A werewolf is a human being who, upon the complete rising of the full moon, becomes a fearsome and deadly near-wolf. mtu-bweha can be easily distinguished from regular Mbwa mwitu loups kwa their shorter snout, zaidi human-like eyes, the tufted tail, and their mindless hunting of humans whilst in mbwa mwitu form. At all other times, they appear as normal humans, although they will gain a pallor as the moon approaches and then wanes. This condition is caused kwa infection with lycanthropy, also known as werewolfry. A werewolf cannot chose whether au not to transform and will no longer remember who they are and would kill even their best friend aliyopewa the opportunity once transformed. Despite this, they are able to recall everything they have experienced throughout their transformation upon reverting to their human form. A mixture of powdered silver and dittany applied to a fresh bite will muhuri the wound and allow the victim to live on as a werewolf, although tragic tales are told of witches and wizards begging for death rather than becoming werewolves. The Wolfsbane Potion, invented kwa Damocles, allows the werewolf to keep their human mind during transformation.
Lycanthropy is a magical illness known to be spread kwa contact between saliva and blood; thus, when a transformed werewolf bites a human, the bitten will become a werewolf themselves. Most Muggles, however, will die from the extent of their injuries in the instance of a werewolf attack as noted kwa Professor Marlowe Forfang. If a werewolf is in human form and bites the victim, they will merely gain lupine tendencies such as a fondness for rare meat. Any bite au scratch obtained from a werewolf, whether in human au animal form, will leave permanent scars.
mtu-bweha cannot pass on lycanthropy to their children, and so if having a child with a human partner no lupine tendencies will occur, as noted with Teddy Lupin, son of Remus and Nymphadora Tonks.

If two mtu-bweha mate at the full moon, in their animal forms, something very strange happens. The result of their mating, which has only ever occurred twice throughout history, has been a pack of mbwa mwitu cubs - actual mbwa mwitu cubs - who grow to become very beautiful Mbwa mwitu loups and can only be distinguished from true Mbwa mwitu loups kwa their near-human intelligence.

Thus, rumours of mtu-bweha living in the Forbidden Forest in the grounds at Hogwarts ngome are actually true. With the kind permission of Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of the School, the pack was released into the woods and have lived there ever since. Teachers have never tried to dispel these rumours because they felt that keeping students out of the forest was highly desirable.