Wolpertinger

koala · Site Admin Joined: 12 Oct 2006 Posts: 712

The Wolpertinger (also called "Wolperdinger" or "Woiperdinger") is a speculative animal supposedly living in the alpine forests of Bavaria in Germany. It has body parts of various animals — generally wings, antlers and fangs, all attached to the body of a small mammal. The most widespread description is that of a horned rabbit or horned squirrel. It is similar to the Rasselbock from the Thuringian Forest, the Elwedritsche of the Palatinate region, which resembles a chicken-like creature with antlers, and to the American invention of the jackalope as well as to the Swedish Skvader.

Stuffed Wolpertingers, composed of parts of real stuffed animals, are often displayed or sold as tourist souvenirs in their "native regions". Each village has its own set of tales about sightings of the Wolpertinger in the nearby countryside.

Like the jackalope, the Wolpertinger is thought to have been inspired by sightings of wild rabbits infected with the Shope papillomavirus, which causes the growth of antler-like tumors in various places on the rabbit's head and body.