A REAL Jackalope!

GODREKR · #1 ● 07-03-2013, 08:14 PM

The cottontail rabbit papilloma virus (CRPV), or Shope papilloma virus, is a type I virus under the Baltimore scheme, possessing a nonsegmented dsDNA genome. It infects rabbits, causing keratinous carcinomas, typically on or near the animal’s head. These tumors can become large enough that they interfere with the host’s ability to eat, eventually causing starvation.

Shope papillomavirus provided the first mammalian model of a cancer caused by a virus. It takes its name from Dr. Richard E. Shope, who discovered it in the 1930s. Shope was able to isolate virus particles from tumors on captured animals and use these to inoculate domestic rabbits, which then developed similar tumors. The virus was sequenced in 1984, showing substantial sequence similarities to HPV1a. It has been used as a model for human papillomaviruses both before and after this discovery. The most visible example of this role is the HPV vaccine, which was developed based on and incorporating research done using the virus as a model. Similarly, it has been used to investigate antiviral therapies.

The virus is also a possible source of myths about the jackalope, a rabbit with the antlers of an antelope, and related cryptids such as the wolpertinger. Stories and illustrations of horned rabbits appear in scientific treatises dating back many years, such as the Tableau encyclopédique et méthodique, from 1789.

Source

GODREKR · #2 ● 07-03-2013, 08:17 PM

This is a photo of the first "horned rabbit" published in "Outdoor Times" which I believe was printed by the Corpus Christi Caller. My cousin, from Freer, shot this rabbitt. I recently found the horribly laminated newspaper clipping in an old box of memorabelia from family. I'm working on finding out what year it was and hopefully i'll be able to find this on microfish somewhere. It hangs in the Hall of Horns in San Antonio. The story is that they Huey boys were out shooting rabbitts and popped this one. My cousin Jack shot it, but none of the boys would actually pick it up. They went back to the house and got my great grandpa who didnt really believe that they had killed a rabbit with horns. He of course picked it up and they went to town to show it off. I believe this would have been in the late 40's or very early 50's. The second pic is of the actual mount in the Lone Star Hall of Horns. Pretty cool old family trivia that I thought I would share.
Here is the caption: " 'Horned Rabbit - this cottontail was shot b y Jack Huey of Freer, and it had four hardened growths, one out of the center of the forehead, one beneath its jaw and one on each side of its head, which appear to be of similar texture to the hardened hair horns of an antelope. The growths on the cottontail, however, were attached to the skin only, not flesh or bone. Lin Nowatny mounted the rabbitt for Lone Star's Hall of Horns.

GODREKR · #3 ● 07-03-2013, 08:22 PM

Read more history of the Jackalope here:
Jackalope fans, take note: Your mythical beast really does exist

And here's a couple of pics of the world's largest Jackalope.