Werepanthers are a supernatural species on True Blood who possess the ability to phase between their human and panther forms. They are the antithesis to the werewolves.

HistoryEdit

Season 3Edit

The first werepanther revealed in the series was Crystal Norris. After an argument with her father over her engagement to her half brother, Felton Norris, she leaves Hotshot for Jason's house. After Jason rescinds Bill's invitation from his house following an argument over Sookie's well being, he witnesses Crystal's transformation from a werepanther to her human form in another room.("I Smell a Rat")

• In the show, the trainers use melanistic leopards (Panthera pardus) as cougars (Puma concolor) have not been documented exhibiting a melanistic variant.

Season 4Edit

It is revealed that the werepanthers living in Hotshot are deeply inbred due to their tradition of keeping their tribe's bloodline "pure" through incest. This has the unfortunate consequence of leaving them unable to produce healthy offspring because of a lack of diversity in their gene pool. Recently, the risk of extinction has lead the werepanthers to resort to extreme measures of breeding by any means necessary. Jason Stackhouse's brief imprisonment was an example of their desperation. It is currently unknown if there are other werepanther tribes outside of Hotshot; or if any of them take up this practice as well.

When the teens in the community see Jason bitten, they ask the elder how their species came to be; Luther responds by telling them the story of werepanthers:

The first werepanthers, "Ghost Daddy" and "Ghost Mommy", were part of a tribe that adored the panthers as gods. But then the "sky people" came and declared war against nature. Most of the tribe joined them, but the two remained loyal to their god and in return he ate them. In his stomach they absorbed his magic and after being vomited they gained the ability of shift.

According to Felton, Jason will heal of his injuries and become one of them on the next full moon. Later when asked by Sookie Stackhouse, the werewolf Alcide Herveaux states that as far as he knows, were-creatures are hereditary and not made by biting or other injuries.

Known werepanthersEdit

• Becky
• Calvin Norris (deceased)
• Crystal Norris
• Felton Norris (deceased)
• Luther
• Timbo

Video-Guide: WerepanthersEdit

Were-panthers(02:15)
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