History Main / DistinguishingMark

* Princess Sally from ''ComicBook/ArchieComicsSonicTheHedgehog'' has a "royal birthmark". [[GettingCrapPastTheRadar Espio knows where it is.]]

* On ''Series/{{Baywatch}}'' episode "Mirror Image," Mitch is met by plain gal Gwen and later meets her more outgoing identical twin sister Mattie (both played by Carrie-Ann Moss). He ends up drugged by Gwen and put in a flooding chamber, realizing it's the jealous Mattie trying to kill him. Mitch is confused at the switch as Mattie has the ''exact'' same scars on her leg as Gwen does...then realizes they're not twins at all but one very troubled woman with a SplitPersonality.

See also ScarsAreForever. For a Distinguishing Mark that marks the ChosenOne, see BirthmarkOfDestiny. If the Distinguishing Mark shows that the character is supernatural or magical, it's MarkOfTheSupernatural. If the Distinguishing Mark shows that the character is or was a slave, it's a SlaveBrand. If it means the character is a reincarnation of someone with a similar mark or scar, it is a ReincarnationIdentifyingTrait. If it is meant to show that a character is (or is assumed by others characters to be) evil, then it's the RedRightHand. Overlaps with FacialMarkings if it's located somewhere on the face.

** Most of the demons in the series show certain traits that tell them apart from humans, even when in humanoid form. These include pointed, elf-like ears, unusual coloration in their eyes and hair, and (sometimes) claws and fangs. If their true form has a tail, that will often be visible, since it apparently takes a lot of power to hide it. In Shippou’s case, hiding the tail is often a problem when he disguises himself using his fox-magic. (Shippou is a very young ''kitsune-youkai'' - fox demon. In Japanese folklore, foxes were said to be great tricksters, and the masters of disguise. Being so inexperienced, Shippou still isn’t very good at shapeshifting, but he’s getting better.)
* In ''Manga/RurouniKenshin'', the Hitokiri Battousai is known for having red hair and a cross-shaped scar on his left cheek. In some places where he is less famous that gets shortened to just a cross-shaped scar. During part of the Kyoto arc he even covers it up with a bandage to avoid drawing attention.

* In ''WesternAnimation/BarbieInThePrincessAndThePauper'', Anneliese has a crown shaped birthmark on her shoulder that is used to distinguish her from Erika and prove that she is the real princess.

** Ivar is in Kells hunting a thief who stole a sacred chalice from his people. He knows him only by a scar at his forehead. During a battle with Torc, Ivar knocks off the man's helmet to see the scar and realizes Torc is the thief. Torc openly boasts he drinks from that cup every night to anger Ivar who is dedicated to getting the chalice back.
* On an episode of ''Series/{{Highlander}}'', the widow of a Watcher wants to expose Immortals to the media. A newspaper publisher naturally doesn't believe her story of people who can live forever and engage in sword duels to the death. She shows him a database featuring a man the publisher knows as a powerful millionaire, noting the man's facial scar. She then begins showing photos of a variety of men over the decades, from World War II to the 1890s to the Civil War and the early 19th century. The publisher's jaw drops when he sees that, while the name, hairstyles and clothing are different, each of these men has the exact same scar and realizes they're all the same man.

* On ''Series/DesperateHousewives'', Bree sees a woman stalking neighbors Katherine and Adam, claiming she'd had an affair with Adam in Chicago. Adam had already told Katherine the woman had been a patient but is making up the story. When they're all trapped in a tornado, Katherine mentions how she knows the woman is lying because she talked of a snake tatoo on Adam's shoulder but Bree, having seen Adam at a pool party, knows he doesn't have one. Katherine coldly glares at her husband as she's finally realized why he was so insistent on having that snake tattoo removed as she and Katherine realize the affair was real.

* Prince Zuko of ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'' has a facial scar that is roughly flame shaped.

** Maria Ross has a mole under her eye. [[spoiler:While about to kill Lieutenant Colonel Hughes, Envy pretends to be Lt. Ross. Envy however fails to replicate this mark when imitating her but she quickly fixes it.]]

