Shapeshifters

Shapeshifters describes a variety of supernatural creatures featured prominently in MTV's Teen Wolf.

Primarily, this group consists of humans who can, partially or fully, transform into animals.

Werewolf
Werewolves are a supernatural species of shapeshifter and are the primary protagonists within the Teen Wolf Universe.

They usually appear in human form and can shift to varying degrees into a bipedal wolf-like creature with increased body hair, fangs and glowing eyes.

While most of the werewolves on the show remain in the "nearly human" form; Laura Hale and her mother, Talia Hale, looked like a regular wolf when transformed and Peter Hale took on a monstrous giant wolf-like form.

Main Article: Werewolf

Werecoyote
There is an almost unlimited variety of human/animal shapeshifters in real world myths and stories.

In Anchors we see the first appearance of a Werecoyote.

Malia Tate appears fully animal-like with glowing blue eyes as the only sign of the supernatural.

Scott is able to exert limited mental control over the Werecoyote due to his Alpha status and forces it to revert to human form. (read more...)

To date, Werecoyotes and Werewolves appear to have the same abilities and weaknesses. This includes a loss of control on the full moon and susceptibility to Wolfsbane.

Werejaguar
Teen Wolf Season 4 introduces the Aztec legend of the god Tezcalipoca who could transform into a jaguar at night.

The word Teen Wolf uses for his worshipers is "Nagual" which the show defines as "Werejaguar" despite the word's broader, real world, definition.

The word can mean "shapeshifter", "transforming witch" or "trickster."

Kate Argent appears to be a werejaguar and has taken up residence in an abandoned Aztec temple in Mexico. (read more...)

Kanima
The Kanima is a form of shapeshifter introduced in Season 2 of MTV's Teen Wolf.

According to Teen Wolf Mythology, the Kanima was created when Jackson Whittemore's emotional issues caused his body to reject the bite of an Alpha.

Instead of becoming a werewolf, Jackson transformed into a snake-like creature. We are led to believe that this shape reflected his inner turmoil and outward behavior.

The kanima is roughly the size of an average human male and covered in scales. It has a long prehensile tail and can climb up walls like some varieties of lizard.

Main Article: Kanima

Kitsune
Kitsune (キツネ) is the Japanese word for Fox.

Teen Wolf Creator Jeff Davis says he studied Japanese kitsune myths while coming up with the stories for Season 3(b).

We have only observed two Kitsune so far. To date, they have always appeared human to the naked eye.

There are 13 types of Kitsune within the Teen Wolf Universe. Only five have been named within the context of the show.

They are: Celestial, Wild, Ocean, Thunder and Nogitsune (or Void).

Kira Yukimura is a "Thunder Kitsune". Her mother is apparently a different type but that is not revealed on the show.

Main Article: Kitsune