staring. When tense, theywill also snort. When a predator is spotted or sensed, azebra will bark (or bray) loudly.Enneagram Commentary: The basic character of thezebra seems very closely aligned to Enneagram Ones.Although Ones appear highly civilized, have you ever triedto tame a One? Most Ones have a wild streak in them(One moving to arrow line Seven), and many Ones can beunpredictable and/or reactive. When Ones becomeresentful, don’t like something, or feel angry, their upperbodies – especially their heads – often seem to pullbackward (seriously!). Under stress (when a big mistake islooming or they feel out of control or as if they are aboutto be severely critiqued), most Ones do panic quitereadily. And Ones do have quite a bark when feelingdefensive.How They BehaveLike horses, zebras walk, trot, canter, and gallop. They aregenerally slower than horses, but their great staminahelps them outpace predators. When chased, a zebra willzig-zag from side to side, making it more difficult for thepredator. When cornered, the zebra will rear up and kickor bite its attacker.Zebras are social animals that spend time in herds. Theygraze together, primarily on grass, and even groom one

another. Like most members of the horse family, zebras arehighly social. Their social structure, however, depends onthe species.Enneagram Commentary: Like zebras, Ones are veryclever in their maneuvers, quick in their responses, andthey can side-step difficult situations if they want to. Whencornered (often with a critique from another person), Onesdo rear up and figuratively bite the perceived attacker withan attack of their own. Are Ones more social or solitary?That also depends on the One. Some Ones are very group-oriented, while others prefer to go solo.An Addendum In South Africa (and likely other places), the word zebra ispronounced zehbra. In the US, it is pronounced zeebra. TheSouth Africans may have it right, but then... they alsopronounce Weber (as in a Weber barbeque grill) as Weeber,whereas in the US, it is pronounced Wehber. Consistencyaside, which is correct?

Enneagram Twos: ElephantElephants may be the kings and queens of the jungle! Theyactually have no natural predators (other than humans).And although a great deal of the elephant’s power is in itssheer size, the elephant has enormous strength andversatility in its trunk, as well as highly attuned emotionalsensitivity and concern for others.Sensitivity and emotionalityAlthough most plant-eaters (and the elephant is aherbivore) possess teeth adapted for cutting and tearing offplant materials if the desired food item is too high up, theelephant actually wraps its trunk around the tree or branchand either shakes the food loose or simply knocks the treedown altogether. The elephant’s trunk is sensitive enoughto pick up a single blade of grass, yet strong enough to ripthe branches off a tree.Elephants also cry, play, show anger, and laugh. They are sosensitive to their fellow animals that if a baby elephantcomplains, the entire family will rumble and go over to

touch and caress it. Elephants have greeting ceremonieswhen a friend that has been away for some time returns tothe group.Enneagram Commentary: Like elephants, Twos are veryclever in getting what they want for others or forthemselves. If one way doesn’t work, they move to anotherusing a subtle strategy at first, a bigger and bolder one ifnecessary. Twos also display a variety of emotions, movingfrom one to another quite fluidly as they emerge. And withthe reaching out to those in need, who can doubt that Twosare elephantesque?CommunicationElephants can communicate over long distances byproducing a sub-sonic rumble that can travel over theground faster than sound through air. Other elephantsreceive the messages through the sensitive skin on theirfeet and trunks. It is believed that this is how potentialmates and social groups communicate.Elephants make a number of sounds when communicating.They are famous for their trumpet calls, which are madewhen the animal blows through its nostrils. Trumpeting isusually made during excitement. Its use varies from beingstartled to a cry of help to rage. Elephants also makerumbling growls when greeting each other. The growlbecomes a bellow when the mouth is open and a bellowbecomes a moan when prolonged. This can escalate with aroar when threatening another elephant or another animal.Enneagram Commentary: Twos are also highly focused oncommunication, with an astute ability to read otherpeople’s non-verbal cues. Otherwise, how would a Twoknow so readily what others need?

Also interesting is the variation in elephant communication,from suggestive mating rumbles (maybe the sexual subtypeTwos) to the threatening roar when needed. Have you everseen an angry Two roaring? If not, Twos can make Eightsseem like amateurs!Sociability and protectivenessThe elephant’s trunk plays a key role in many socialinteractions. Familiar elephants will greet each other byentwining their trunks, much like a handshake. They alsouse them while play-wrestling, caressing during courtshipand mother-child interactions, and for dominance displays;a raised trunk can be a warning or threat, while a loweredtrunk can be a sign of submission. Elephants can defendthemselves very well by flailing their trunks at unwantedintruders or by grasping and flinging them.Elephants form deep family bonds and live in tightmatriarchal family groups of related females called a herd.The herd is led by the oldest and often largest female in theherd (the matriarch). Herds consist of 8-100 individualsdepending on terrain and family size. When a calf is born, itis raised and protected by the whole matriarchal herd.Males leave the family unit between the ages of 12-15 andmay lead solitary lives or live temporarily with other males.Enneagram Commentary: It is wise advice to never getbetween a Two and another person (particularly a child)whom they want to protect. Most Twos are also socialanimals, just like elephants, and they are also highly tactile.Twos often reach out to others physically with an embrace,a soft pat on the back, a warm hug (even if some othersmay not be ready for it). And many Twos are called “motherhens” of their clans, although “mother elephants” may be amore apt description.

