While jack rabbits are not naturally equipped with horns, the notion persists, fueled by folklore and a biological phenomenon. This misconception stems from sightings of a mythical creature or observations of rabbits with a viral infection. Understanding this distinction clarifies the nature of these swift desert inhabitants.
The Jackalope Legend
The jackalope, a creature of North American folklore, is depicted as a jackrabbit with antelope antlers or horns. This mythical hybrid gained prominence in the 1930s when taxidermist brothers Douglas and Ralph Herrick created and sold a jackrabbit specimen with deer antlers attached in Douglas, Wyoming. This fabrication quickly became a symbol of Americana, particularly in the American West, appearing on postcards, souvenirs, and mounted displays.
Tales portray the jackalope with exaggerated characteristics, such as mimicking human voices or aggression. Some legends claim jackalopes mate only during lightning storms, contributing to their rarity. The belief in this horned rabbit, though a hoax, highlights human fascination with unusual animal forms and storytelling.
Viral Growths: A Biological Explanation
Jackrabbits can develop horn-like growths from Shope papillomavirus (SPV) infection. This DNA virus, also known as Cottontail Rabbit Papillomavirus (CRPV), primarily affects rabbits and hares. Richard E. Shope discovered the virus in 1933 after investigating “horned” rabbits reported by Midwestern U.S. hunters.
The virus infects skin cells, causing uncontrolled proliferation and forming benign tumors or warts, known as papillomas. These growths are rough, circular, and appear most frequently on the head, ears, eyelids, and around the mouth. Composed of keratin, the same protein in hair and nails, the tumors have a hard, horn-like appearance. Although generally benign, these papillomas can grow large enough to interfere with eating, potentially leading to starvation. In some instances, particularly in older or immunocompromised animals, these growths can transform into aggressive squamous cell carcinomas, a type of skin cancer.
Jack Rabbits: Hares, Not Horned Creatures
Jackrabbits are not true rabbits but are, in fact, hares. Both belong to the family Leporidae, but hares and rabbits have distinct biological differences. Jackrabbits, classified under the genus Lepus, are characterized by their long ears, which can reach up to seven inches, and powerful hind legs adapted for speed. Their fur typically ranges from gray to brown, providing camouflage in their natural habitats, which include deserts, grasslands, and prairies across North America.
Unlike rabbits, which are born hairless and blind in burrows, hares are born precocial, meaning they are fully furred, have open eyes, and are mobile shortly after birth. Jackrabbits are generally solitary animals, another contrast to the more social burrow-dwelling rabbits. In their healthy, natural state, jackrabbits do not possess any bone structures resembling horns or antlers; their physical characteristics are solely adapted for their environment and survival as hares.