[AHorsa]

I wonder if anyone knows the meaning of those creatures sometimes appearing on the crossguards of 16th and 17th century swords. Is it dogs, or monsters/seamonsters (as they are often shown with fish scales - see example on the lower left site), dragons...? And what is their mythological and/or metaphorical meaning?
Would be great if anyone could provide some ideas about it.

Cheers
Andreas