Shapeshifters Species

Characteristics

Characteristics

Anatomy

Human Form
In their human form, shapeshifters are virtually indistinguishable from humans, with little variation in their average stature. Like humans, shapeshifters are bipedal, and upright-walking primates, their bodies consisting of a head, a neck, a torso, two arms, two hands, two legs and two feet. On their hands they possess opposable thumbs, which allowing for the grasping of objects and the use of both simple and complex tools.

Like other sapient species, shapeshifters have large complex brains with a well-developed pre-frontal cortex. This allows for greater cognitive function, such as the ability for introspection, imagination, and self-awareness. At the base of their skulls, under their enlarged brains, they have an organ known as the altus, which allows for the conversion of energy and magic. Post-mortem comparisons between a variety of a human and a shapeshifter altus showed that shapeshifter altus tend to be slightly larger than a human altus, with more connections to the brain. This is theorised to be because of their innate ability to shift.

Shapeshifters have two distinct sexes, male and female. On average, adult male shapeshifters are taller and heavier than adult female shapeshifters, with broader shoulders and narrower hips. Males are also able to grow thick hair on their face as well on their heads, and tend to have nore thicker body hair, particularly on their chest, armpits and crotch. Male reproductive organs are external to the male body, consisting of a penis and a pair of testicles. Female reproductive organs are mostly internal, comprising of a uterus and two ovaries. Adult female shapeshifters also have prominent breasts, although both sexes have nipples.

Animal Form (Shifted Form)
Each shapeshifter can shift into one animal species, determined before birth by the patrilineal line or the matrilineal line. For example, if the father shifts into a horse and the mother shifts into a deer, any resulting child would shift into a horse-deer hybrid as well. Despite prolonged studies, academics have found no exceptions.

The vast majority of shapeshifters can shift into another mammal species, though a few isolated groups can shift into birds. Though myths exist of those who can shift into reptiles or fish, no evidence has been discovered to corroborate these tales. Whilst some scholars believe that avian shapeshifters - and therefore any other potential non-mammalian shapeshifters - should be categorised as a different species, that opinion is generally unpopular in academic circles.

Shapeshifters can keep both their knowledge and memories when they shift into their animal form, and are able to understand speech despite not being able to respond in kind. Unlike regular members of their secondary species, shapeshifters also can retain the altus in this shifted form, which can be used to identify a shapeshifter postmortem. Despite the presence of an altus, shapeshifters cannot use their voice in their shifted form, with the exception being to transform back into their human form.