An animal or plant believed by a group of people to have been their primordial ancestor or protector is a __________.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

A totem is an animal or plant that is believed to be the ancestral or protective spirit of a particular group of people. It is often depicted in their art, and members of the group are expected to respect and protect it. The belief in totems is common among many indigenous cultures around the world. Guardian spirits and founder spirits are related concepts, but they do not necessarily refer to a specific animal or plant ancestor. Endogamous creatures are those that can only interbreed within a specific group or population, but this is not relevant to the concept of totems.

An Animal or Plant Believed by a Group of People