PowerDespite their popularity in zoos, and portrayal as gentlegiants in fiction, elephants are among the world’s mostdangerous animals. They can crush and kill any other landanimal, even the rhinoceros. They can experience bouts ofrage, and engage in actions that have been interpreted asvindictive.Enneagram Commentary: Those sweet, adaptive Twos canalso be fierce, so never underestimate their real power andthe energy they can muster up when required. They maynot sit on you and squash you, but Twos have a variety ofstrategic resources they use when needed. Many years agowhen I did a large group workshop on Enneagram typesand their relationship to power, the only type group thatinsisted on saying something to the whole group on thistopic was the Twos. They said, “We felt very uncomfortablediscussing it.” When asked why, they answered (veryhonestly), "We think about power, influence, andrelationships all the time, but it is subtle and implicit. Andwe don’t like acknowledging that we do this, ‘good’ peoplethat we are!”Underestimated intelligenceElephants are extremely intelligent animals and havememories that span many years. It is this memory thatserves matriarchs well during dry seasons when they needto guide their herds, sometimes for tens of thousands ofmiles, to watering holes that they remember from the past.The elephant’s brain is similar to that of humans in terms ofstructure and complexity. With a mass just over 5 kg (11 lb),elephant brains are larger than those of any other landanimal. A wide variety of behaviors associated with

intelligence have been attributed to elephants, includingfeeling sensitivities, making music and art, altruism,surrogate mothering, use of tools, compassion, and self-awareness.Enneagram Commentary: It is too often said that Twos arenot intellectually oriented, and this always implies that Twoshave a little less brain-power than people of other styles.Often what accompanies comments that negate theintellectual capabilities of Twos is this: “After all, Twos haveno link to the Head Center of Intelligence through theirwings or arrows.” Well, many Twos have highly developedcerebral functioning, with right and left brains that areactive and talking to each other. Their social intelligenceintegrates well with mental intelligence to make a strong,but underestimated, intellectual nature – just likeelephants. Never underestimate the brain-power of a Two(or an elephant, for that matter) particularly when you areface-to-face with them!

Enneagram Threes: Wildebeest (Gnu)Do you know what a wildebeest is? Do you know what itlooks like? If you live in Africa (or specifically South Africa),you likely know the answers to these questions. They areactually a type of antelope, a hooved mammal that some ofus know as gnus (pronounced ‘news’). But why, then, arethey called wildebeests in Africa and why do they symbolizeEnneagram Threes?NameWildebeest is Dutch for “wild beast” or “wild cattle” inAfricaans (beest = cattle). Afrikaans is a West Germaniclanguage spoken in South Africa and Namibia, a “daughter”language of Dutch that has also incorporated words fromMalay, Portuguese, and several other African languages.The Afrikaaners thought that the “gnu” looked like a cattlein the wild.Enneagram Commentary: Here’s a question often askedof Threes but also by Threes of themselves: "Who are you?"Just like the wildebeest (or is it gnu?), Threes confuse whothey are with how others perceive them. A better way to

say this is that Threes confuse who they are with how theywant others to perceive them, but take their desired self-perception from their social context.Physical characteristicsThe wildebeest ranges in color from slate gray to darkbrown, with a large black face, shaggy mane, long hairy tail,pointed beard, and body stripes. Clearly distinct are theirsharp, curved horns. Color also varies depending onsubspecies, gender, and season. They have an extremelysturdy body structure. They can reach 8 feet in length,stand 4.5 feet tall at the shoulders, and can weigh up to 600pounds. Both males and females have horns. The front endof the body is heavily built, the hindquarters slender, andthe legs spindly.It looks like it was assembled from spare parts – theforequarters could have come from an ox, the hindquartersfrom an antelope, and the mane and tail from a horse.Enneagram Commentary: Like the wildebeest, Threesbecome an amalgam of characteristics that may appear togo together but are drawn from a response to their socialenvironment. Known as the chameleons of the Enneagram,Threes shape and then shift from one persona to anotherdepending on their referent group. In addition, Threes areusually sturdy characters, just like wildebeests, and putmost of their energy and bulk into their front (upperbodies), similar to wildebeests. Finally, although male andfemale Threes obviously appear to be male or female, thereare striking similarities between the genders in terms ofbody structure, facial expressions, and more. With otherEnneagram styles – for example, Twos, Fours, Sixes, Sevens,and Eights – the physical gender differences are moreapparent.

Wildebeest babiesWildebeest females give birth to a single calf in the middleof the herd, not seeking a secluded place, as do manyantelopes. Amazingly, about 80 percent of the calves areborn within the same 2- to 3-week period, creating a glut forpredators and thus enabling more calves to survive thecrucial first few weeks. A calf can stand and run withinminutes of birth and keep up with the herd within oneweek.Enneagram Commentary: Just like Enneagram Threes,wildebeest babies are “born to run.” Enneagram Threesusually say that they were goal-focused and success-drivenfrom the earliest age they can remember, almost as if theywere born to be on a movement forward. Metaphorically,Enneagram Threes (even more introverted Threes) tend tobe more in the public zone rather than away from thepublic scene from early ages as they strive foraccomplishment and recognition of their capabilities.Wildebeest adult behaviorWildebeest are noisy, constantly emitting low moans and ifdisturbed, they snort explosively.They are known for their annual migration to new pastures,usually beginning their migration in the months of May orJune when drought forces them to do so. Continually on themove as they seek favorable supplies of grass and water(even when there is ample food where they are), wildebeestare active both day and night, most often in long singlecolumns. They also cover long distances at a slow rockinggallop but can run fast when necessary.

Major predators feed on wildebeest – the lion, hyena,cheetah, leopard, and crocodile – but wildebeest are verystrong and can inflict considerable injury to even a lion, andthey have an apparent maximum running speed of around64 km/h (40 mph).Enneagram Commentary: Just like the wildebeest,Enneagram Threes let you know they are here, rarely fadinginto the wallpaper. And when Threes become disturbed –for example, when they believe their time is being wasted,when another is criticizing their work or becoming anobstacle to their goal attainment – Threes (like wildebeest)growl and bark at you. Finally, like the wildebeest, Threesmove quickly and often as they search for greener pasturesof opportunity. Generally speaking, the Three’s pace is fastand faster, just like the wildebeest.

