(The Conversation) — A folklorist explains the prehistoric origins of the mythical Easter Bunny and why this longstanding cultural symbol keeps returning each spring. (The Conversation ...

The Easter bunny came early this year for a few scientists ... The 26-pound (12-kilogram) prehistoric species was about six times bigger than the common European rabbit, found on most continents ...

Formed from prehistoric vegetation, the majority of these deposits are found in parts of Europe, North America, and Asia that were lush, tropically located regions during the Carboniferous.