Phenotype, as used in the werecommunity, is a deprecated term (one being phased out in favor of a better one). It was formerly used to mean the same thing as the newer word "
theriotype".
This encyclodpedia entry exists so that people will know that when they see "
phenotype" being used in the context of what sort of wereside a person has, that it's intended to mean the same as the newer term "
theriotype".
The actual dictionary definition of phenotype is as follows:
phe·no·type
n.
1. The observable physical or biochemical characteristics of an organism, as determined by both genetic makeup and environmental influences.
2. The expression of a specific trait, such as stature or blood type, based on genetic and environmental influences.
3. An individual or group of organisms exhibiting a particular phenotype.
4. the visible properties of an organism that are produced by the interaction of the genotype and the environment.
This does not accurately describe the
theriotype or wereside of a were/
therian. Since a therian is not, for instance, a wolf-therian because they have "wolf genes", phenotype is not the best word to use to describe their wolf-ness. Using "phenotype", then, carries misleading or inaccurate implications.
When describing what sort of were you are, it is asked that people adopt the new word "
theriotype" instead.
Shifting is short fo shapeshifting, although the terms transforming, morphing, changing, and turning into can also mean the same thing. There are many forms of shifting and, with it, many interpretations of what shifting is, exactly. To me, it's like the merging of the body and the soul, whether it's spiritual and/or physical.
What animal you are. I am a wolf phenotype, sadly the most common of all phenotypes. Wolves are by far not the only kind of therian. There are weres of almost every specie imaginable. Most of them just tend to be the canine variety (wolves, coyotes, foxes) or the feline variety (tigers, lions, leopards) etc. There are also weres whose phenotype (what animal they are) is not of this earth, like dragons, and gryphons, though some say these are not weres, but Otherkin.