5 Shocking Truths About The 'Rabbits With Tentacles Virus' That Inspired The Jackalope Myth
The internet is currently buzzing about viral footage and photos of wild rabbits, particularly in North America, that appear to be sprouting grotesque, black, horn-like growths from their heads. The sensational term "rabbits with tentacles virus" has exploded in search trends, fueling a mix of fascination, fear, and confusion among wildlife enthusiasts and the general public as of December 19, 2025.
This bizarre phenomenon is not a new genetic mutation or a recent viral hoax. It is a real and well-documented disease caused by the Shope Papillomavirus (SPV), also known as the Cottontail Rabbit Papillomavirus (CRPV). While the growths are not true tentacles, their appearance is so bizarre that they have cemented their place in folklore, inspiring one of the most famous mythical creatures in North America: the jackalope.
The True Identity: Shope Papillomavirus (SPV)
The "tentacles" are actually large, keratinous tumors or warts that can appear anywhere on the rabbit's body, but most commonly on the face, head, and neck. The virus responsible is a specific type of papillomavirus, a family of viruses known for causing warts and tumors in many species, including humans.
The disease was first formally described in 1933 by American physician and animal pathologist Richard E. Shope, who isolated the virus from a cottontail rabbit (*Sylvilagus floridanus*) in Iowa. This discovery was groundbreaking, as it marked the first time a DNA tumor virus was identified, paving the way for decades of cancer research and an understanding of how viruses can cause tumors.
Key Facts About the Shope Papillomavirus
- Scientific Name: *Kappapapillomavirus 2*
- Common Names: Shope Papillomavirus (SPV), Cottontail Rabbit Papillomavirus (CRPV), Rabbit Horn Virus.
- Host Species: Primarily the Eastern Cottontail Rabbit (*Sylvilagus floridanus*).
- Symptoms: Cutaneous keratinous tumors (warts) that appear hard, black, and horn-like, often fusing together to resemble antlers or, as the viral trend suggests, tentacles.
- Transmission: Spread through direct contact with an infected rabbit or, more commonly, by biting insects like mosquitoes, ticks, and fleas that carry the virus from one host to another.
The Jackalope Connection: From Disease to Legend
The sight of a rabbit with large, protruding growths has been recorded for centuries, long before Dr. Shope's scientific discovery. This real-life affliction is widely considered the biological basis for the legendary jackalope, a mythical creature described as a jackrabbit with antelope horns or antlers.
The myth is particularly prevalent in the American West, where taxidermists and souvenir shops have long sold "jackalope" mounts, often created by affixing deer antlers to rabbit corpses. The enduring nature of the legend—a rabbit with horns—is a direct reflection of the shocking appearance of a cottontail infected with SPV.
Why the Growths Look Like 'Tentacles'
While the tumors are technically horns or warts, the recent "rabbits with tentacles" moniker stems from cases where the growths are particularly numerous, elongated, and clustered, often covering the rabbit's entire face. When the tumors cluster around the eyes, nose, and mouth, they can severely obstruct the rabbit's vision and ability to eat, which is where the true danger of the virus lies. These large, fused masses can tragically lead to starvation or vulnerability to predators, even though the virus itself is often benign in the early stages.
3 Critical Reasons This Virus Matters to Human Health
The Shope Papillomavirus is not just a curiosity of the animal kingdom; its discovery was a monumental step in human health research. While SPV is not known to infect humans, its close relationship to the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) makes it a crucial subject of study.
1. A Direct Link to Human Papillomavirus (HPV)
SPV and HPV are genetically similar, sharing significant homology. Research has shown that the Shope virus was the first DNA tumor virus ever discovered, providing the initial model for understanding how papillomaviruses cause cancer in humans.
Scientists have used the Shope rabbit model for decades to study viral oncogenesis—the process by which viruses turn normal cells into tumor cells. This research was foundational in developing our understanding of HPV, which is responsible for nearly all cases of cervical cancer and a significant number of other cancers, including anal, vaginal, penile, and oropharyngeal cancers.
2. The Role of Viral Oncoproteins E6 and E7
A major focus of both SPV and HPV research is on the viral oncoproteins, specifically E6 and E7. These proteins are produced by the virus and are responsible for hijacking the host cell's machinery to promote tumor growth. The SPV model helped scientists identify how these proteins function, which was a critical step in the development of the HPV vaccine.
Ongoing research, including studies mentioned as recently as 2024 and 2025, continues to use the Cottontail Rabbit Papillomavirus as an animal model to develop new therapies and vaccines against HPV-related cancers.
3. Prognosis and Impact on Rabbit Populations
For the infected rabbit, the prognosis depends entirely on the location and size of the tumors. In many cases, particularly in younger animals, the rabbit's immune system can clear the infection, and the tumors regress. However, if the tumors are large or located around the mouth (making it impossible to eat) or the eyes (rendering the rabbit blind), the infection is often fatal due to starvation or increased predation risk. The virus itself is rarely the direct cause of death; rather, it is the secondary effects of the massive growths.
Dispelling the 'Tentacles' Fear: What You Need to Know
While the photos and videos of Frankenstein bunnies with what look like black tentacles are deeply unsettling, experts stress that the Shope Papillomavirus is not a threat to humans or domestic pets.
The virus is highly species-specific, meaning it is adapted only to infect certain species of rabbits. There is no evidence of the virus causing disease in dogs, cats, or humans, even though the virus is related to the human HPV strains. The primary risk is to wild cottontail rabbit populations, where the virus is endemic.
In conclusion, the "rabbits with tentacles virus" is a sensationalized, modern nickname for the Shope Papillomavirus, a historic and scientifically critical disease. It is the real-life affliction that transformed a common rabbit into the mythical jackalope, and its study provided the foundation for our current understanding of viral-induced cancers, ultimately saving countless human lives through the development of the HPV vaccine.
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