Are you writing about lycanthropes in your latest fantasy project? Or are you planning a tabletop campaign and looking for something different from werewolves?
We are all familiar with werewolves. They’ve been popular for centuries. Creatures that seem normal most of the time, but when the full moon rolls around, they’re sprouting teeth and claws and looking for a human meal. They’re terrifying, and they excite storytellers with their ferociousness.
Werewolves are certainly a classic, and you can’t go wrong with a good werewolf story. But it’s safe to say that werewolves can run the risk of becoming cliche. So many werewolf stories are out there, and it’s hard to stand out.
But if you have your heart set on lycanthropy, and you are looking for something a little more unique, there is a whole animal kingdom to work with. Mammals, birds, insects, reptiles, and amphibians. So here are a few ideas from the animal kingdom that can be your new man-eating were-beast. The only requirement is a taste for flesh.
What is Lycanthropy?
It may help to first examine where the myths of lycanthropy originate. It’s hard to pinpoint the exact time and place because people shapeshifting into monsters has been a pretty common part of human mythology. Sometimes myths are used to explain things that humans don’t quite understand, and in a time before modern science and modern medicine, people theorized about certain things with only mythology as a reference.
Some say turning into a ferocious beast and rampaging through a village could explain the symptoms of certain diseases, like rabies. Rabies would have been particularly terrifying to ancient and medieval people. It caused people and animals to react violently. It was transmitted through a bite or a scratch and was fatal. Some people have speculated that it could be the origin of lycanthropy myths in Europe.
Lycanthrope One: The WereBear
Polar bears, grizzlies, sun bears, and even a usually timid black bear can turn into furious monsters under the right circumstances. They are apex predators and skilled hunters, using brute force to maul their prey. Bears are territorial and overpowering; you can factor that into your werebear.
In many cultures, bears are symbols of strength, confidence, resourcefulness, and protectiveness. Lycanthropy didn’t just force you into an animal shape on a full moon. Often, in many works of folklore, the person inflicted with lycanthropy takes on characteristics of the animal they turn into, so studying bear behavior is a good place to start for ideas about your wear-bear.
Bears appear in many world folklore. Native Americans, the Norse, the Celts, and the Greeks are all examples of those who revered the bear. To the Hopi people, the bear is often seen as a hero or a fierce warrior.
Lycanthrope Two: The WereTiger
Tigers are one of the big cats of Asia, and they play a major part in Indian mythology. Indian villagers have learned to fear and respect the Bengal tiger, as tiger attacks have occurred for centuries.
Tigers are fierce hunters. They can stalk their prey through the dense mangroves of the Ganges Delta and are very agile.
In Indian mythology, the tiger symbolizes the sacred feminine and mother nature and is associated with the goddess Durga.
Lycanthrope Three: The WereJaguar
Jaguars were symbols in Aztec and Mayan mythology. They roamed the jungles from Mexico to the tip of South America. Although they are endangered now and much rarer, Jaguars are still the rulers of the American jungles.
In Mesoamerican mythology, the jaguar ruled the night, time, and the underworld. In Aztec mythology, jaguars were representatives of the god Tezcatlipoca. This god had a particular affinity for obsidian, so perhaps obsidian could play a part in any fictional were-jaguar.
Lycanthrope Four: The WereRaccoon
Those nocturnal creatures that often raid people’s chicken coops or get into their pet’s food bowls can have a mean streak.
Raccoons are trickster spirits in Indigenous mythology and are clever and mischievous.
While raccoons may be an occasional sight, they mostly leave humans alone and are cute, cuddly creatures. But they have a mean streak when threatened, and their tendency to carry rabies and, therefore, go around attacking pets and people alike can play well to the lycanthropy of these little creatures. They have sharp claws and sharp teeth, and a person morphing into a larger version of a raccoon would be very intimidating.
Lycanthrope Five: The WereRat
Rats have been the scourge of urban life for centuries. In the 14th century, rats carrying fleas led to the Black Death, the plague that killed a third of Europe.
The plague bacteria Yersinia Pestis, which causes the plague, is still alive in rodents today.
Rats are regarded as pests, creatures that feed off our trash and filth. A were-rat is likely to hide out in sewers or dark alleys and come out to prey on people at night.
Lycanthrope Six: The WereHyena
The were-hyena is already a mythical creature in legends in Eastern Africa. The Bornu people of Central Africa describe the bultungin as a creature that can transform into a cannibalistic, bloodthirsty creature. They hunted their prey by calling out to them and luring them to their deaths.
Many African people saw hyenas as scavengers; thus, having ‘hyena characteristics’ was not a good thing and could even lead to shunning from the community.
Lycanthrope Seven: The WereLion
There are many big cats on this list of lycanthropy. But the king of the savanna had to be on this list. Known in African mythology as a symbol of courage and strength, lions, with their thick manes, could make potentially deadly lycanthropes.
In Egyptian mythology, Maahes was the lion-headed god of war, representing fierceness and protectiveness.
