Fox. It's no surprise that the sly fox has a reputation for being cunning and deceitful—with Christianity going as far to say that this animal has devil-like qualities.
Snakes, foxes, jackals, etc are a few things that come to mind.
The most common trickster figure is Coyote, but Raven, Crow, Bluejay, Rabbit, Spider, Raccoon, Bear, and others appear in the trickster myths of different Native American groups. A myth of the Coeur d'Alene people illustrates the sly and bumbling side of Coyote.
Jellyfish. (Specifically Irukandji, but really all jellyfish). So jellyfish in general are untrustworthy because they are beautiful enough that your lizard brain goes “I want to touch…”, even while knowing these things sting.
Foxes have a reputation of being cunning, or sly.
In early Christian art, cats were seen as symbols of both lust and betrayal.
If there's one animal that needs no introduction, it's arguably the fox. Cunning, intelligent and capable of adapting to any ecosystem, the common fox (Vulpes vulpes) is one of the most widely distributed and best-known carnivores among Iberian fauna.
Indeed, studies have shown that chimpanzees and macaques not only seek revenge, but often do so intelligently — for instance, if they see that their adversary is stronger than them, they attack a weaker relative instead.
Some birds vocalize their lies. Burrowing owls (Athene cunicularia) hiss like rattlesnakes to protect against ground squirrels, and fork-tailed drongos (Dicrurus adsimilis) mimic meerkat alarm calls to scare the mammals into abandoning food.
New research published in the journal Animal Behaviour has revealed that lemur vocalizations have specific uses other than general communication, including improving the bonds between favored friends and family members within a clan.
Donkeys have always enjoyed a reputation as “stupid animal”. As early as sixth Century DC. Isidore spoke of it as “lazy and foolish” and Homer described it as “tardus”. The Romans referred to people who could not read and write as “donkey”.
Leopards
They also have an ability to hide in thick underbrush, which makes it difficult for others to spot them. These traits make the leopard one of the most stealthy species in the animal kingdom.
Lying vs Deception
Lying, on one hand, refers to telling someone something that is not accurate. In this sense, it is either verbal or written. Deception, on the other hand, is much broader. It usually refers to causing someone to believe something false as the truth.
“Sly as a fox” has been a traditional saying for hundreds of years. Fables, such as Aesop's “The Fox and the Crow,” painted the fox as a very crafty and cunning hunter. Although there are plenty of other animals that are cunning hunters, the fox became associated with trickery.
Birds are among nature's most gifted liars. For instance, “blue jays do a good job of imitating a variety of hawk species,” says Bob Mulvihill, an ornithologist at the National Aviary in Pittsburgh. (Read about why we lie in the new issue of National Geographic magazine.)
Telling someone they are as sly as a fox is not always meant as a compliment, but in the animal kingdom a red fox's cunning and cleverness serve it well.
Mice are a symbol of false hope, mostly for Lennie. They're bound to be important (they're in the title, after all), and there are several mice images throughout the novel that support their importance.
Foxes often represent cunning, playfulness and resilience. They walk the fine line between the wilds and urban living, making the best of both environments. They are adaptable, clever and full of mischief.
Wolves Are Risk-Takers, According To New Research | Popular Science.
The Liebling Brothers Circus (a.k.a. Great American Family Circus) is a small circus that travels with one female African elephant named Nosey (sometimes called “Tiny” or “Peanut”), a few horses and monkeys. Nosey is used for elephant rides, despite a history of dangerous behavior.
The Mute Swan, however, is quiet but fierce and males are extremely territorial during the breeding season. It's considered to be one of the most dangerous birds in the world. If you think male geese are bad enough, you don't want to know what it's like for male mute swans to beat them.
Cats never forgive.
Scientists have observed similar behaviors in non-primates like goats and hyenas; the only species that has so far failed to show outward signs of reconciliation are domestic cats.