Why the Giraffe for Enneagram Fours? There are a numberof reasons. First, each giraffe is unique, although to theuninformed eye, they may look like every other giraffe.Second, they are extremely awkward animals but, at thesame time, graceful and elegant. Third, they tower as tall asthe trees, in some way giving them a regal quality thatallows them to look over their empires. These and morereasons are offered below.The giraffe’s nameThe name giraffe appears in English from the 16th centuryon, often in the italinate form giraffa. The species namecamelopardalis (camelopard) is derived from its earlyRoman name, where it was described as havingcharacteristics of both a camel and a leopard. The Englishword camelopard first appeared in the 14th century andsurvived in common usage well into the 19th century.Enneagram Fours: Giraffe

In addition to these features, the giraffe is noted for itsextremely long neck and legs. It stands 5-6 m (16–20 ft) talland has an average weight of 1,200 kg (2,600 lb) for malesand 830 kilograms (1,800 lb) for females. At first glance,giraffes seem ungainly. They are actually not only gracefulbut fast and may gallop at 35 mph. Their morecharacteristic gait is the pace, where both legs on one sidemove simultaneously as they majestically roam the drysavannahs and open woodlands.Compared with other ruminants, such as deer and cattle,the giraffe has proportionally larger eyes, with which it canlocate food and distant predators from its great height.Giraffes also have color vision, enabling them to recognizeeach other.Enneagram Commentary: The poor giraffe, so regal andstately, doesn’t even have a name all it’s own. What adilemma for the giraffe, potentially engaged in a lifelongsearch for its own identity, just like Enneagram Fours. If youdidn’t have your own real name, wouldn’t you be in acontinuous search for who you are? The giraffe ispotentially destabilized at birth. Names matter!Giraffe physiologyGiraffes are best known for their very long necks and thestriking coat pattern of irregular brown patches on a lighterbackground. Each giraffe has a pattern of blotches that isunique to that individual, like a human fingerprint. Giraffeshave horns unlike any other mammal. They are present atbirth as cartilaginous knobs that rapidly ossify. They growslowly throughout life and are covered with skin and hair.

Enneagram Commentary: Giraffes are so Four-like! Theyare both unique — giraffes with their pattern of skinblotches and skin-covered horns, and Fours with theirunique perspective on the world — need to perceivethemselves as different, and demonstrate particular waysof behavior in which they try to differentiate themselves.For example, some Fours say purposefully provocativethings, others dress in differentiating ways – a streak ofpurple in the hair, exceedingly somber attire for the socialsubtype Fours or dramatic dress for the sexual subtypeFours – while still other Fours simply need to declare andhold onto how different they are from others.Fours also try to catch our attention in some way, just likegiraffes do with their height and majesty. Fours may do soby their regal bearing or unique presence or simply bycalling out when they have not received the attention oracknowledgment they might want.Finally, like giraffes, many Fours have highly attuned andrefined perceptual capabilities. I’ve heard many Foursdescribe how they see events in full color: in dreams, inscenario building, and in creative endeavors. Many, manyanimals do not see in color, just like many of us (non-Fours)may not perceive the world in its full array of color, butrather in just a few colors without much nuance.Giraffe behaviorWhile giraffes are usually found in groups, the compositionof these groups is more fluid than in other social ungulates.They are a largely transient species with few strong socialbonds and aggregations usually disband every few hours,although calving groups can last weeks to months.

Although generally quiet and non-vocal, giraffes have beenheard to communicate with various sounds. Courting maleswill emit loud coughs. Females will call their young bywhistling or bellowing. Calves will bleat, moo, or makemewing sounds. In addition, giraffes will grunt, snort, hiss,or make strange flute-like sounds.Recent research has provided evidence that the giraffesproduce infrasound, a sound that is lower in frequency than20 Hz or cycles per second, which is far below the “normal”limit of human hearing. The study of such sound waves issometimes referred to as infrasonics, covering soundsbeneath 20 Hz down to 0.001 Hz. This frequency range isutilized for monitoring earthquakes, charting rock andpetroleum formations below the earth, and more.Giraffes are difficult and dangerous prey. They defendthemselves with powerful kicks that, when well-placed, cankill a predator.Enneagram Commentary: Like giraffes, Fours areessentially loners, although they do associate with groups,but at a distance, and their connections are often shorterthan longer. Ironically, though Fours thirst for deep andlasting connectivity, fours are often the ones to break theconnection.Why? Here are some starters: boredom, fear ofabandonment (so they take the first strike), and a desire tonot give up their autonomy.Almost anyone who knows a Four will tell you they are easyto read, in a sense. We may not know exactly what they arefeeling or thinking, but their facial expressions, growls and

grunts, and even their retracted silence with intense non-audible sounds tells us something is going on.SpecialnessArab prophets and poets considered the giraffe the “queenof beasts” for what they saw as its delicate features andfragile form. Eastern sultans prized them as special pets.Enneagram Commentary: Giraffes may not know they arespecial, but they are treated as such. Similarly, Fours are, inmany ways, delicate and sometimes fragile, a result of theirsuper-sensitivity and tendency to introject negativeinformation about themselves.Giraffe jokeQuestion: What is a giraffe’s favorite joke?Answer: A tall storyEnneagram Commentary: Fours do tell “tall” stories: onesthat are self-referencing and dramatic.

Enneagram Fives: LeopardLike Enneagram Fives, leopards are naturally solitary andstealthy creatures, secretive and proud, and full ofsurprises. Here is more information about this mysteriousanimal. Physical characteristicsThe leopard is the smallest of the four “big cats” in thegenus panthera, the other three being the tiger, lion, andjaguar. The leopard’s head and body length is between 37and 65 inches (95 and 165 cm), its tail reaches from 24 to 43inches (60 to 110 cm), and it has a shoulder height between18 to 31 inches (45 to 80 cm). Powerful and graceful, theleopard has relatively short legs and a long body with alarge skull – they are able to take down large prey due totheir massive skulls that facilitate powerful jaw muscles.Leopards are elusive and largely nocturnal. The mostsecretive and mysterious of the large carnivores, theleopard is also the shrewdest.

Leopards demonstrate incredible strength and athleticism,being able to run in bursts up to 36 miles an hour (58kilometers per hour), leap 20 feet (6 meters) forward in asingle bound, and jump ten feet (3 meters) straight up.Leopards come in a wide variety of coat colors, from a lightbuff or tawny in warmer, dryer areas to a dark shade indeep forests. The spots, or rosettes, are circular in EastAfrican leopards, but square in southern African leopards.Unlike other cats, leopards are strong swimmers and areone of the few cats that like water; in fact, they even eat fishor crabs.Enneagram Commentary: Although Fives come in varioussizes (heights, weights, body types, for example), they tendto keep themselves smaller than they actually are by takingup less physical space than others, not emitting a great dealof external energy, and more. Not only are Fives likeleopards in this way, Fives are also elusive and mysterious,primarily because they keep to themselves, sharing theirverbal and non-verbal reactions less than almost any otherEnneagram style. Their more withdrawn nature makesthem seem mysterious to others.Finally, many Fives have hidden talents and attributes thatfew others know about because Fives don’t share that muchinformation and are reluctant to discuss their hiddentalents. Who would guess a leopard could swim!?Social behaviorThere seems to be little or no overlap in territory amongmales, although overlap exists between the sexes. Each

