Monday, January 9, 2012

Creature of the Week - Jackalope

Credit for picture

The Jackalope is an American folklore creature. The creature is said to be a cross between the pygmy deer and a killer rabbit. Stuffed specimens are displayed in many towns in the American West.
Credit for picture
According to legend, Jackalope milk has medicinal uses, the Jackalope can imitate the human voice and does so to lead pursuers astray, and the rarity of Jackalopes can be explained by their inability to breed except during electrical storms that include hail. During the 16th to 18th centuries, some European naturalists believed in the existence of horned rabbits and pictured them in books of curiosities.

15 comments:

Natalie Aguirre said...

Love that you featured a creature from American folklore. I'd never heard of it. Thanks for sharing.

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

When we lived in Arizona, I was always on the lookout for one, but never saw the creature.

Angela Brown said...

Every time I think of the jackalope, can't help thinking of the animated short that's a bonus feature on The Incredibles DVD. If every jackalope were wise, bounding sages like that one, I'd love to see one up close.

Angela Brown said...

Every time I think of the jackalope, can't help thinking of the animated short that's a bonus feature on The Incredibles DVD. If every jackalope were wise, bounding sages like that one, I'd love to see one up close.

Anonymous said...

I can't help but feel sad for all those poor deer that have been savagely mated by killer rabbits to create this hybrid offspring.

S.A. Larsenッ said...

This is such a cool animal! I can't seem to get passed the phrase 'killer rabbit', though. lol

T.D. McFrost said...

WTH! 0_0

LTM said...

oh, no... LOL! Hubs's favorite Yosemite Sam-ism is "Jackalope Nitwit." *snort* :D <3

Colene Murphy said...

Hahaha! Monty Python flashes of killer rabbits. ^_^ Love him!

Johanna Garth said...

A killer rabbit makes me laugh! Love that phrase!! I also like it as an insult. As in, 'Don't be such a jackalope!"

Cherie Reich said...

Jackalopes are interesting creatures of legend. I still don't see how a bunny could scurry into a hole with those antlers, though.

C D Meetens said...

I did a double-take on "killer rabbit", although the picture helped :). I think I've heard the name before, but never knew what it referred to.

LD Masterson said...

I've seen pictures of this little guy before. You mean he's (gasp) not real?!?!

DonnaGalanti said...

Oh, I just love this and its so real like it grew from our imagination. I saw a mythical like creature in Orlando recently...I thought it hopped out of some book. IT was a miniature squirrel. Do they have those there? It hopped along the sidewalk following us, darting in and around our feet. Very strange. He was teeny tiny. I think he disappeared into some story after we left.

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