Therianthropy refers to the fantastical, or mythological, ability of some humans to change into animals. Therianthropes are said to change forms via shapeshifting. Therianthropy has long existed in , and seems to be depicted in ancient cave drawings such as , a executed at the neolithic cave drawings found in the at the , France, archeological site.

'Theriocephaly' (Gr. "animal headedness") refers to beings which have an animal head attached to an anthropomorphic, or human, body. For example, the animal-headed forms of gods depicted in (such as , , ).