The vârcolac is often-though not exclusively-seen as a werewolf though it can refer also to ( usually wolf-like ) demons, vampires, goblins or ghosts as well ; the pricolici is more universally wolf-like, and much like the strigoi is said to be a formerly human member of the undead, having risen from the grave to wreak havoc on the living.

Traces of initiation rites in several Indo-European societies suggest that this group identified itself with wolves or dogs ( see also Berserker, werewolf ).

A werewolf, also known as a lycanthrope ( from the Greek:, lukos, " wolf ", and, anthrōpos, " man "), is a mythological or folkloric human with the ability to shapeshift into a wolf or an anthropomorphic wolf-like creature, either purposely or after being placed under a curse and / or lycanthropic affliction via a bite or scratch from a werewolf, or some other means.

The word has also been linked to the original werewolf of classical mythology, Lycaon, a king of Arcadia who, according to Ovid's Metamorphoses, was turned into a ravenous wolf in retribution for attempting to serve his own son to visiting Zeus in an attempt to disprove the god's divinity.

Various methods for becoming a werewolf have been reported, one of the simplest being the removal of clothing and putting on a belt made of wolfskin, probably as a substitute for the assumption of an entire animal skin ( which also is frequently described ).

The vampire was also linked to the werewolf in East European countries, particularly Bulgaria, Serbia and Slovenia.

Hunters have also used its abilities in making wolfsbane-laced bullets to poison a shot werewolf.

He also played werewolf sheriff Sam Newfield in The Howling ( 1981 ).

Such animistic legends include that of the Lobizón, a werewolf type being, also the Mainimbi or hummingbird who transports good spirits that are resident in flowers back to Tupá " so he can cherish them ".

Hobson also played opposite Henry Hull that same year in Werewolf of London, the first Hollywood werewolf film, predating The Wolf Man by six years.

During the attack she transforms into a werewolf and tries to kill Willow, but Oz, also in werewolf form, protects Willow and kills Veruca.

Oz introduces Buffy, Willow and friends to his wife Bayarmaa, who is also a werewolf, and his young son, Kelden.

According to African popular belief ( mainly in the Zambian / Zimbabwean region ), the meerkat is also known as the sun angel, as it protects villages from the moon devil or the werewolf which is believed to attack stray cattle or lone tribesmen.

However, the full moon rises and it is clear he has also become infected and is a werewolf himself.

Vimes has also managed to evade, beat off and ' kill ' ( at least, temporarily disable ) werewolves ( in The Fifth Elephant ), part of a pack of werewolves in " the game "; a werewolf tradition of chasing a human back to civilization that humans did not often win, during a version organized by Angua's brother Wolfgang ; Wolfgang insists that the werewolves would just have " nasty headaches later on.

" Vimes also reflects on killing a werewolf in Night Watch and Vetinari mentions him killing a werewolf in Thud !.

Anita also meets the character Raina, the lupa of the local wolf pack, as well as Jason, a young werewolf.

The youngest brother, Benjamin ( also called Bojan ), was accused of being a werewolf and magician by the Italian Bishop Liutprand of Cremona, but apparently posed no threat to Peter's authority.

He also plays werewolf Derek Hale in the television series Teen Wolf.

Black Lace also publishes short story anthologies, novella collections and in 2007 launched its first trilogy, a series of werewolf erotica by Mathilde Madden.

Jack urges David to kill himself before the next full moon, not only because Jack is cursed to exist in a state of living death for as long as the bloodline of the werewolf that attacked them survives, but also to prevent David from inflicting the same fate on his eventual victims.

SMAP also recorded the opening song, " Kimi Iro Omoi ", for the anime Akazukin Cha Cha, and this time the youngest member, Shingo Katori, lent his voice for the whole show as the young strong werewolf, Riiya.

" In other 2003 film work, Sheen appeared as a werewolf named Lucian in Underworld and made a brief appearance in the sci-fi film Timeline.

" Pin Cushion " appeared on the original soundtrack of the Canadian werewolf horror film Ginger Snaps.

He also appeared as a werewolf and football coach on ABC's short-lived supernatural crime drama The Gates.

In February 2011, Fleet appeared as George ( senior ), the father of werewolf George Sands, in Being Human.

Though Eric appeared to have no control over his actions while in werewolf form and typically retained no memory of them afterward, he seemed to prey almost exclusively on villainous characters, never attacking or killing an innocent person.

While the bite of a werewolf was the standard way to pass the curse to another person, blood transfusion appeared to be effective in the episode titled " Big Daddy ".

After defeating a werewolf, they are knighted by Queen Victoria ( Pauline Collins ), who banishes them as threats to the Empire whilst setting up the Torchwood Institute, which aims to track the Doctor and other aliens.

In Brazil in the year 2080, the Fifth Doctor and Turlough are confronted by an ancient werewolf.

* The Doctor also encounters an Earthbound werewolf in Wolfsbane, and alien werewolves in The Greatest Show in the Galaxy, Kursaal and Tooth and Claw.

The Doctor soon realizes the trap they have fallen into, and helps to save Rose, the Queen, and Sir Robert from Father Angelo's men and the werewolf by taking shelter in the estate's library, its wood coated with oil of mistletoe wood to stave off the beast.

The Doctor also realizes that the estate was designed as a trap for the werewolf, as by use of its strange telescope along with the Queen's Koh-i-Noor diamond, its cut fashioned by Prince Albert, they can force the werewolf to revert to human form and destroy the alien lifeform.

A race of werewolves, the Wereloks, turn the Fourth Doctor into a werewolf in the Doctor Who Weekly comic strip story Doctor Who and the Dogs of Doom ( DWW # 27 -# 34 ), although he manages to devise a cure for his condition in the TARDIS.

However, he thought that the story was " entertaining " and had a " few exciting moments ", but it was unsatisfying with elements such as the werewolf chase feeling out of place for Doctor Who.

Many authors have speculated that werewolf legends may have been used to explain serial killings.

The term " serial killer " had not yet been coined, and the public and press were at a loss for words to describe the case ; Haarmann was simultaneously referred to as the " werewolf ", a " vampire ", and " The Wolf Man ".

Picardo made his feature film debut as Eddie Quist, the serial killer werewolf in the Joe Dante film The Howling ( 1981 ).

For example, a story about a werewolf or vampire could be described as dark fantasy, while a story about a serial killer would simply be horror.

In 1979, the second season titled Fangface and Fangpuss aired as a segment on The Plastic Man Comedy / Adventure Show and introduced a new character: Baby Fangs, Fangs ' infant cousin who turns into a baby werewolf called Fangpuss ( which contradicts the opening narration stating that only one werewolf is born into the family every 400 years, but, of course, that werewolf could be born through another family which may be married to the Fangsworth family ).

Kelly claimed on the Opie and Anthony Show, that while there he saw a werewolf.