 | |
| Creature information | |
|---|---|
| Other name(s) | Oibadrischl Raurackl Rammeschucksn |
| Grouping | popular folklore |
| Similar entities | Jackalope |
| Folklore | German folklore |
| Origin | |
| Country | |
| Region | Bavarian Alps |
| Habitat | Forests |
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InGerman folklore, aWolpertinger (German:[ˈvɔlpɐtɪŋɐ], also calledWolperdinger orWoiperdinger) is an animal said to inhabit thealpine forests ofBavaria andBaden-Württemberg inSouthern Germany.[1]
Images of creatures that may be Wolpertingers have been found in woodcuts and engravings dating back to the 17th century, though they might be images of rabbits infected by theShope papilloma virus which causes tumors that can resemble horns or antlers.[2] The origin of the name is unclear, but may come fromglassmakers from the village ofWolterdingen who madeschnapps glasses shaped like animals, which they called "Wolterdinger."[3] The Wolpertinger myth has increased in popularity over the past two centuries because of taxidermies created by Bavarian taxidermists in the 1800s for fun and to sell to tourists as "local wildlife."[4]
It has a body comprising various animal parts – generally wings, antlers, a tail, and fangs; all attached to the body of a small mammal. The most widespread description portrays the Wolpertinger as having the head of arabbit, the body of asquirrel, the antlers of adeer, and the wings and occasionally the legs of apheasant.[3] No two Wolpertinger look alike because they are supposed the result of crossbreeding between animals in the area such as foxes, roebucks, hares, ducks, and pheasants.[4]
According to folklore, Wolpertingers can be found in the forests of Bavaria. The folklore states that Wolpertingers only show themselves to beautiful maidens on a full moon if they are taken into secluded parts of the Bavarian forests by the right man.[3][4][5]
Stuffed "Wolpertingers", composed of parts of real animals that have been stuffed, are often displayed in inns or sold to tourists as souvenirs in the animal's "native regions". TheDeutsches Jagd- und Fischereimuseum inMunich, Germany features a permanent exhibit on the creature.[3][4]
It resembles other creatures from German folklore, such as theRasselbock of theThuringian Forest, the Dilldapp of theAlemannic region, and theElwedritsche of thePalatinate region, which accounts describe as a chicken-like creature with antlers; additionally, the AmericanJackalope as well as the SwedishSkvader somewhat resemble the wolpertinger. The Austrian counterpart of the Wolpertinger is theRaurakl.[3]
Variant regional spellings of the name include Wolperdinger, Woipertingers, and Volpertinger.[5] They are part of a larger family of horned mammals that exist throughout the Germanic regions of Europe, such as the Austrian Raurackl, which is nearly identical to the German Wolpertinger.[2]
Media related toWolpertinger at Wikimedia Commons
