Typically human, but with some of the features of an animal. These are usually minor; most often they have the ears and tail or wings of a single animal, but more anthropomorphic-appearing individuals sometimes appear as well. Halflings with fish or water-going animal sides can survive on land, only rarely do they appear as a 'merperson'.
Silefaer Clansmen have interbred to the point where there is no single dominant animal apparent in their appearance. They vary widely in appearance and it's often difficult to tell what animals their ancestors came from. Generally, they bear traits of animals who inhabit the same sort of terrain they live in.
Abilities
Their most noteable feature is the fact that halflings are capable of using magic. Humans fear this ability, but also prize it, and opinions often vary over halflings. They may have heightened senses or reflexes from their animal sides, and may acquire special traits as well (venom, echolocation, etc.).
History
Half-human, half-animal people who are descended from women affected by a magic-born plague, who survived to give birth to the first halflings as an after effect of the illness. Despite their magic, they are treated with suspicion by humans, so often hide away or try to hide their animal side and fit in with humans.
The clans of Silefaer Isle are actually a much older strain of halflings, born during the end of the Meera Era by the same plague. Viewed with suspicion, war broke out between humans and clans, resulting in the remaining clans fleeing to an island they called Silefaer Isle. They then split into six clans based on where they lived; the Plains Clan, the Desert Clan, the Forest Clan, the Mountain Clan, the Water Clan, and the relatively unknown Swamp Clan. They hid their land with magic and became completely shut off from the rest of the world for thousands of years. Ironically, clans who chose to remain among humans eventually began marrying into human families, and after several generations, lost the animal features and created the first human mages.