individual has a home range that overlaps with itsneighbors; the male’s range is much larger and generallyoverlaps with those of several females. Leopardscontinually move about their territory, seldom staying in anarea for more than two or three days at a time.Ranges are marked with urine and claw marks, andleopards announce their presence to other leopards with arasping cough. Leopards do vocalize, but only with a limitedrepertoire of verbalized possibilities; they growl, grunt,meow, purr, and roar when they have to.They have a good sense of smell and also leave claw markson trees to warn other leopards to stay away. Leopardscontinually move about their home ranges, seldom stayingin an area for more than two or three days at a time. Withmarking and calling, they usually know one another’swhereabouts. A leopard usually does not tolerate intrusioninto its own range except to mate. Unexpected encountersbetween leopards can lead to fights.Female leopards can give birth at any time of the year. Theyusually have two grayish cubs with barely visible spots. Themother hides her cubs and moves them from one safelocation to the next until they are old enough to beginplaying and learning to hunt. Cubs live with their mothersfor about two years; otherwise, leopards are solitaryanimals.Enneagram Commentary: Like leopards, Fives guard theirown territory quite closely (they don’t like intrusions on theirphysical space), and most Fives live isolated lives, even to thepoint of being nomads (a way in which they express theirdetachment from people, things, and places). Like Fives,

leopards keep others away (leopards with claw marks; Fiveswith non-verbal messages), and Fives like to know exactlywhere others are in physical relation to them. It is notuncommon for Fives to insist on sitting at a restaurant tablewhere they can have their back to the wall, so they canobserve who might be approaching them.Predatory behaviorThe leopard is a cunning, stealthy hunter, and its preyranges from strong-scented carrion, fish, reptiles, and birdsto mammals such as rodents, hares, hyraxes, warthogs,antelopes, monkeys, and baboons.Leopards are agile, stalking their prey silently, thenpouncing on it at the last minute and strangling its throatwith a quick bite. Pound for pound, it is the strongestclimber of the large cats and capable of killing prey largerthan itself. Leopards can also hunt from trees, where theirspotted coats allow them to blend with the leaves until theyspring with a deadly pounce.The leopard is so strong and comfortable in trees that itoften hauls its kill into the branches. A leopard can climb ashigh as 50 feet (15 meters) up a tree holding a dead animalin its mouth, even one larger and heavier than itself! Theystash food up high so other predators, such as lions orhyenas, can’t get it. Then, leopards can return and eatmore. One leopard was spotted dragging a 220-pound (100-kilogram) young giraffe into heavy brush to hide it.Enneagram Commentary: Fives are not exactly predatoryin the same sense as leopards that prey on animals in orderto eat, but Fives in no way want to be another’s prey(organizationally, psychologically, interpersonally). When

Fives feel threatened (whether this is an imaginary or realthreat), they take precise and carefully plannedprecautions, and these can include aggressive behaviorstoward others, even though the Five perceives this as adefensive rather than an offensive action.In addition, the strength of Fives is often underestimated.They may keep to themselves and not display all theiragility, skills, and intellectual prowess, but Fives are highlyresourced and can access these when needed.Leopard jokeQuestion: How does a leopard change his spots?Answer: When it gets tired of one spot, it just moves toanother.Enneagram Commentary: Fives do this. When they wantto not deal with someone or something, their first impulseis to move. They move inside themselves, leave aconversation, or sever a relationship.

Enneagram Sixes: Cape BuffaloSelecting a South African animal to represent EnneagramSixes is a big challenge because Sixes are so complex, plusphobic Sixes are so different from counter-phobic Sixes.Given this dilemma, however, the choice is the Capebuffalo.General characteristicsOwing to its unpredictable nature that makes it highlydangerous to humans, it has not been domesticated, unlikeits Asian counterpart, the domestic Asian water buffalo.They are unpredictable and can be particularly dangerous ifcornered or wounded. Though they have been known toambush men and are often accused of deliberate savagery,they are usually placid if left alone.The front hooves of the buffalo are wider than the rear,which is associated with the need to support the weight ofthe front part of the body, which is more powerful than theback. A characteristic feature of them is the fact that theadult bull’s horns have fused bases, forming a continuousbone shield referred to as a “boss,” which often can't be

penetrated by something as powerful as a rifle bullet. Sightand hearing are both rather poor, but the sense of smell iswell developed in buffaloes.Cape buffalo are susceptible to many diseases includingbovine tuberculosis, corridor disease, and foot-and-mouthdisease. As with many diseases, these problems will remaindormant within a population as long as the health of theanimals is good.Enneagram Commentary: Unpredictable, potentiallydangerous, very strong in the front but a little weaker frombehind, and susceptible to disease; all of thesecharacteristics describe Sixes. A highly reactive style,Enneagram Sixes are unpredictable in their reactions andbehavior; often, the predictable aspect of Sixes is that theywill have a reaction. Sixes don’t necessarily perceivethemselves as unpredictable, but they might ask othersnear them what they think! And sometimes a Six's reactionsare so strong, they can feel a bit dangerous. In addition,many Sixes appear strong upfront, but more wobbly frombehind or underneath. Finally, many Sixes (of course, notall) do tend to worry a lot about their own health issues. Aswe all know, stress, which many Sixes experience as a resultof their more chronic anxiety, makes us more susceptible toillness.CommunicationThe African buffalo make various vocalizations. Many callsare similar to those of domestic cattle but are generally of alower pitch. Buffalo emit low-pitched 2-4 second callsrepeated at 3-6 second intervals to signal the herd to move. To signal to the herd to change direction, leaders will emit“gritty,” “creaking gate” sounds. Extended "maaa" calls are

