Myths are stories told to entertain the mind. These mythological stories have evolved over the years by our ancestors. Like any story told over a long period of time, it is altered, but rarely are these myths proven to be true. One mythological story about a jackrabbit and an antelope is proven by researchers to be partly true. This mythological animal is known as a "Jackalope" that originated as early as the late 1500s. .
This myth suggests that Jackalopes are a cross between a jackrabbit and an antelope. According to this myth, these Jackalopes are a unique type of species that looks like a rabbit, but has horns penetrating out of its head. Although with modern technology, researchers are claiming that parts of this myth are true and have evidence to prove it. .
Researchers are claiming that this so called Jackalope is really just a jackrabbit with tumors which is caused by a disease common in rabbits, called Shope Papillamavirus. This disease is allegedly carried by rabbit ticks, mosquitoes or reduviid bugs. These bugs are thought to be the transmitters of this rare disease. The Shope Papillamavirus is a form of cancer in which spiked tumors grow therefore, portraying the image of horns. These spiked tumors can grow anywhere near the neck, head, mouth, back, chin and stomach. The growths or tumors that grow towards the mouth tend to eventually cover the mouth and preventing the rabbit from eating. This leaves the rabbit in a vulnerable state in which its predators can easily feast on them. These tumors are not only detrimental to the jackrabbit's welfare, but also very painful. Therefore, with this unfortunate disease the jackrabbit is prone to live a shorter life which explains why they are so scarce and hard to find. .
So in reality, there exists a "Horned Rabbit" even though the horns are really just horn-like-tumors caused by a cancerous disease known as Shope Papillamavirus.