Lycanthrope Eight: The WereSnake
Snakes are prevalent in many world cultures. They are often seen as symbols of deception and evil. A serpent lycanthrope might possess some reptilian characteristics, like being cold-blooded or having a forked tongue. Maybe they have a voice that sounds more like a hiss. And maybe they can deliver a venomous bite or scratch.
Lycanthrope Nine: The WereDinosaur
What if dinosaurs never went extinct? What if they could pass on their dino-like ways to humans? Velociraptors and Tyrannosaurus could all be human by day and giant lizards by night.
Lycanthrope Ten: The WereThylacine
The Tasmanian tiger is an extinct animal from Australia and is a unique chance for a lycanthrope.
Even though it has been extinct since the 1930s, mythical sightings of this once apex predator of Australia and the island of Tasmania abound.
The Tasmanian tiger, or thylacine, was a carnivorous marsupial that hunted in the Australian outback. Aboriginal rock art depicts the thylacine as an important symbol. They believed they could bring about bad weather, and there was a folktale about a thylacine pup saving a spirited boy and then being marked for its bravery.
Lycanthrope Eleven: The WereLeopard
Yet another big cat. Leopards hunt their prey at night and then drag them into the trees. Imagine a wereleopard being able to drag its human prey up into the trees. Maybe this is how you can spot a wereleopard. They have a love for climbing the highest tree.
Leopards were once common throughout the Middle East and Eurasia, not just in Africa. In Greek mythology, the leopard is associated with the god Dionysus. The panther was a mount for the wine god.
Lycanthrope Twelve: The WereDragon
We can’t have a list of were-beasts without including dragons. Any other mythical creature could be a lycanthrope—imagine a were-troll!
Your weredragon might be someone who has a particular affinity for treasure. Maybe they are drawn to wealth by day, and by night, they horde their treasure in caves, and when they are hungry, they attack an unsuspecting village with their fire breath.
Lycanthrope Thirteen: The WereOrca
If your fantasy race is a sea-faring people, they might need to watch out for were-orcas. Orcas are thought of as the wolves of the ocean. Killer whales, as they are also known, are pack hunters, much like wolves. They live in pods and hunt as a team.
Orcas prey on seals and small whales, but maybe a were-orca has a particular taste for human flesh. They can damage a sailing vessel plenty; you are theirs once you are in the water. Orcas enjoy playing with their food.
Lycanthrope Fourteen: The WerePorcupine
Wereporcupines armed with dangerous quills ready to attack their prey might be pretty intimidating. Porcupines are the armored tanks of the forest with their back full of quills.
Lycanthrope Fifteen: The WereShark
A were-shark would be far more intimidating than a great white. Most shark attacks by the mighty great white are often a result of mistaken identity. But the were-shark has a taste for man flesh.
Sharks have a powerful presence in Polynesian mythology. There is a myth that a shark guided Hawaii’s native inhabitants to the island for the first time. Sharks are thought of with respect, but they should not be taken lightly.
Lycanthrope Sixteen: The WereOctopus
Were-octopus rises out of the deep ocean to prey on unsuspecting divers. Sprouting tentacles at night under a full moon, it uses its tentacles to clobber and drown a diver before dragging them down into the ocean’s depths, never to be seen again. The Kraken has nothing on the wereoctopus.
Lycanthrope Seventeen: The WereSpider
A were-arachnid is an especially frightening idea. Arachnophobia is a common fear, and since fantasy is chock full of giant spiders, it’s only right to include them as a potential lycanthrope. Imagine sprouting eight legs under every full moon!
Lycanthrope Eighteen: The WereRhino
Wererhino. A giant, heavily armored beast. Although rhinos in the wild are herbivores, the were-rhino has a taste for flesh and uses his giant horn as a weapon.
Lycanthrope Nineteen: The WereHawk
There are many birds of prey that would be very intimidating if they were to become a threat to humanity. The werehawk can take to the sky and swoop down on its prey, grabbing the unfortunate soul with its giant talons and carrying it off to its lair so that it can feast in peace.
Lycanthrope Twenty: The WereKangaroo
Kangaroos might seem cute, but they are known for their powerful kicks and punches. They are important symbols of aboriginal dreamtime, which could be part of the werekangaroo’s MO. Maybe they can cause trance and dreams, and while you are away in dreamland, you are being eaten alive by this ravenous lycanthrope.
Lycanthrope Twenty-One: The WereBadger
Last on this list is the badger. Badgers are ferocious, with sharp teeth and claws and a notoriously bad temper. The werebadger lycanthrope has already been put into various fantasy lineups, including the world of Forgotten Realms. But they could be a perfect lycanthrope to add to your own repertoire.
Conclusion
The animal kingdom is full of creatures to explore from all around the world. From common animals to mythical or extinct beasts, nothing is off-limits. Animal symbolism is very powerful in spirituality from every single inhabited continent or island. Choosing the right animal can convey a certain message within your story. The best way to investigate a particular animal for your lycanthrope story would be to start with learning that animal’s behavior in the wild and then learning about the myths and legends of the people who live with that animal.