made by one to a few individuals up to 20 times a minutebefore and during movements to drinking places.When being aggressive, buffalo make explosive grunts thatmay be extended into a sequence or become a rumblinggrowl. Cows emit croaking calls when looking for theircalves. Calves will make a similar call of a higher pitch whenin distress. When threatened by predators, buffalo makedrawn-out "waaaa" calls. Dominant individuals make callsto announce their presence and location. A more intenseversion of the same call is emitted as a warning to anencroaching animal. When grazing, buffalo will makevarious sounds such as brief bellows, grunts, honks andcroaks.Enneagram Commentary: Look at the picture of thosesweet, docile looking Cape buffalo. Sometimes they makesweet cow-sounds, and Sixes can be very sweet. Their othervocalizations sound like distress calls, and this is also Six-like. Most Sixes have rather kind voices – as if they wouldcause no harm – and the other vocalizations from Sixes areprimarily in the area of stress and distress, as they expresstheir concerns and anxieties.Social behaviorThe herd is vital to the Cape buffalo, and herd size is highlyvariable. Buffaloes can live in herds of a few hundred buthave been known to congregate in thousands. The basicherd consists of related females and their offspring, in analmost linear dominance hierarchy, but also includes sub-herds of subordinate males, high-ranking males andfemales and old or invalid animals. The young males keeptheir distance from the dominant bull, who is recognizable

by the thickness of his horns. Without the protection of theherd, many of these lone bulls fall prey to lions.When chased by predators, a herd will stick close togetherand make it hard for the predators to pick off one member.Calves are gathered in the middle. A buffalo herd willrespond to the distress call of a captured member and tryto rescue it. A calf’s distress call will get the attention of notonly the mother but also the entire herd.Remarkably, there are few scuffles between herd members.Perhaps the large males with their strong curved hornsrealize they could seriously injure one another in a brawl.Males will fight for dominance, but the battles are brief.Adult bulls will spar in play, dominance interactions oractual fights. A bull will approach another lowing with hishorns down and wait for the other bull to do the samething.During the wet season, the younger bulls rejoin a herd tomate with the females. They stay with them throughout theseason to protect the calves. Some older bulls cease torejoin the herd, as they can no longer compete with theyounger, more aggressive males. Males have a lineardominance hierarchy that is based on age and size. Since abuffalo is safer when a herd is larger, dominant bulls mayrely on subordinate bulls and sometimes tolerate theircopulation. African buffalo are notable for their apparentaltruism: an animal sacrifices its own well-being for thebenefit of another animal or the group. Female buffaloappear to exhibit some sort of “voting behavior”. Duringresting time, the females will stand up shuffle around andsit back down again. They will sit in the direction they thinkthat they should move. After an hour of more shuffling, the

females will travel in the direction they decide on. Thisdecision is communal and not based on hierarchy ordominance.Enneagram Commentary: What could be more Six-likethan the protection of the herd, even to the extent where adominant male will tolerate the copulation of a less-dominant male. Now that is true loyalty to the group,putting protection above ego.And many Sixes will do that as well – that is, putting loyaltyhigher on the value chain than ego-gratification. Thenthere’s the aspect of Cape buffalo that has to do withaltruism. Self-sacrifice on behalf of another member of thetribe is also quite common in Sixes.Finally, there is the communality and vigilance of Capebuffalo herds. The entire herd will suddenly move all atonce, mobilizing as a group to a safer location. And if theyencounter danger on their path, they become quite violent.When Sixes become really angry, they can be much scarierthan any Eight!

Why the antelope to represent Enneagram type Seven?There are many reasons: they are elegant, fast, and mostare graceful yet elusive. Here are more reasons why theantelope is a great animal to represent Sevens.It’s all in the nameThe English word “antelope” first appears in 1417 and isderived from the Old French antelop, itself derived fromMedieval Latin ant(h)alopus, which in turn comes from theByzantine Greek word anthólops, first attested in Eustathiusof Antioch (circa 336), according to whom it was a “fabulousanimal haunting the banks of the Euphrates, very savage,hard to catch and having long saw-like horns capable ofcutting down trees.”It may also derive from the Greek word anthos (flower) andops (eye), perhaps meaning “beautiful eye,” alluding to theanimal’s long eyelashes.Enneagram Sevens: Antelope

Enneagram Commentary: There are so many ways inwhich the derivation of the word antelope describesEnneagram Sevens. Sevens are wild and fabulous: wildbecause they refuse to be constricted in any way andfabulous because they are so mentally agile (too agile?). Theidea that the name may come from a reference to theantelope’s long eyelashes can be taken as a metaphor forthe seven’s charming demeanor (as in batting one’seyelashes as a flirtation) and not to be missed is the factthat narcissism is the psychological characteristic that isoften associated with Sevens, although narcissism is notexclusive to Sevens.Physical characteristicsThere are 91 species of antelope, most of which are nativeto Africa. There are eland, red hartebeest, kudu, nyala,sable, gerenuk, klipspringer, impalas, and more, plusantelope come in a variety of sizes.Not surprisingly for animals with long, slender yet powerfullegs, many antelopes have long strides and can run fast.Their ability to run swiftly has also led to their associationwith the wind.All antelope species have horns, although in some speciesthey are only found on the males. The horns are made of abony core, encased in a hard material made largely ofkeratin. They are permanently attached – not like a deer’santlers, which are shed each year. Antelope use their hornsin defense against predators, and males – and sometimesfemales – also use them to establish their position in a herdor to fight rivals.Their eyes are placed on the sides of their heads, givingthem a broad radius of vision with minimal binocular vision.

The fact that most species have their pupils elongatedhorizontally also helps in this respect. Acute senses of smelland hearing give antelope the ability to perceive danger atnight out in the open (when predators are often on theprowl). Like many other herbivores, antelopes rely on keensenses to avoid predators.Enneagram Commentary: Just like antelope, Sevens comein a wide variety of shapes and sizes. Also similar toantelopes, Sevens run fast (metaphorically); their mindsrace in quick associational patterns, and they reframenegative so quickly as they run away from painful oruncomfortable experiences. In addition, there is an “airy”quality to most Sevens, very much like the wind rather thanthe earth. And like antelope, Sevens usually have highlyacute sensory functioning that helps them be highly alert tostimuli in their environment.CommunicationThese same senses play an important role in contactbetween individuals of the same species: markings on thehead, ears, legs, and rumps are used in suchcommunication. Many species “flash” such markings, as wellas their tails; vocal communications include loud barks,whistles, “moos” and trumpeting; many species also usescent marking to define their territories or simply tomaintain contact with their relatives and neighbors.Enneagram Commentary: There are some Sevens (highlyextroverted) who do not stop talking. One Seven explainedit this way: “I am very busy thinking internally and never getbored! But I can't keep so many ideas in my head – I have tomake room for more thoughts – so I need to talk a lot."

