Samuel Peterson’s Reviews > The Science of Monsters: The Truth about Zombies, Witches, Werewolves, Vampires, and Other Legendary Creatures > Status Update

The pufferfish and the spines found on fish are not examples of shapeshifting. The mimic octopus and cuttlefish are examples though.

"Another condition linked to werewolves is clinical lycanthropy. This is defined as a rare psychiatric syndrome in which the affected person is under the illusion that they can transform into, has transformed into, or is a non-human animal...Throughout history several serial killers claimed to have been wolves during their crimes."
I think the show "Hannibal" had an episode about this.

"Hypertrichosis is a condition that is characterized by an abnormal amount of hair growth over the body. Those who performed in circuses and "freak" shows likely had this condition. In the womb, humans are covered with a thin layer of hair called lanugo. Usually this hair is shed before birth but in some circumstances, for these with congenital hypertichosis lanuginosa, the hair remains." Is that the only explanation

I did not know that the writer of the OG "Wolf Man" from 1941 was Jewish and based it off of his plight from Nazi Germany.

So. Jules Verne wasn't far off when he wrote about a massive underground sea in "Journey to the Center of the Earth." I wonder how long the theory that salt water from ancient oceans accumulating underground has been around?

So, there are giant worms like those in "Tremors" and "Dune?" They are in Africa and underwater. Interesting.

As someone who studied anthropology in college, human biological adaptation is one of those aspects that I still enjoy reading to this day. The troglodytes in "The Descent" is an interesting theory to how humans could adapt to living underground.
Also the Bajau people of Indonesia aren't the only ones who have adapted to diving underwater for long stretches and depths. Japanese pearl divers can do it too.

To know that the settlement of Derinkuyu, Turkey was not the only location where humans have settled in large numbers underground is fascinating.

"The Descent" is one of those movies that I hear a lot of, and the more that I hear the more I don't want to watch it. A movie set in dark caves, claustrophobia abounding, and monsters attacking from the dark on unsuspecting people is terrifying.

"Section ten: Creatures." My favorite kind of horror films: creature features! The final section has "The Descent," "Tremors," and "The Wolf Man."