The upraised ears transform the blunt features of the serpent into those of the rabbit, creating yet another syncretic figure. Many of the same accoutrements bedeck an 11-foot tall shaman at Abrigo Diego in Mexico, but this figure is facing straight ahead, obscuring his facial features. The rabbit ears are here worn by a neighboring shaman figure. In addition to his rabbit ears, crenellated streamer and spiny wrist ornament, the third serpent shaman of Rattlesnake Canyon demonstrates his power by suspending two falling panthers above his head. To some degree, colors may themselves symbolize qualities and their juxtaposition may be an artistic convention to add interest and complexity of design.
Patterned colors are, however, defining characteristics of the shaman incarnation.
The panther shaman often has an outlined body, infilled with parallel lines that mimic the soft underbelly of a cat. The serpent shaman is head, shoulders and an outline of the torso, but the interior of the body is blank. The bird-deer composite often has a narrow dark rectangle on its torso, Such consistencies suggest that body design and color have deeper meaning, perhaps no longer decipherable.