There are highly introverted Sevens who talk very little butthey still have a need to communicate, although they maydo so more non-verbally, They “flash” their eyes whenexcited, “bark” or get hyper-energetic when angry (often inpublic venues), literally “whistle” when they want us to listen(which is often), and ”trumpet” by doing something to getour attention when we are not addressing their ideas (andthere are many of them).Responses to fearAntelope pursue a number of defense strategies, oftendictated by their morphology. Large antelope that gather inlarge herds rely on numbers and running speed forprotection. In some species, adults will circle around theoffspring, protecting them from predators whenthreatened. Many forest antelope rely on coloring and goodhearing to avoid predators. Forest antelope often have verylarge ears and a dark or striped coloration. Small antelopeevade predation by jumping into dense bush where thepredator cannot pursue. Open grassland species havenowhere to hide from predators so they tend to be fastrunners.Antelope calves have two survival strategies: either theyhide out to avoid predators, or they start traveling rightafter birth so they can join the protection of the herd.Enneagram Commentary: Although most antelope appearsatisfied and peaceful, their fear lurks right behind thisexterior, just like Enneagram Sevens. And like antelope,Sevens have a variety of defensive coping strategies to dealwith their fear. First, is positive possibility thinking. If thatdoesn’t work, Sevens engage in reframing something

negative into a positive. If that fails, Sevens resort toblaming. If that doesn’t succeed, Sevens will self-implodeand/or hide – for example, not showing up forappointments, quitting a job precipitously, or other formsof moving as far away as possible from that which scaresthem.Domestication: “Don’t Fence Me In”Domestication of animals requires certain traits in theanimal that antelope do not typically display. Most antelopeare difficult to contain in any closed-in space due to theterritoriality of males. In some cases, antelope display anaggressive disposition that can easily kill a human. Becausemany have extremely good jumping abilities, providingadequate fencing is a challenge. Also, antelope willconsistently display a fear response to perceived predators,such as humans, making them very difficult to herd orhandle.Enneagram Commentary: Have you ever tried todomesticate a Seven? It rarely works – Sevens, likeantelopes, do not like to be fenced in, cornered or anythingelse that restricts their freedom. From the Seven point-of-view, all of their options must be available to them and onlythey themselves have the right to institute restrictions,which they rarely do.An underestimated animalMost people tend to underrate antelopes, in comparisonwith other bigger or stronger animals. But the Bushmanwho is so well attuned to the rhythms of the natural worldhas discerned subtle qualities in the eland – the largest ofAfrica’s antelopes. This animal has a special place in hisspiritual life and he indeed believes it can connect him to

God. It is taken as an animal endowing peace, well-being,healing and prosperity. The eland is almost invariablyrepresented in Bushman rock art throughout southernAfrica.Enneagram Commentary: Many Sevens have a very strongspiritual capacity, a trait overlooked by many of the rest ofus. Most Sevens live in a world of infinite possibility, whichis not nearly so realistic as it is perpetually optimistic. Whynot dream? And in the world of dreams and possibilities isalso the world of spiritual capability. But like antelope,Sevens get underestimated, and this is just one way thisunderestimation occurs.

Enneagram Eights: LionNo one is likely to ask why the lion represents EnneagramEights. How similar they are!The lion auraThe lion (Panthera leo), one of the four big cats in the genusPanthera, is a magnificent animal that appears as a symbolof power, courage, and nobility on family crests, coats ofarms and national flags in many civilizations.Lions live for ten to fourteen years in the wild, while incaptivity they can live longer than twenty years. In the wild,males seldom live longer than ten years, as injuriessustained from continual fighting with rival males greatlyreduce their longevity. Although adult lions have no naturalpredators, evidence suggests that the majority die violentlyfrom humans or other lions. Lions often inflict seriousinjuries on each other, either members of different tribesencountering each other in territorial disputes, or membersof the same tribe fighting at a kill.

Enneagram Commentary: Eights, like lions, have an aurajust in their very presence, even when they are not talkingor roaring. And both are symbolic, often getting power andcourage projected on them. Like most projection screens,lions and Eights give ample stimuli for these projections.But, because they fight so much, they often have prematuredeaths. In Sandra Maitri’s book, she speaks to Eights havingspecial issues with death – a fear of it and a sense ofdeadness inside them that gives fuel to their intense energyand over-aliveness.Lion’s importanceLions are apex and keystone predators, although theyscavenge as opportunity allows. Apex predators (alsoknown as alpha, super-, top-level predators or toppredators) are predators that have no predators of theirown, residing at the top of their food chain. Keystonepredators are ones that have a disproportionately largeimpact on their environment relative to their numbers.Their role in the ecology of their ecosystem is much like thekeystone of the architectural arch. When the keystone isunder the least amount of pressure of any of the stones inthe arch, the whole arch will collapse.Enneagram Commentary: Here we find that lions arereally important to their eco-systems, playing a key role inthe existence of all. Are Eights the same way in the humaneco-system? Are they the top of the food chain? Are theythe “keystone”? Many Eights also think of themselves in thisway: if you want something done, give it to them.

Size and intimidationWeights for adult lions range between 150-250 kg (330-550lb) for males and 120-182 kg (264-400 lb) for females.The mane of the adult male lion, unique among cats, is oneof the most distinctive characteristics of the species. Itmakes the lion appear larger, providing an excellentintimidation display; this aids the lion during confrontationswith other lions and with the species’ chief competitor inAfrica, the spotted hyena. Females do not have manes. Notall male lions have manes, but most do! Females usestrategic stalking to intimidate.Enneagram Commentary: Like lions, Eights makethemselves big. What is the Eight’s mane? The voice tone(big and bigger). The Eight’s body movement (forward, back,and powerfully still). Eights also use strategic stalking,perhaps not literally, but they are masters of politicalintrigue, influencing, and potent strategy.Command and controlThe lion is the only member of the cat family with a tasseledtail, which serves a purpose beyond aesthetics. It’s oftenused to signal to other members of the pride, withmessages ranging from directional “this way” commands toflirtatious “come hither” invitations!Enneagram Commentary: A lion uses its tail to commandother lions, so what do Eight use? Eights use directcommanding language, but also body-energy and bodylanguage. When Eights want us to do something, it is veryclear in their intensity, and when they are pleased or (as ismore often the case) displeased, their body-based intensityalso makes it clear. Do Eights use their “tail” to act in aflirtatious way?

