. A living jackalope; this is the real deal. Illustrations of horned rabbits and hares go back to the 16th century. The horn-like growths are actually fibroma tumors caused by a strain of the papilloma virus. The growths are composed of keratin, the same structural material in claws and hair. In Europe these 'horned' rabbits became part of the Wolpertinger legend and in America they gave rise to the Jackalope. These creatures of folklore were once thought to be real and were even given the Latin name "Lepus cornutus" by scientists of the day. Papillomatosis is spread via biting insects that feed on blood. It is a common infection but does not always cause horny growths. In very rare cases the tumors will go away on their own, but the condition is usually fatal without medical intervention. If left untreated the majority of these growths become malignant and spread to the internal organs. Even if the growths don't become malignant they will eventually kill the animal in other ways; The tumors most often affect the head and face, often growing over the eyes rendering the animal blind and an easy target for predators. Tumors around the mouth eventually inhibit eating and cause starvation. Link below to my FaceBook page for an article with more info and a photo of a rabbit with an extreme case https://www.facebook.com/Rogue.Taxidermy.Sculptress.Sarina.Brewer