History OurWerebeastsAreDifferent / MythologyAndReligion

** In French-Canadian mythology, the therianthrope is usually a man who has failed to perform his religious duties for several years straight, often seven. They were then either cursed to take an animal form until freed, or only at night until freed. In most case, the curse can be broken by a neighbor pricking the were's skin with a needle. Legends have been recorded involving people turning into wolves (either full wolves, or a being with the normal form of a wolf but walking on two legs), dogs, hellhounds, cats, imps, ''trees'' and at least one pig.

** The "Animal Wife" motif which has an animal shed its clothes and become a beautiful woman and often be taken as (or become) the wife of an ordinary human. This includes beings with specific names (Selkies in Iceland, Scotland and Ireland, Swan-Maidens in Germany, Russia and other area off Europe), but most are just known by their animal form. Examples include Doves (Italy), Wolves (Croatia), Buffalo (Africa) and Cranes (Japan). It also has crossed over to other beings such as (in Japan) divine ones (Tennin, literally "Heavenly Being").

** Stikini from Myth/NativeAmericanMythology are witches who turn into owls by [[BodyHorror vomiting out their organs and leaving them on a tree]] and eat hearts. They can be killed by [[KillItWithFire burning the organs]] or [[HolyBurnsEvil shooting it with a blessed arrow]].

*** Myth/ClassicalMythology tells how Lycaon, an ancient Greek king, decided to test the gods by [[IAteWhat secretly serving them a meal of human flesh]] and seeing if the noticed; the gods, of course, did, and turned him into a wolf as a punishment; thus was created the first werewolf.

** Jackal (Congo)

** In French-Canadian mythology, the therianthrope is usually a man who has failed to perform his religious duties for several years straight, often seven. They were then either cursed to take an animal form until freed, or only at night until freed. In most case, the curse can be broken by a neighbor pricking the were's skin with a needle. Legends have been recorded involving people turning into wolves (either full wolves, or a being with the normal form of a wolf but walking on two legs), dogs, hellhounds, cats, imps and at least one pig.

** Bears (Russia)

** Tiger (India, Thailand, Malaysia, Borneo, China and Japan)

** Tiger (India, Malaysia, Borneo, China and Japan)

** Hyena
** Jackal
** Leopard

** Stikini from Myth/Native American Mythology are witches who turn into owls by [[BodyHorror vomiting out their organs and leaving them on a tree]] and eat hearts. They can be killed by [[KillItWithFire burning the organs]] or [[HolyBurnsEvil shooting it with a blessed arrow]].

** The "Animal Wife" motif which has an animal shed its clothes and become a beautiful woman and often be taken as (or become) the wife of an ordinary human. This includes beings with specific names (Selkies in Iceland and Ireland, Swan-Maidens in Germany, Russia and other area off Europe), but most are just known by their animal form. Examples include Doves (Italy), Wolves (Croatia), Buffalo (Africa) and Cranes (Japan). It also has crossed over to other beings such as (in Japan) divine ones (Tennin, literally "Heavenly Being").

*** Myth/ClassicalMythology tells how Lycaon, a ancient Greek king, decided to test the gods by [[IAteWhat secretly serving them a meal of human flesh]] and seeing if the noticed; the gods, of course, did, and turned him into a wolf as a punishment; thus was created the first werewolf.

** Wolves (All over the place, naturally. Special mention goes to the werewolves of Russia and Scotland, which are thought of as being simply another "race" or "tribe" of people who happen to have the ability to turn into wolves, rather than witches who made a DealWithTheDevil)

** River Dolphin/Boto Encantado (South America)
* Specific Example:

** In Japanese mythology, henge, a subset of youkai, are magical animals with {{Shapeshifting}} powers and human intelligence. They often assume human form and get into all kinds of mischief. Examples of henge should go on the {{Youkai}} page.

** The Navajo skin-walker is either a human sorcerer who can take animal form, or a spirit being of incredible power that can take various animal forms. The details vary, but they are considered to be one of the most evil of all monsters.

** The Native American Skin Walker is either a human sorcerer who can take animal form, or a spirit being of incredible power that can take various animal forms. The details vary, but they are considered to be one of the most evil of all monsters.