Kanima (Beacon Hills)

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

Derek says it is called a "Kanima" but that this specimen wasn't right.

Within South American shape-shifter lore, the Kanima is a werejaguar.

Physical Characteristics
It is roughly the size of an average human male.

Covered in scales, it has a long prehensile tail and can climb up walls like some varieties of lizard.

Its claws are long and secrete venom that can paralyze victims for hours.

It seems to heal very quickly, taking several bullets to the chest, recovering and resuming the fight.

Bestiary Entry on Kanima

 * “Like the wolf, its power is greatest at the moon’s peak.


 * Like the wolf, the Kanima is a social creature but where the wolf seeks a pack the Kanima seeks a master.


 * The Kanima, a weapon of vengeance, is used to carry out the bidding of its master. The Kanima was once used by a South American priest who took it upon himself to rid his village of all murderers. The bond between master and servant grew stronger until the will of the master became that of the Kanima's and whomever the priest deemed unworthy, the Kanima served his vengeance.


 * The Kanima is a mutation of the werewolf gene that cannot fully transform until it resolves that in its past which manifest it.”

Season 2
It seems to be responsible for the death of Isaac Lahey’s father. Later it menaced Allison in the Lahey’s home. (read more...)

It killed one of the hunters outside the Hale House. (read more...)

It killed a mechanic and menaced Stiles at a garage and then trapped Stiles and Derek in the school swimming pool. They were apparently safe because the creature did not want to touch the water. It easily bested Scott in a direct confrontation but then ran after seeing its reflection. (read more...)

According to the hunters' bestiary, '“Like the wolf, its power is greatest at the moon’s peak. Like the wolf, the kanima is a social creature but where the wolf seeks a pack the kanima seeks a friend.”' Jackson as a kanima looks different from the creature seen earlier in the season. (read more...)

Jackson, in kanima form, fights Derek to a standstill and is then shot several times by Chris Argent. It recovers quickly and seems to kneel before Gerard before escaping. It goes after Danny at a gay dance club. It disables several patrons, including Danny, before Derek slashes its throat. It escapes and seems to heal. The next time we see Jackson, he is in human form and bloody but unharmed. Lydia gives a more accurate translation of the hunters' bestiary. Instead of "seeks a friend", Lydia claims it actually says "seeks a master". (read more...)

At his hooded master's behest, the kanima kills a man outside a travel trailer in the woods. It goes after the man's wife but stops when it sees she is pregnant. Lydia finishes translating the bestiary (see above). Jackson partially transforms in a kanima at school and menaces Allison, fights with Scott and injures Matt and Erica. (read more...)

The Two Kanima
Note the differences in the overall scale pattern on the face and the chin. Jackson Kanima also seems to have a dimpled chin.

The shape and thickness of the lips is different as is the turn at the corners of the mouth.