7 Legendary Creatures Crafted Through Taxidermy

In 1842, P. T. Barnum's American Museum in New York captivated audiences with a banner showcasing three alluring mermaids. However, the reality inside was far from enchanting—a bizarre hybrid of monkey and fish, its face contorted in a terrifying scream. Though not the first of its kind, Barnum’s so-called "Fiji mermaid" ignited a 19th-century craze. Today, remnants of these curiosities can be found in the British Museum in London and hidden within Ye Olde Curiosity Shop in Seattle.

Tales of hybrid animals and mythical beasts trace back to ancient times, but tangible proof has always been sought. Over the centuries, taxidermists have eagerly provided such evidence. From the North American jackalope to Iceland’s furry trout, the history of taxidermied mythical creatures is a fascinating blend of creativity and the macabre, often challenging belief and even deceiving seasoned naturalists.

1. JENNY HANIVER

If you’ve ever observed a ray or skate fish and noticed how its nostrils and mouth resemble a flat, human-like face, you’ve shared the same perspective as the creators of the jenny haniver. In the 1976 book Animal Fakes & Frauds, Peter Dance describes the jenny haniver as “a representation of the fearsome basilisk or cockatrice.” He notes that while the basilisk was initially portrayed as a venomous serpent, by the 13th century, it had transformed into a terrifying monster with additional bizarre traits. One such trait was its supposed origin from a perfectly round egg “laid by a seven-year-old rooster during the days of Sirius the dog star.”

These peculiar details provided ample inspiration for monster-makers. In 1558, Swiss naturalist Conrad Gessner featured a woodcut of a jenny haniver, noting that medicine sellers often “dried rays and shaped their skeletons into various fantastical forms.” The creation of jenny hanivers persisted into the 20th century; during his research, Dance even managed to purchase one from a shop in London’s Soho. Although conservation efforts have made their production and sale more challenging, they are still crafted occasionally today.

2. FUR-BEARING TROUT

How do fish endure freezing waters? Ignoring scientific biology, some folklore suggests that fish in icy climates develop fur. In the 2003 book The Beasts That Hide from Man: Seeking the World's Last Undiscovered Animals, Karl Shuker mentions a specimen in the Royal Museum of Scotland, labeled as caught in Lake Superior near Ontario. The label claimed its thick fur was an adaptation to "the extreme cold of the water."

The woman who donated the specimen was informed it was a hoax. No fish naturally grow fur; the fur-bearing trout is simply adorned with white rabbit fur. Yet, the myth persists, from the Icelandic Lodsilungur—said to be inedible and cursed by demons—to the allegedly furry trout of Montana. Interestingly, the North American version supposedly self-destructs when caught: A 1929 issue of Montana Wildlife explains that the temperature change upon removal from water "causes the fish to explode." However, there’s a grain of truth: The fungus Saprolegnia can cause fish to develop a cotton-like mold on their skin.

3. WHITE-RUSSIAN SHORE-MUDDLER

The Vitrysk Strandmuddlare, or White-Russian Shore-muddler, bears the scientific name Lirpa lirpa. Rearrange these words, and you’ll uncover a playful clue about this creature—a whimsical blend of a wild boar piglet’s head, alligator tusks, squirrel tail, and duck legs.

In The Impossible Zoo: An Encyclopedia of Fabulous Beasts and Mythical Monsters, Leo Ruickbie notes that the only taxidermied specimen, crafted in the 1960s, was "exhibited annually at the Natural History Museum in Göteborg, Sweden, every 1 April.” According to Dance, it was the brainchild of museum director Dr. Bengt Hubendick, designed to boost attendance, and the museum “reaped significant benefits from showcasing its most peculiar resident each year.”

4. BARE-FRONTED HOODWINK

In the 1950s, ornithologist Maury FJ Meiklejohn proposed that elusive birds with cryptic calls and indistinct plumage might belong to an undiscovered species. As Rachel Warren-Chadd and Marianne Taylor explain in Birds: Myth, Lore and Legend, the Bare-fronted Hoodwink was conceived as "an embodiment of all birds that evade clear identification by birdwatchers."

In a 1950 journal article, Meiklejohn named the species Dissimulatrix spuria, observing that it was most often spotted by novice birdwatchers. (Not everyone appreciated the humor: In a 1951 issue of Auk [PDF], H. G. Deignan criticized, "Such articles have no place in serious journals.") A taxidermy model, combining features of a crow, duck, and plover, was crafted by William Stirling and now resides in the collections of National Museums Scotland. It was displayed in 1975 alongside blurred photographs of the elusive bird.

5. JACKALOPE

A staple of postcards in the American West, the jackalope is a hybrid of a jackrabbit and an antelope. Its origin is often attributed to Douglas Herrick of Wyoming, who, in the 1930s, placed a hunted rabbit beside a pair of deer antlers—sparking the idea. This serendipitous pairing earned Douglas, Wyoming, the title "Home of the Jackalope," with the town issuing jackalope hunting licenses for one day each year.

While Herrick may have pioneered the taxidermied version, the concept of a horned rabbit predates American folklore. The Lepus cornutus appears in medieval texts, and a rabbit with antlers is depicted in Jan Brueghel’s 17th-century artwork "The Virgin and Child in a Painting surrounded by Fruit and Flowers." In a 2014 article for WIRED, Matt Simon explored the widespread imagery of jackalopes, revealing that in the 1930s, around the time Herrick was hunting, scientists discovered that the "horns" on some jackalopes were actually tumors caused by a virus. Remarkably, the papillomaviruses responsible—related to human HPV—originated in a 300-million-year-old ancestor shared by birds, mammals, and reptiles, proving reality can be stranger than fiction.

6. WOLPERTINGER

The wolpertinger takes the jackalope concept to the extreme. Featuring a rabbit’s head, a squirrel’s body, antlers, vampire-like fangs, and wings, this bizarre creature lacks a standardized design. It shares similarities with the skvader, a winged Swedish hare crafted in 1918 by taxidermist Rudolf Granberg.

At the German Hunting and Fishing Museum in Munich, visitors can view taxidermy “specimens” of these Bavarian legends. These wolpertingers are displayed in an alpine forest diorama, showcasing fangs, antlers, wings, duck feet, and other grotesque features. While the exact origins of the wolpertinger are murky, taxidermied versions date back to the 19th century. According to Germany's The Local, spotting one in the wild—allegedly born from unnatural unions between species—requires being "an attractive, single woman" who visits a Bavarian forest during a full moon with the "right man." A truly unique first-date experience.

7. WILD HAGGIS

Ever pondered the origins of haggis, Scotland’s most iconic and intimidating dish? Legend has it that you must first capture a wild haggis, a sausage-shaped creature with legs shorter on one side, perfectly adapted to navigate the steep slopes of the Scottish Highlands. Depending on which side is shorter, the haggis can allegedly only run in circles—either clockwise or counter-clockwise—making it easier to hunt by running in the opposite direction.

Of course, no such animal exists—haggis is made from sheep organs—but taxidermists have long amused themselves by tricking unsuspecting tourists. The Guardian reported that when haggis producer Hall's of Broxburn surveyed 1000 American visitors, 33 percent believed haggis was a real animal (and 23 percent claimed they could catch one). If you fall for this tale, you might just find yourself buying a haggis whistle from a crafty seller.