Shapeshifters (Anita Blake Mythology)
Numerous different types of shapeshifters exist in the Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter universe, including werewolves and wererats. Anita distinguishes between lycanthropes, which include solely persons infected by contact with another lycanthrope's bodily fluids, and shapeshifters, a class that includes both lycanthropes and persons who are able to shapeshift as a result of magic, such as a personal or family curse.
In the Anitaverse, lycanthropes are barred from certain professions and can in fact still be killed on sight in some states. The status of non-lycanthrope shapeshifters, being far more rare, is less clear. To what extent, if any, human society recognizes the authority of lycanthrope social groups (packs, pards, etc.) -- whether criminal acts undertaken at the order of one's alpha might be regarded as actions taken under duress, for instance—is similarly unclear.
Lycanthropes can assume at least two forms - human and animal. Powerful shifters can also assume a "hybrid" form that is bipedal with animal characteristics or even transform a small part of their body at will (for example, "growing" fingers into claws).
Changing between forms takes a great deal of energy; most lycanthropes must feed immediately after changing to animal form and collapse into a comatose state for several hours after returning to human form. Stronger lycanthropes do not need to feed immediately or collapse, but are extremely tired. The lycanthropes Anita encounters most frequently can change shape almost at will.
Lycanthropes who spend too much time in animal form may not be able to shift back completely. As a result, some of the lycanthropes Anita meets have fangs or voices or eyes resembling their animal form, even when in human shape.
Other shapeshifters may have different forms available, and may experience different effects. For example, Kaspar is able to shift back and forth to his swan form without unconsciousness, and it is not clear if he has an intermediate "swanman" form, because he was a shifter due to a curse.
Lycanthropy is a blood-borne affliction. It can usually be contracted only through a wound from a were who has at least partially shifted to animal form. Injecting lycanthrope blood directly into the body will also spread the disease, and can be spread metaphysically (e.g. via mental contact with Marmee Noir). The process of becoming a lycanthrope has been described academically and as memory in the series, but not observed in the timeline. Each species-specific strain of the contagion is separate and hostile to all other diseases, including other forms of lycanthropy and vampirism. This hostility is instantaneous from exposure, usually precluding infection from multiple forms of lycanthropy as successive forms are quickly destroyed by the entrenched strain. Under normal circumstances, lycanthropes are therefore immune to all disease. There are an extremely small minority of incidences (described as fewer than 20 documented cases world-wide at one point in the series) where multiple forms of lycanthropy appear able to coexist in the same host. There are also apparently ancient forms of vampirism/lycanthropy that can coexist, allowing for lycanthropes who can contract vampirism and retain their lycanthropic abilities after being "brought over". All known hosts carrying these compatible forms of lycanthropy and vampirism are thousands of years old and, until recently, in some form of hybernation. As of Hit List, it is unclear whether these exceptional hybrids can pass on the vampiric strain that can overcome and coexist with lycanthropy.
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