Skvader

The skvader is a legendary Swedish hybrid creature, first brought to life in 1918 by taxidermist Rudolf Granberg. This peculiar chimera—combining the forequarters and hind legs of a European hare (Lepus europaeus) with the back, wings, and tail of a female wood grouse (Tetrao urogallus)—is permanently displayed at the Norra Berget Museum in Sundsvall.

Over time, the skvader was humorously assigned a mock-Latin classification: Tetrao lepus pseudo-hybridus rarissimus. Beyond its mythical status, the term “skvader” has evolved into a catchphrase for any odd, mismatched fusion of two unrelated elements, often implying an awkward or less-than-ideal combination.