>> I've always like the fact that rats and mice have tails that are convenient for "thumping". Tried that with a gerbil once. The gerbil went flying across the room, while all that remained in my hand was something that resembled a small, fuzzy, brown condom.

Ohhhh, I did that once when I had gerbils as a kid......ewwwww....
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0.1 Peruvian rainbow boa (Amaru)
2.0 Brazilian rainbow boas (TBA)
0.3 Honduran milksnakes (Chicchan, Chanir, Hari)
1.0 Thayeri kingsnake (TBA)
2.7 corns (Cetto, Tolosa, TBA)
1,000,000.1,000,000 other critters