Were-Animals: Were-Animals are people who can shift physically into the form of an animal. Most inherently and instinctively believe in physical shapeshifting even before they can shift fully; despite the doubts and skeptics of the world. Were-animals are more genetic than Therians, and less spiritual when it comes to their animal nature (allowing for full shifting into the form of an animal.) The most common of these is the werewolf, although there are other animals as well, ranging from cats to birds to all sorts of other animals. Were-Animals posses two forms usually, and are a bit more noticeable than animal shifters due to the way they tend to stick out more as an "unusual animal." Were-Animals DO NOT transform at the full moon, as they have near full control over their shapeshifting ability, and they are NOT allergic to silver bullets. They are not to be confused with people suffering from Clinical Lycanthropy; in Clinical Lycanthropy, sufferers cannot distinguish between a real transformation happening , as opposed to what isn't and have hallucinatory episodes as well as lesions growing on their brain. Were-animals and therians are not the same, however, some therians may wrongly use were-(insert animal here) to define themselves. For that reason, it is a good idea to ask what someone means by were-animal. Were-animals tend to group up with others of their kind, and are naturally very secretive about their transformations.
Therians: Therians are people who believe that they either have the soul of an animal, or that they are an animal psychologically, or are just a non-human animal in some intrinsic way in general. Most, if not all Therians do not believe in physical transformations, nor can they physically shift, instead focusing on the spiritual and mental transformations instead. Most therians are very logical and scientific, and prefer to immerse themselves in human life. The therianthropy community tends to mostly be online, with a few offline howls (gatherings of therians) every now and again.
Otherkin: Otherkin are people who believe that they either have the soul of a mythical creature, or that they are a mythical creature psychologically, or are just a non-human being in some intrinsic way in general. Most, if not all Otherkin do not believe in physical transformations, nor can most physically shift, instead focusing on the spiritual and mental transformations instead. Most Otherkin are very logical and scientific, and prefer to immerse themselves in human life, although Otherkin are more likely to dwell in areas such as metaphysics, and the spiritual. Therians and the therianthropy community are a subset of the otherkin community.
Shapeshifters: Shapeshifters are people who can transform into an animal (or animals.) This is a general term for all types of shifters, whether it be were-animals, skin-walkers, people who just happen to have multiple forms, or others. Sometimes this word is shortened to simply "shifters", and in that case, usually a person is referring to physical shapeshifters (as otherkin usually refer to their kind as "otherkin", and therians refer to their kind as "therians" or "therianthropes.") Another word alluding more to physical transformation is "metamorph."
Skin-Walkers: Skin-walkers are shapeshifters who can shapeshift into any animal, most often a coyote, wolf, fox, owl, or raven. These shapeshifters are evil, and are adept as using black magic to get the way, and hurt ordinary humans. In the Navajo language, they are called " yee naaldlooshii" which means literally, "with it, he goes on all fours."
Mythical Shapeshifters: These are shapeshifters that do not shapeshift into earthly animals, but instead shapeshift physically into mythical beings or creatures (ex: a dragon) , or earth animals with variations (ex: a wolf with bat wings.) Mythical shapeshifters can be found frequently in folklore, although in the real world they tend to be rare.
Animal Shapeshifters: These are shapeshifters that do not shapeshift into mythical animals, but instead shapeshift physically into Earth animals or beings that are identical to Earth animals. Animal shifters are frequently found in folklore, and in the real world, they are surprisingly common compared to the mythical shapeshifters.