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The Jackalope
$15 - $25
Dimensions:
cm: 12.7 x 17.78 in: 5 x 7 |
The Jackalope is a mythical animal of North American folklore (a so-called "fearsome critter") described as a jackrabbit with antelope horns or deer antlers and sometimes a pheasant's tail. The word "jackalope" is a portmanteau of "jackrabbit" and "antelope". A group of jackalopes is called a flaggerdoot. The story of the Jackalope was popularised in Wyoming in the 1930s after a local hunter used taxidermy skills to graft deer antlers onto a jackrabbit carcass, selling the creature to a local hotel. It is possible that the tales of jackalopes were inspired by sightings of rabbits infected with the Shope papilloma virus, which causes the growth of horn- and antler-like tumors in various places on the rabbit's head and body. However, the concept of an animal hybrid occurs in many cultures, for example as the griffin and the chimera.
The Jackalope has led to many outlandish (and largely tongue-in-cheek) claims as to the creature's habits. It is given the pseudo-taxonomic descriptor Lepus temperamentalus. It is said to be a hybrid of the pygmy-deer and a species of "killer rabbit". Reportedly, Jackalopes are extremely shy unless approached. Legend also has it that female Jackalopes can be milked as they sleep belly up and that the milk can be used for a variety of medicinal purposes. One of the few ways a Jackalope can be caught is by leaving out a bottle of whiskey, as it is the Jackalopes sustenance of choice. It has also been said that the Jackalope can convincingly imitate any sound, including the human voice. It uses this ability to elude pursuers, chiefly by using phrases such as "There he goes! That way!" During the days of the Old West, when cowboys gathered by the campfires singing at night, Jackalopes could often be heard mimicking their voices. Legend has it that they are dangerous if approached. It has also been said that Jackalopes will only breed during winter electrical storms, explaining their rarity.
The Jackalope has led to many outlandish (and largely tongue-in-cheek) claims as to the creature's habits. It is given the pseudo-taxonomic descriptor Lepus temperamentalus. It is said to be a hybrid of the pygmy-deer and a species of "killer rabbit". Reportedly, Jackalopes are extremely shy unless approached. Legend also has it that female Jackalopes can be milked as they sleep belly up and that the milk can be used for a variety of medicinal purposes. One of the few ways a Jackalope can be caught is by leaving out a bottle of whiskey, as it is the Jackalopes sustenance of choice. It has also been said that the Jackalope can convincingly imitate any sound, including the human voice. It uses this ability to elude pursuers, chiefly by using phrases such as "There he goes! That way!" During the days of the Old West, when cowboys gathered by the campfires singing at night, Jackalopes could often be heard mimicking their voices. Legend has it that they are dangerous if approached. It has also been said that Jackalopes will only breed during winter electrical storms, explaining their rarity.
