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Greetings...

In Myth and Legend there are numerous varieties of shapeshifter... but usually these are very brief in their descriptions (with the obvious exception of the werewolf.) Does anyone here know any fictional or mythological shifting beast?

Well the most obvious two I can think of are Zeus and Odin, both of which transform into various people and animals to approach mortals.

Don't know if that's what you were looking for though.

More shifting breeds... varieties than individuals with the ability to transform

Well,shapeshifting accounts have been tracked as far back as 600 bc.So I would imagine there are any number of beasts that have cropped up between now and then..I will see what I can find real quick..

*smiles* Oceana, welcome

Smiles back ;) ~

Here are some different accounts I found for yaz.

Circe transforms intruders into her island in swine, and Ged, in A Wizard of Earthsea becomes a hawk to escape an evil wizard's stronghold, but a werewolf's transformation, driven by internal forces, is as hideous as that which Circe enforces, and when Athena transforms Cornix into a crow, Ovid put into Cornix's mouth that "the virgin goddess feels pity for a virgin and she helped me" because her new form enabled her to escape rape at Neptune's hands. When a form is taken on involuntarily, the thematic effect is one of confinement and restraint; the person is bound to the new form. Voluntary forms, on the other hand, are means of escape and liberation; even when the form is not undertaken to effect a literal escape, the abilities specific to the form, or the disguise afforded by it, allow the character to act in a manner previously impossible.

Info copped from:http://www.therianthropes.com/themes_in_shapeshifting.htm

Here go..this one isnt too bad for info...

http://www.monstropedia.org/index.php?title=Therianthropy

Will do... anything more?

Still looking for you dear..Alot of bs out here on it..

No Sh*t

http://www.widdershins.org/vol5iss4/05.htm

http://www.newanimal.org/reptoids.htm

I notice much of what is out here has to do with games of sometkind.

The Nagas were mythical beings who could transform from man or woman to snake. They were a separate species from humans and lived in their own secret cities deep in the jungle. Often worshipped as gods in the early days, they eventually ended up as minor parts of both the Hindu and Buddhist religions. Although these beings generally kept to themselves, legend has it that the Naga princes and princesses often married human royalty, and many noble houses in India have claimed that they are descended from Nagas. The wise Nagas could be benevolent demigods, or they could be ruthless rulers, killing anyone who disobeyed them, cursing the land with drought and poisoning the waters. Unicorns were their deadly enemies and could keep the evil Nagas in check. These legends may be based on a real tribe of people called the Nagas, who live on the border between India and Bangladesh.

That came a link that was in the article I linked above..

Okay... unicorns huh? *smiles*

i looking awhile too for you

And Mermaids too! Now go figure.hehe.
No but in truth,it seems as though when it come s to shifting,pretty much anything goes.
You have the Greek myths,the Egytians,Sumerians ,Native Americans and so on..Looks like everyone has been in on it at one time or another.

native amaricans bleaved a great deal in shape shifters

flying monkeys in Wizard of Oz.

Right..I take it you read the links provided?

The Kitsune would be an example of one...

I belive in shape-shifting but dont know a creature that can.....but theres a ware-wolf that can shape-shift in the book and movie called "Blood and Chocolate" lol which is actually intresting...

I don't believe people can really shape shift