Jackalope
The Jackalope , even Hasenbock called, is one in the western United States popular mythical animal , a rabbit ( American jackrabbit ) with the horn of a fork bracket (English antelope or outdated antalope ).
The legend probably goes back to sightings of rabbits that had developed horn-like tumors on the ears, head and body due to a viral disease ( papillomavirus ). The antelope jack rabbit (German " antelope hare") is also a type of hare that occurs in the southwest of the USA and is characterized by its extraordinary speed and very long ears, which in turn could have sparked the imagination.
Plush toys, postcards, mugs and T-shirts with Jackalope motifs are available in souvenir shops.
Other mythical creatures
Folk mythical creatures with similar characteristics can also be found in other regions, whose mythological relationship with the jackalope is unexplained. Examples
- Blutschink (Tyrol)
- Bunyip (Australia)
- Dahu (Switzerland, France)
- Dilldapp (Alemannic and as Dilldapp in Siegerland)
- Wolpertinger (Bavaria)
- Elwetritsch (Palatinate)
- Hanghuhn (Thuringia)
- Rattle rattle (Thuringia and Saxony)
- Skvader (Sweden)
- Tatzelwurm (Alpine region)
