Theriotype

"My poor mother begged for a sheep but raised a wolf."
Michelle K., Quozio

Theriotype
Basic Info
Alias(es)	Phenotype Wereside
Founded/discovered in	1999

Theriotype, also known as therioside, is the most common word for the species of vertebrate tetrapod animal(s) which is a therians' identity. The term came into use in 1999. Some believe that a theriotype develops as part of their mentality much in the say way that their personality develops, which is known as suntherianthropy. Theriotypes are based on known animal species extant and extinct. An example is "I have a whale Theriotype." It is also acceptable to say "I am a whale Therian" or "I am a whalekin."

The term was developed as a replacement for the words wereside and phenotype. Some therians believe they have more than one theriotype, and are called polytherians, this used to be somewhat uncommon, and often looked upon with heavy scrutiny from the community, but more recently polytherians are growing in number (sometimes due to confusion over cameo shifts) and are welcomed more than in the past.

Mythical animals are usually considered to be otherkin, but this has been disputed, especially in the case of dragons and griffins, which are mythical beasts and also experience more instinctual and animal-like behavior during shifts. These individuals may refer to themselves as theriomythic.

Categories of theriotypes

Classes

Mammalian

Also refered to simply as "mammals," mammalian theriotypes are animals characterized by the presence of milk-producing mammary glands for feeding their young, a neocortex region of the brain, fur or hair, and three middle ear bones. These characteristics distinguish them from reptilians and avians, from which their ancestors diverged in the Carboniferous Period over 300 million years ago.

Examples of mammalians include:

• any animal under the Felidae family
  • e.g., domesticated cat, lion, tiger, lynx, ocelot
• any animal under the Canidae family
  • e.g., domesticated dog, fox, hyena, wolf, raccoon
• rodents
• bats
• any animal under the Eulipotyphla order
  • e.g., hedgehogs, moles, shrews
• any animal under the Primate order^†
  • e.g., monkeys, lemurs
• any animal under the Artiodactyla order
  • e.g., giraffes, pigs, camels, whales

^†In therianthropy, humans are excluded from this list as they make up the body of a therian, whom embodies the mindset of another animal or had a past life as another animal, and are therefore not considered a theriotype.

Reptilian

Also refered to simply as "reptiles," reptilian theriotypes are animals characterized by scales or course skin, anatomical similarities to dinosaurs, and being ectothermic. The earliest known proto-reptilians originated around 312 million years ago during the Carboniferous period, having evolved from advanced reptiliomorph tetrapods which became increasingly adapted to life on dry land.

Vertebratan

Also refered to simply as "fish," vertebratan theriotypes are animals characterized by the ability to swim underwater for long periods of time, the laying of fragile, spherical eggs, and being ectothermic. The earliest organisms that can be classified as vertebratans were soft-bodied chordates that first appeared during the Cambrian period.

Amphibian

Amphibian theriotypes are animals characterized by the ability to both swim underwater and roam on land, and being ectothermic & anamniotic. The earliest amphibians evolved in the Devonian period from sarcopterygian fish with lungs and bony-limbed fins, features that were helpful in adapting to dry land.

Avian

Also refered to simply as "birds," avian theriotypes are animals characterised by feathers, toothless beaked jaws, the laying of hard-shelled eggs, a high metabolic rate, a four-chambered heart, and a strong yet lightweight skeleton. According to DNA evidence, modern birds (Neornithes) evolved in the Early to Late Cretaceous, and diversified dramatically around the time of the Cretaceous–Paleogene extinction event 66 mya, which killed off the pterosaurs and all non-avian dinosaurs.

Diets

Herbivora

A herbivore is an animal anatomically and physiologically adapted to eating plant material, for example foliage or marine algae, for the main component of its diet. As a result of their plant diet, herbivorous animals typically have mouthparts adapted to rasping or grinding. Horses and other herbivores have wide flat teeth that are adapted to grinding grass, tree bark, and other tough plant material.

Examples of herbivores include:

• deer
• cows
• horses
• goats
• rabbits
• elephants

Carnivora

A carnivore is an animal or plant whose food and energy requirements derive from the consumption of animal tissues (mainly muscle, fat and other soft tissues) whether through hunting or scavenging.

Examples of carnivores include:

• lions
• dogs
• pigs
• badgers
• bears
• foxes
• hedgehogs
• opossums

Omnivora

An omnivore is an animal that has the ability to eat and survive on both plant and animal matter. Obtaining energy and nutrients from plant and animal matter, omnivores digest carbohydrates, protein, fat, and fiber, and metabolize the nutrients and energy of the sources absorbed. Often, they have the ability to incorporate food sources such as algae, fungi, and bacteria into their diet.

Examples of omnivores include:

• primates^†
• dogs
• pigs
• badgers
• bears
• foxes
• hedgehogs
• opossums
• wolves

^†In therianthropy, humans are excluded from this list as they make up the body of a therian, whom embodies the mindset of another animal or had a past life as another animal, and are therefore not considered a theriotype.