All LC are capable of shapeshifting to some extent. Their natural form is quadruped (or its animal-species' equivalent, avians would be bipedal, for example), with no opposable thumbs, and pelvic bones that require them to hold their chests horizontal to the ground. Because this is inconvenient for tool usage and innovation, the LC have adapted by shapeshifting.
The average LC can only shape-shift into one additional form. This is semi-anthromorphic, changing the fore-legs so the wrist is more mobile, and feet split into four fingers and opposable thumb. The pelvic bone shifts to allow the chest and upper-body to stand upright. The hind-joints, on the other hand, do not change. Limbs are much shorter than the length of the body, and walking upright is often difficult for ordinarily quadrupedal animals. But in this form they can better manipulate objects. Walking, running, and other forms of locomotion are done on four legs.
Regarding birds, bats, and other winged animals. Because these animals do not have "hands" shapeshifting for them is more strenuous, which is one of the reasons these species are much more uncommon. There are several possibilities, many of which come with complications:
A) For winged creatures, the webbing or feathering of the wings is destroyed during the shift. Fingers will shrink, but still appear unnaturally long compared to other species. The growth of webbing and feathers takes some time during the shift back, meaning an inability to fly for several days until the regrowth is complete.
B) A third pair of rudimentary limbs appears during the transition. These limbs are often small and weak, but will possess flexible wrists and opposable thumbs. May be seen as tiny vestigial bone structures in the natural form.
C) The best, and, unfortunately, one of the rarest shape-shifting forms for wings animals is a fully formed third set of limbs. This is most common in heavily mutated individuals.
Regarding insects, arachnids, and other multi-limbed animals. These animals often do not have a "hand" equivalent, but rather sensitive hairs at the end of their legs. Only the first set of limbs will become hand-like in this species, although it is not uncommon for eight or ten limbed species to have two sets of shifting limbs.
Regarding fish and marine mammals. Fish and marine mammals do not gain legs when they shapeshift. Marine mammals will gain elongated forelimbs, with the split fingers. Although heaving webbing between these fingers is very common. Fish, on the other hand, have it slightly more difficult, as they have no arm equivalents. Fins will gain a cartilage structure resemble small bones. The end of the fin will develop two small fingers and an opposable thumb. Webbing is still present between fingers, but light and flexible so as to minimize clumsiness.
Regarding snakes, glass lizards, and other limbless animals. Like fish, these species gain a rudimentary pair of upper limbs. These are quite small and frail, and poor for heavy work. Their flexible, muscular bodies, instead, can take care of those jobs. They, like fish, only gain two fingers and an opposable thumb.
Regarding mollusks, worms, and other "soft" animals. Molluscs and similar species don't shapeshift very much. They do not grow legs and their body type remains exactly as it was. They merely "grow" a small set of arms with functional hands, from the soft tissues of their bodies. There are no bones present, and they can add or subtract fingers as they desire them. These extra limbs are simply reabsorbed into the body during the "shift back." Very unspectacular.
Prior to being relocated to Izarn, many Legacy Creations were capable of shapeshifting into human form. This was for one of two purposes, depending on the species:
1) To blend in with humans, and coexist, such as with the cionre-defore
2) To attract humans, whether for purposes of protection (such as the amuni) or because of a predator/prey relationship (the euclide)
As Izarn has no humans (or shouldn't have any humans), the ability to shapeshift into these forms has become irrelevant. No longer does this ability, or lack thereof, determine an individual’s birth rank in LC society. Shapeshifting is also no longer common to one sex or another. it is controlled by the 'marionette' gene, so named because of the infamous shape-shifting euclides rank. The marionette gene is recessive, and therefore appears much less commonly than those without shape-shifting powers.
The only way to achieve a form other than that which you are born with, is by gaining a favour from a murdon, or purchasing the appropriate blessed gem. It cannot be achieved by increasing rank, and, if born as a marionette, increasing or decreasing rank does not influence one's ability to shapeshift.
Shapeshifting has become so diluted that the human form of marionettes sport several features of their animal form, such as unnatural colors, fur/scales/feathers, tails, differently shaped ears, and so forth.
Marionettes continue to be considered attractive and desirable, but are no longer serving an important function for LC society.