Connotations of some animals

Metaphoric Connotation in the Animal World

• A snake is something to be feared for its deception.

• A dog connotes a shameless beggar or an ugly face.

• A fox is sneaky or sly. A foxy woman, however, is desired.

• A shark is ruthless.

• A predator seeks to harm innocents.

• A dove is gentle.

• A hen is motherly.

• A beast dominates (sometimes negative and sometimes positive).

• Chicks are sought after by boys of all ages (some predators, by the way).

• Owls are wise.
• A lion is strong and so king of the forest

The connotation of animals has lent metaphorical meaning to commonalities. This list of animals with its associated connotations exemplify denotation vs connotation.
According to denotation, a weasel is a small carnivorous mammal with short legs and elongated body and neck. According to connotation, a weasel is not to be trusted.
Not all animal metaphoric connotations are negative:
Because these metaphors have become common, so their connotative meaning is easy to recognize.