why?

[Hellcat]

Why is the wolf the most common phenotype? what makes the wolf so special? Not that I'd want to be a werewolf- far to common for me ;)

seriously though, I'm interested.

[Xzengrim]

That's a topic of much debate. On the most obvious level, though, werewolves are already part of our culture. We grow up learning the mythology and seeing werewolves on the TV and at Halloween. It's accessible and most likely to be chosen.

On a deeper level, though, almost every culture that has come into contact with wolves has identified with them as nearly human, and has created myths about people who could cross that boundary at will. Nobody really knows why wolves are so often chosen.

That, and on the personal level, I have no idea why I chose wolves. Before having the most vivid Dshifts of my life, I had never liked wolves, I didn't know anything about wolves, I had pretty much no opinion on wolves whatsoever. They were alright, but nothing special. I don't really like animals.

But here I am.

[Tempest]

Wolves are similar to humans because of their social structure. Kind of like the Hindui cast system. They are smart and tactile, protective, and stick together. Most of the time, humans are all the above.
We relate to them is all I can think of. Besides which, wolves used to hang around Native American's campfires, from which resulted the domestic dog. I guess we've always got along.
I dunno...that's my opinion.

[Kirin Fenrir]

Many Native American myths also claim that man was decendant from wolves. Perhaps the wonderful LycanthropicHowl can give us the details?

She's much better with in-depth research than I.

[GhostBat]

There are many animals similar to humans. Apes and Gorrillas, for example. Why aren't those more common phenotypes? I think the biggest reason is that spawning from the myths of werewolves was horror movies and such. A lot of people are just those who WANT to be a werewolf, they being so popularized. And there are accounts of many different types of werecreatures throughout the world, why wolves? Perhaps it's because they're the ancestors of man's best friend. With a gentleness, yet have that wild side instilled in them. :shrug:

And just to note, I'm not saying any of you wolfies are wannabes :). But there are alot of them roaming around out there.

[silenceowl]

Apes and gorrillas arnt common because they are too similar to humans.

Man has allways had a connection to canines, they have been with us for thousands and thousands of years. They are just part of who we are.

[GhostBat]

Aw....so no monkey men huh?

[Nightmare GenoReaper]

Aw....so no monkey men huh?


no, that was common 2.5 million years ago though, lol

[GhostBat]

Eh, oh well. Smelly and dirty anyway, not to mention wingless...but it woulda been entertaining to tease for awhile. *sigh*

Ok, back to topic!
*clears throat*
Yeah, it's true apes and monkey men...i mean gorillas...are perhaps too similar to humans. So...what about bats? :p I mean, they are very similar to humans socially. Colonies are just like large families, protective. And many species have some adult bats fly for food while others stay behind to watch the young ones, like a nursery. They are also close in skeletol structure as well, with the bats only having more elongated fingers. Of course the skull and other minor differences are there as well, but that's true for wolves as well.

[Hellcat]

What species of chiroptera are you ghostbat? You mentioned in a previous message that you are one of the largest species, unfortunately I am a brit and I don't travel much thus my mammilian studies are mostly revolve around the native british mammals (as well as those that have become well established here).

The difference between bats and wolves is that wolves are carnivorous whereas the bat can be herbivore (ie they eat mostly plant stuffs) or carnivore (In this case the meaning includes insectect eating).

Tell me about your species I'm intrigued

[GhostBat]

Well, complete classification goes:

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammilia
Order: Chiroptera
Family: Megadermatidae
Genus: Macroderma
Species: Macroderma gigas

If you want to know more, take a peek at the thread I started in the Misc. section called "Bats Galore!" There is plenty there =)

[Tigatron]

My theory about this is in medievil time (hope I'd spelt that correcty) Many people live in Europe. Many legends about werewolves strated there caus there were many wild wolves there & people were scared of them.

Well thats my theory.

Hope it's OK with you guys having my say.

[Hellcat]

My theory about this is in medievil time (hope I'd spelt that correcty) Many people live in Europe. Many legends about werewolves strated there caus there were many wild wolves there & people were scared of them.

Well thats my theory.

Hope it's OK with you guys having my say.


of course its okay to have your say. i asked a question, I want answers. If nobody has a say i don't get answers and thats just no bloody good at all is it?

[sno raven]

Okay this is a question that is rises a lot. The answer is simple. The wolf is strong, sleek, mysterious, intelligent, and family oriented.. and thats what most people want to be, or have.
Another reason is thats the animal that people most likely view as strong, sleek, mysterious and intelligent. But not all people like wolves, some like cats (as you do Hellcat) its just a matter of opinion. I've shifted into many an animal in the old days.. Today I just stick to wolves usually. I remember shifting into birds, rabbits, cats.. whatever I needed that day.. (uh yea. don't ask)
So its just a matter of opinion. :drool: :wavey:

[LV426]

Actually wolves were domesticated long before the Native Americans were even sperm in the cosmos. Wolves are very similar in social structure to people and began hanging around encampments of early humans for food. Wolves learned that humans were a source of food and began to lose their fear. Humans took it a step further and began to enlist the aid of wolves for hunting and protection. Early humans studied predators to learn how to effectively hunt large game and wolves hunt on a level that humans can understand. A pack method is much more succesful than single hunting.

There is a folktale told in several different areas of a child that was abandoned in the wild when her father died. She found a lone female wolf with a cub and eventually the mother wolf adopted her and would feed her along with the cub and the girl would watch the cub when the mothere was gone.

Eventually the winter passed and the girl set off to find her people and the wolf left to go to a pack but the young wolf cub followed the girl. On returning the girl was viewed with fear and the wolf driven off. Trying to win over the people of her camp she wanted to hunt and she and the wolf began to hunt together. Where the men hunting alone rarely brought any meat home, she and the wolf were bringing home deer almost every day.

Her people accepted her and the wolf went away but they never forgot how to hunt like a wolf. It was said that when the woman died her spirit became that of a wolf and woud protect the camp and sometimes lead the hunters to game.


Of course the tale is widespread and severa different peoples have their own version but basically it is the same.

[blueeyes]

According to the words I have heard, humanity is closer to the wolf than any other. That is not evolution, but it may be related. ::Shrug:;