fursona

A fursona (a portmanteau of "furry" and "persona") is a personally claimed persona resembling an anthropomorphic figure (usually an animal) adopted by a member of the furry fandom. Fursonas can provide numerous roles for the creator, such as improving self-esteem, creativity, and helping them to achieve their character's ideal traits in real life. A majority of fandom members have at least one fursona, with the International Anthropomorphic Research Project estimating that the average furry has between two and three fursonas over the course of their life.

Some individuals' fursonas are acted out primarily online, but also at furry conventions and in other public spaces. Acting out one's fursona in person may involve wearing a fursuit, a physical representation of a fursona, or pieces thereof, depending on the activity. Another small minority express a desire to become, or already see themselves as, belonging to their fursona species. These people may additionally identify as therians or otherkin.