History behind the hairy horrors

Werewolfs have made their way to the forefront of pop culture once again with their part in Twilight and a series of upcoming movies.

The myths behind these creatures can be frightening or thrilling, depending on who is telling the story. Wolves have always held a special place in Western culture, from the fairy tale of Little Red Riding Hood to the classic werewolf horror stories. This is because, for a long time, they were Europe's top predator.

In Native American culture and other shamanistic cultures, the wolf is a totem, a spirit animal. It is honoured by those who wish to have wolf characteristics - fierceness or intelligence.

When religious ceremonies are held in shamanist societies, the shaman or other religious people do a hypnotic dance accompanied by drums and sometimes flutes. The dancers wear animal fur and/or horns or antlers. For example, if they wanted a good hunt, they might wear wolf skins and deer antlers.

The shamanistic religions often also involve taking hallucinogenic substances such as poisonous mushrooms. Combined with the dance and costumes, this leads many to believe they can 'shape shift' into the animals they are impersonating.

Top predators have also been humanised in other cultures. For instance, in Africa there are werelions and werehyenas, and in South America there are werejaguars.