Researching "Werewolves"

Also known as werwolf, is a mythological or folkloric creature. Thought to be half human with the ability to shape shift into various animal forms, although the most common being a wolf. This is either after being bitten by the 'infected', after being placed under a curse or through choice of their own.

('Dog Soldiers' 2002 Directed by Neil Marshall)

Generally thought of as a European character, although most myths and legends come from Native America, although common in other parts, stories of shapeshifters most commonly in the form of a wolf come from native tribes in America.

Although traits pass and change from story to story, werewolves are cemented in modern fiction as a character of true horror. The most notable characteristic that seems to stick is the wolf's vunerability to pure silver bullets.

Common Attributes and way to identify a werewolf differ around the world. Russian's believe that if you can tell a werewolf by looking under their tongue. They believe the 'infected' have slight bristles under their tongue. Other communities think cutting a suspected werewolf whilst in it's human form and then looking into the wound to find fur.

Other way of identifying a werewolf include:

• eyebrows meeting over the bridge of the nose
• curved fingernails
• low set ears
• and a swinging stride

Although the suspected appearance of the werewolf changes from culture to culture, two thing are questioned to stick out. One being the fact that they appear no different to ordinary wolves, although this can easily be over rided by the myth at werewolves are granted with extra physical powers beyond the realms of humans and ordinary wolves. The second is that werewolves are believed to not have tails, this comes from the belief that witches were thought to change forms as they wouldn't have tails. The only feature that is thought to stay with the werewolf is their human eyes.