The idea of a rabbit with antlers, a creature often seen in popular culture, sparks curiosity. While such a hybrid does not naturally occur, the widespread notion of “horned rabbits” has roots in both folklore and a scientific phenomenon.
The Legend of the Jackalope
The Jackalope, a creature deeply embedded in North American folklore, is the most famous example of a rabbit with antlers. This mythical animal is described as a jackrabbit adorned with antelope-like horns. Its popularization is largely attributed to Douglas Herrick and his brother, taxidermists from Douglas, Wyoming, who created the first known mounted specimen in 1932. They reportedly placed a jackrabbit carcass next to deer antlers, sparking the idea to combine the two.
The Herrick brothers sold their initial creation for $10 to a local hotel, where it quickly became a local attraction. This taxidermy spurred a cultural phenomenon, transforming the Jackalope into an icon of the American West. Its image now appears on postcards, souvenirs, and various other merchandise, perpetuating its status as a symbol of frontier humor and tall tales. Folklorists view the Jackalope as part of a tradition of “fearsome critters” in North American culture.
The Scientific Explanation for “Horned” Rabbits
While the Jackalope is folklore, real rabbits can develop horn-like growths due to a viral infection. This condition is caused by the Shope papillomavirus (SPV), also known as cottontail rabbit papillomavirus (CRPV). This virus induces the growth of keratinous tumors, which can appear as dark, horny protrusions, commonly on the rabbit’s head, face, or neck. These growths are composed of keratin, the same protein found in hair and fingernails, and are not true bone structures.
Richard E. Shope, an American virologist, discovered this virus in 1933, after investigating reports from hunters in the Midwestern U.S. His research demonstrated that the protrusions were keratinous carcinomas caused by the virus. Although generally benign, these tumors can sometimes become malignant or grow large enough to impede the rabbit’s ability to eat, potentially leading to starvation. Sightings of such infected rabbits likely contributed to historical accounts and myths of “horned hares” that predate the modern Jackalope legend.
Differentiating Antlers, Horns, and Growths
Understanding the distinction between antlers, horns, and the growths seen on infected rabbits clarifies why “antlered rabbit” is a misnomer. Antlers are structures made entirely of bone, typically found on male members of the deer family (Cervidae), with the exception of caribou where females also grow them. Antlers are shed and regrown annually, a process regulated by hormones, with new growth covered in a vascular skin known as velvet.
Horns, in contrast, are permanent, unbranched structures found on bovids like cattle, goats, and antelopes. They consist of a bony core covered by a sheath of keratin, which grows continuously throughout the animal’s life and is never shed. The growths caused by the Shope papillomavirus differ from both antlers and horns. These are pathological keratinous tumors, not bony extensions of the skull like antlers, nor permanent keratinized sheaths over bone like horns. They are a result of disease rather than a natural anatomical feature.