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Revision as of 13:28, 31 December 2007 by Lilith (talk | contribs) (New page: thumb|Inspired from Albrecht Durer - A Young Hare, 1502 The '''Wolpertinger''' (Crisensus bavaricus) is an imaginary hybrid creature (or a cryptid to some) suppo...)
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Inspired from Albrecht Durer - A Young Hare, 1502

The Wolpertinger (Crisensus bavaricus) is an imaginary hybrid creature (or a cryptid to some) supposedly living in the alpine forests of Bavaria in Germany.

Variant regional spellings of the name include Wolperdinger, Woipertinger, Poontinger and Volpertinger.


Family

The Wolpertinger share some features with other small horned mammas that have been described througout North Europe. The Rasselbock from the Thuringian Forest, the Elwedritsche of the Palatinate region, the Austrian Rauracklas well as to the Swedish Skvader and the north Hessian Dilldapp not to to forget the Jackalope.


Description

The Wolpertinger is described as being composed from body parts of various animals — generally wings, antlers and fangs, all attached to the body of a small mammal resembling that of a rabbit or squirrel. Occasionally it displays the webbed feet of a duck. The most widespread description is that of a horned rabbit or horned squirrel.


Features

The best way to catch a Wolpertinger, according to legend, is to be a beautiful young woman (or be in the company of one), since Wolpertingers have a weakness for female beauty. The woman should go out into a forest at night while the moon is full and find a secluded nook where a Wolpertinger is likely to be. Hopefully, the creature will soon reveal itself. When it does the woman should expose her breasts. This will cause the Wolpertinger to instantly fall into a stupor, allowing it to easily be bagged.


Theories

Images of creatures resembling wolpertingers have been found in woodcuts and engravings dating back to the 17th century. Like the jackalope, the Wolpertinger is thought to have been inspired by sightings of wild rabbits infected with the Shope papilloma virus, which causes the growth of antler-like tumors in various places on the rabbit's head and body.


Art

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


See also


External links


Source

50x From Monstrous.com, the largest medium about monsters.