Totemism is characterized by the belief in a connection between the origin of a group or clan and a defined totem, most often an animal. The wolf and the deer are the most familiar totems.

According to the Secret History of the Mongols, the lineage of Genghis Khan descends from the union of these two creatures.

The deer is predominantly represented in Bronze Age sculptures, notably the monuments found in the northern regions of the country. The celebrated felt embroidery discovered in the tomb of Noyon Uul and dating from the Hun period indicates with near certainty the primary religious symbolism of deer veneration.

The wolf is less commonly represented in prehistoric art, but the custom of treating the wolf as a sacred creature has persisted, more or less, to the present day. It is considered auspicious to encounter a wolf, especially during a journey or when searching for stray animals. Although today wolf populations are culled to protect livestock, killing a wolf was long considered taboo.

The veneration of bears was also common among certain ethnic groups, particularly those inhabiting Eastern Siberia, for whom they represented the principal totemic symbol. Ancient Mongols are said to have worshipped bears by attaching an image of the bear's head to the posts of their dwellings and dancing around it.