Rabbits
Bucky & Cottonball
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Lagomorphs, not rodents
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Eastern cottontails are their wild cousins
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Herbivores
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Lagomorphs are one of the oldest mammalian groups
Domestic Ferrets
Buddy & Henry
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Domesticated over 2500 years ago in Europe
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Extremely flexible spine with 44 vertebrae
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Distant relative of Black footed ferret, one of North America's most endangered mammals
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Mustelid family (MD has 5 mustelid species)
Opossum
Vinnie
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North America's only marsupial
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Prehensile tail useful as safety line, but not to sleep hanging upside down
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Omnivore with varied diet
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4 opposable thumbs
Chinchilla
Ben, Smokey, & Max
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Herbivores
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Critically endangered in the wild
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In the rodent family
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Extremely soft fur with about 50 hairs per follicle