LustFor the lion and lioness couple, it’s all about quantity, notquality. Though romps usually only last for 10 seconds, theprocess is repeated up to 40 times a day – now that’sstamina!When males take over a pride, they usually kill the cubs.The females come into estrus and the new males sire othercubs.Talk about a lusty appetite! A lion will eat around 40 poundsof meat in one sitting on average. It then follows up its mealwith the ultimate food coma, as it snoozes post-gorge forup to 24 hours.Lions spend much of their time resting and are inactive forabout 20 hours per day. Although lions can be active at anytime, their activity generally peaks after dusk with a periodof socializing, grooming, and defecating.Enneagram Commentary: The Eight’s passion is lust, anexcessive need for something as a way of denying whatevercauses them anxiety, and this lust can be in thereproduction realm, but also other areas: sleep, work,exercise, shopping, and more. So it appears that lions andEights share the same lustful quality.Socio-political social systemLions are predatory carnivores who manifest two types ofsocial organization. Some are residents, living in groups,called prides. The pride usually consists of five or six relatedfemales, their cubs of both sexes, and one or two males(known as a coalition if more than one) who mate with theadult females (although extremely large prides, consistingof up to 30 individuals, have been observed). The number

of adult males in a coalition is usually two, but may increaseto four and decrease again over time. Male cubs areexcluded from their maternal pride when they reachmaturity.The second organizational behavior is labeled nomads, whorange widely and move about sporadically, either singularlyor in pairs. Pairs are more frequent among related maleswho have been excluded from their birth pride. Note that alion may switch lifestyles; nomads may become residentsand vice versa.Males defend the pride’s territory, which may include some100 square miles (259 square kilometers) of grasslands,scrub, or open woodlands. These intimidating animals markthe area with urine, roar menacingly to warn intruders, andchase off animals that encroach on their turf.The area a pride occupies is called a pride area, whereasthat by a nomad is a range. The males associated with apride tend to stay on the fringes, patrolling their territory.Why sociality – the most pronounced in any cat species –has developed in lionesses is the subject of much debate.Increased hunting success appears an obvious reason, butthis is less than sure upon examination: coordinatedhunting does allow for more successful predation, but alsoensures that non-hunting members reduce per capitacaloric intake. However, some take a role in raising cubs,who may be left alone for extended periods of time.The male or males associated with the pride must defendtheir relationship to the pride from outside males whoattempt to take over their relationship with the pride.Females form the stable social unit in a pride and do nottolerate outside females; membership only changes with

the births and deaths of lionesses, although some femalesdo leave and become nomadic. Sub-adult males, on theother hand, must leave the pride when they reach maturityat around 2-3 years of age.Enneagram Commentary: Here the Eights operate somuch like lions. Some Eights are more tribal (the socialsubtype Eights) and some are more solitary/nomadic (theself-preserving Eights), and all Eights form coalitions,especially among and between dominant Eights. Yes, someEights are more dominant than other Eights, and they caneasily sense this in one another. Are Eights territorial? If youthink not, you may have never seen an Eight defend his orher territory, which is often as big as they can make it andstill control it. Eights also determine who is inside and whois outside their territory and, thus, within their protectionzone. Have you ever tried to get an Eight to change his orher mind about someone? While not impossible, it isimprobable, particularly if the Eight thinks poorly ofsomeone.The huntIn typical hunts, each lioness has a favored position in thegroup, either stalking prey on the “wing” then attacking, ormoving a smaller distance in the center of the group andcapturing prey in flight from other lionesses. After the hunt,the group effort often degenerates to squabbling over thesharing of the kill, with cubs at the bottom of the peckingorder.Enneagram Commentary: For Eights, like lions, almosteverything is a battle or a hunt. Enough said, except it isinteresting that lions let their cubs feed last. I think Eightlionesses would let their cubs feed first, but this highly

protective mothering behavior is described more in thenext section!Socialization and communicationLionesses in a pride often synchronize their reproductivecycles so that they cooperate in the raising and suckling ofthe young (once the cubs are past the initial stage ofisolation with their mother), who suckle indiscriminatelyfrom any or all of the nursing females in the pride. Inaddition to greater protection, the synchronization of birthsalso has an advantage in that the cubs end up beingroughly the same size, and thus have an equal chance ofsurvival. If one lioness gives birth to a litter of cubs a coupleof months after another lioness, for instance, then theyounger cubs, being much smaller than their olderbrethren, are usually dominated by larger cubs atmealtimes – consequently, death by starvation is morecommon amongst the younger cubs.When resting, lion socialization occurs through a number ofbehaviors, and the animal’s expressive movements arehighly developed. The most common peaceful tactilegestures are head rubbing and social licking, which havebeen compared with grooming in primates. Head rubbing –nuzzling one’s forehead, face, and neck against another lion– appears to be a form of greeting, as it is seen often afteran animal has been apart from others, or after a fight orconfrontation. Males tend to rub other males, while cubsand females rub females. Social licking often occurs intandem with head rubbing; it is generally mutual and therecipient appears to express pleasure. The head and neckare the most common parts of the body licked, which mayhave arisen out of utility, as a lion cannot lick these areasindividually.

Lions have an array of facial expressions and body posturesthat serve as visual gestures. Their repertoire ofvocalizations is also large; variations in intensity and pitch,rather than discrete signals, appear central tocommunication. Lion sounds include snarling, purring,hissing, coughing, meowing, woofing, and roaring. Lionstend to roar in a very characteristic manner, starting with afew deep, long roars that trail off into a series of shorterones. They most often roar at night; the sound, which canbe heard from a distance of 8 kilometers (5.0 mi), is used toadvertise the animal’s presence. Lions have the loudest roarof any big cat.Enneagram Commentary: Lions are extremely expressiveand use a variety of forms, just like Eights. Lions look scary(like many Eights do to other people, though this dependson the other), but they also appear to be pretty cuddly. Lion JokeQuestion: What does the lion say to his friends before theygo out hunting for food?Answer: Let us prey.Enneagram Commentary: This is a bad joke, but a funnyone. But it also describes the worldview of the Eight: Eat orbe eaten!