** Maria Ross has a mole under her eye. [[spoiler:While about to kill Major Hughes, Envy pretends to be Lt. Ross. Envy however fails to replicate this mark when imitating her but she quickly fixes it.]]

* ''WesternAnimation/GIJoeARealAmericanHero'': The difference between the mirror image Tomax and Xamot? Xomat has a scar on his left cheek. [[TwinTelepathy For twins that share a link]], it was no doubt agonizing for Tomax.

* In several ''Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda'' games, the mark of the Triforce (see the featured image on the RuleOfThree page) appears on the hands of three [[TheChosenOne individuals]]. [[BigBad Ganondorf]] has the Triforce of Power, [[EverythingsBetterWithPrincesses Princess Zelda]] has the Triforce of Wisdom, and [[TheHero Link]] has the Triforce of Courage. Each piece of the Triforce is represented by a different triangle - Power is on top, Wisdom is on the bottom left, and Courage is on the bottom right.

** In ''VideoGame/BioShockInfinite'', both leads have one of these. Booker [=DeWitt=]'s right hand bears the mark of AD, ([[spoiler:the initials of his daughter, Anna [=DeWitt=], which he branded himself with after giving her up to wipe away his gambling debts]]) while Elizabeth has a missing phalanx bone on her right little finger, which she covers with a thimble. [[spoiler:The reason for this is that said phalanx bone was [[PortalCut cut off by a tear]] when she was an infant, thus allowing her to open tears.]]

* ''Literature/SurvivorDogs'': Blade stands out from the other Fierce Dogs by having a white mark in the shape of a fang near her neck. This same mark also appeared on a dead pup's neck, giving Lucky the hint that the puppy was Blade's child. In fact, Blade [[spoiler:[[OffingTheOffspring murdered him]] herself]].

* In ''Literature/ThroughTheMotions'', magic users can easily be spotted by strange markings on their hands and/or fingers, which are obtained by making direct contact with a source of magic power. The main character discovers hers after visiting her doctor following an accident with a MagicWand and her front door.

See also ScarsAreForever. For a Distinguishing Mark that marks the ChosenOne, see BirthmarkOfDestiny. If the Distinguishing Mark shows that the character is supernatural or magical, it's MarkOfTheSupernatural. If the Distinguishing Mark shows that the character is or was a slave, it's a SlaveBrand. If it is meant to show that a character is (or is assumed by others characters to be) evil, then it's the RedRightHand. Overlaps with FacialMarkings if it's located somewhere on the face.

* In ''Fanfic/BlindCourage'', Zelda has a [[BeautyMark mole]] under one eye, which she inherited from her mother Iriana. This mark is mentioned when a guard tells Ganondorf that he knows Zelda is dead because he saw her coffin (which actually used [[FakingTheDead magic-made corpse]]).

!!Examples

* ''Series/SavageKingdom'': Saba is identifiable by the small nic on one of her ears.

* ''Literature/TheColdMoons'': Bamber's brother Oatear is named for the white, corn-ear shaped mark on one of his facial stripes. It's so noticeable that a newspaper notes it when describing him.

** Also, Scar got his nickname because of the [[CaptainObvious X-shaped scar]] on his forehead, courtesy of [[spoiler:Kimbley]]. We never actually learn his true name, but the other characters needed something to call him by.

* On an episode of ''Series/{{Highlander}}'', the widow of a Watcher wants to expose Immortals to the media. A newspaper publisher naturally doesn't believe her story of people who can live forever and engage in sword duels to the death. She shows him a database featuring a man the publisher knows as a powerful millionaire, noting the man's facial scar. She then begins showing photos of a variety of men over the decades, from World War II to the 1890s to the Civil War and the early 19th century. The publisher's jaw drops when he sees that, while the name, hair styles and clothing are different, each of these men has the exact same scar and realizes they're all the same man.

** The titular character has fuzzy, white dog ears on top of his head (not floppy ears like most dogs, more like the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Shiba_Inu_cream.jpg Shibi Inu]] breed.) This marks his [[HumanMomNonhumanDad heritage]] as an ''inu-hanyou'' - half human, half dog-demon. He also his golden eyes with cat-like pupils, like his father.