labete-du-gevaudan:Shope Papilloma Virus (SPV) is thought to be behind the idea of the Jackalope. SP
labete-du-gevaudan:Shope Papilloma Virus (SPV) is thought to be behind the idea of the Jackalope. SPV is also referred to as Cottontail Cutaneous Papilloma Virus. It is a disease that causes malignant tumors to spread on a rabbit’s body, but are most often seen growing on the head. Both wild and domesticated rabbits can attract this viral disease and it is typically spread by mosquitoes and ticks. Depending on if the tumors are cancerous and where they appear, this virus can be life threatening. Sometimes these tumors can impact the vision and ability to eat. The first documented case of SPV was in the 1930s but cases of rabbits with horns and antlers date long before that. -- source link