Alligators are an ideal animal to represent EnneagramNines! This may surprise you.Ambient temperatureAlligators are “cold-blooded,” meaning that they areectothermic animals that cannot regulate their own bodytemperature but assume the temperatures of theirsurrounding environment. To warm themselves, alligatorsbask in the sun, which is when they are frequently observedon the banks of water bodies. On hot summer days, theycan sometimes be seen basking with their mouths open.Enneagram Commentary: Just like alligators, Nines adjustthemselves to their environments, merging and blendingwith people, objects, and just about anything they like andfind pleasant. Sloths, the animal also associated with Nines,is ectothermic as well. Taken as a metaphor, Nines also liketo bask in environments where there is pleasurableharmony.Enneagram Nines: Alligator

ChangeAlligators have a variety of successful adaptations to theirecological niche that has allowed these reptiles to remainalmost unchanged since the Cretaceous period. Athrowback to the time of dinosaurs, the alligator and itsrelative, the crocodile, have changed little in the last 65million years.Enneagram Commentary: Although some people say thatNines are the least interested in change and the mostinterested in conserving, many don’t agree with thisassessment.After all, if they are among the most adapting of Enneagramstyles (which they are), isn’t adaptation change? In addition,many Nines are innovative. That said, Nines do like theircomforts, and they only change when they need to, muchlike alligators.Energy levels and sizeAlthough alligators have a heavy body and a slowmetabolism, they are capable of short bursts of speed,especially in very short lunges. Even though alligators arehuge and cold-blooded, they can be quite fast, with a topspeed of 11 MPH (17 KPH) over short distances. Forcomparison, the fastest humans running at world-recordtimes in a 100 meter dash, are running about 20 MPH (32KPH), but a typical adult human is no faster than analligator. Alligators have yellow cross-bands on a blackbackground for camouflage. Adults can be long and thin orshort and stocky.Enneagram Commentary: Once, someone wrote on myblog that Obama couldn’t be a Nine because Nines are fat,

lazy, and slow. I controlled my response to this person, buthe obviously had a stereotype of Nines. Like alligators,Nines come in a variety of sizes and shapes. Sometimespeople think that Nines are pudgy (like Santa Claus), butthis is more a tendency in self-preservation Nines, if their“appetite” is for food, which is not always the case. Neitherare Nines lazy, since the term “lazy” in Nines means alaziness toward their own personal agenda, desires, wants,etc, not a laziness in life. Yes, Nines do procrastinate, butnot always, and other Enneagram styles also put things off.Many Nines do many things, are extremely active, and canbe quite fast, but in spurts, just like alligators.Eating habits and angerAlligators eat almost anything. They have very strong jawsthat can crack a turtle shell. They use their sharp teeth to seize and hold prey. Smallprey is swallowed whole. If the prey is large, alligators shakeit apart into smaller, manageable pieces. If it is very large,alligators bite it, then spin on the long axis of their bodies totear off easily swallowed pieces.The alligator is notorious for its bone-crushing bites. One ofthe more surprising facts about alligators is that althoughthey can be dangerous, attacks on humans are rare. Manyalligators are normally relatively timid and avoid humanswhen possible, only attacking if they are either provoked,disturbed unexpectedly, or defending their young.The force of their bite has been shown to be enough to lift asmall pick up truck! Another, more peculiar alligator fact isthat although the muscles for closing the mouth are verystrong, the ones for opening it are very weak, meaning themouth can be held shut with a human hand or duct tape.

Enneagram Commentary: It is impossible to say whetheror not Nines eat everything, but what is a strong parallelbetween alligators and Nines is how they deal with theiranger. Most Nines don’t get angry very often because theysubmerge their displeasure as a way to avoid conflict withothers, but when they do get angry, wow! They snap andtake big bites, much to their own surprise and to the shockand awe of those around them. But something has to reallyprovoke them to do this.WaterAlligators are usually found in freshwater, in slow-movingrivers. They are also found in swamps, marshes, and lakesand can tolerate salt water for only brief periods.Alligators can stay underwater for quite a while. A typicaldive might last 10 to 20 minutes. In a pinch, an alligator canstay underwater for two hours if it is at rest. And, in verycold water, an alligator can last up to eight hourssubmerged. Alligators also tend to be dark in color, oftenalmost black, but its color is very dependent on certainqualities of the water.Enneagram Commentary: Alligators love and need water,but do Nines? There is something extremely soothing aboutwater, and Nines like to soothe themselves in a variety ofways: routines, pleasurable pastimes, and other forms ofwhat is called “narcotization.” This term refers to the waysin which Nines avoid conflict, stress, and pressure byengaging in activities that give them comfort. Two songsthat embody these Nine qualities are “Sitting on the Dock ofthe Bay” (Otis Redding) and “Watching the River Run”(Loggins and Messina).

Have you ever wondered about the difference betweenalligators and crocodiles?Alligators and crocodiles are related. However, there aresome key differences, including the following: snouts,freshwater versus saltwater, and coloring.Crocodiles prefer seawater; they have special glands in theirtongues that excrete excess salt from their bodies.Alligators also have these glands, but they don’t work verywell, so they usually stick to freshwater habitats, althoughthey can sometimes be found in brackish water, which is amixture of salt and freshwater.Crocodile hides tend to be light tan or olive color, whereasalligators are usually a dark blackish gray (the exact shadevaries according to the quality of the water that the alligatorswims in, tannin from overhanging trees will make themdarker, algae will make them greener). In addition,crocodiles tend to be bigger and more aggressive thanalligators.Enneagram Commentary: Enneagram Nines may beconfused with other styles, just like alligators may getmistaken for crocodiles. Obviously, alligators and crocodilesare related (hence, the confusion by the uninitiated!), andNines get confused because they blend with others’energies, even taking on some of the other person’squalities.

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