Werewolves

A werewolf is a person who turns into a wolf or wolf like creature under certain conditions. Frequently a full moon is said to trigger the transformation. Sometimes the person will physically look like a wolf, sometimes it's only a psychological change. In some legends a person is born a werewolf. In other legends a person becomes a werewolf by being bitten by a werewolf. The werewolf usually craves flesh. Sometimes it is human flesh. The ability for a human to turn into a wolf is called Lycanthropy. The abiltiy for a human to turn into an animal it Therianthropy

Clinical Lycanthropy is a medical condition in which a person thinks they are a wolf. This condition may be at least partly responsible for the werewolf legend.

There have been numerous movies featuring Werewolves, including American Werewolf in London, Teen Wolf, and The Howling series.

Werewolves have been non lead characters in a number of works, including Professor Lupin in the J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter series and Oz on the Buffy the Vampire Slayer TV series.

Werewolves in lit often do not like being a werewolf, dread the full moon, and worry that they will harm someone when they are in the wolf state.

For some reason, Werewolves often are seen in media which featuring Vampires, such as in Stephenie Meyer's Twilight series, Laurel K. Hamilton's Anita Blake series, and Jim Butcher's Dresden Files.

In some were mythologies people can turn into animals other than wolves. In Laurell K. Hamilton's Anita Blake Vampire Hunter series there are wereleopards, werehyenas, wererats, and other weres.