Kumiho
Kumiho are a race of magical shape-shifters native to the Korean Penninsula.
They are commonly classified as demons by magic texts, but unlike true demons, they are native to this plane of existence, and have shown no ability to travel between dimensions. Rather, they appear to be a species which has evolved from either Humans or foxes as the result of exposure to natural Magic (although it has been proposed that they were artificially created via a curse, rather than evolution).
There is considerable debate in magical circles as to whether they are the same species, a related species, or a completely distinct species from the Japanese Kitsune or Chinese Huli Jing.
Basic Information
Anatomy
Kumiho are transmorphs, having two distinct forms.
In their human-like form, they resemble a human woman with a single fox-like tail and claw-like fingernails. Descriptions of Kumiho in human form usually stress their extreme beauty.
In their fox-like form, they resemble a Korean Red Foxes with nine tails. In fox form, Kumiho are megamorphs, possessing the ability to change their size from that of a normal fox up to the size of a large Wolf.
When in human form, their hair will be the same colour as their coat when in fox form, which red being the most common colour, although albinism and melanism have both been recorded.
Biological Traits
One feature which marks kumiho as distinct from other fox spirits is the yeowoo guseul, or fox marble, a powerful magical object which normally sits under the tongue of a kumiho. Although part of the kumiho's body (or at least, a part of their natural magic) it is not physically attached to the kumiho.
When placed in the mouth of a human (usually done by tricking the human into a kiss) the kumiho can use the yeowoo guseul to absorb the lifeforce of the human. However, if the human is able to swallow the yeowoo guseul, they gain the knowledge the kumiho has accumulated over its long life.
Genetics and Reproduction
Kumiho are all female, and reproduce via interbreeding with either humans or foxes.
According to some sources, if a fox is able to live for 1,000 years, they will gain shape-shifting abilities and become a kumiho.
Dietary Needs and Habits
Kumiho can eat the same diet as humans, either for pleasure or to aid them in passing unnoticed when living in human from, however their primary diet is human hearts.
It is believed that the need to eat human hearts is part of their inherent magic, although White Fox does not kill humans, and seems to suffer no ill-effects from this.