If Michael Jordan were a rodent, he would undoubtedly be the Malagasy Giant Rat. Measuring a whopping 13 inches and jumping to heights of 3 feet when threatened, this species is a true one-of-a-kind - literally: it's the only extant species in the genus Hypogeomys.

Now, we know what you're thinking: a rat the size of a rabbit sounds like the stuff of nightmares. But hear us out: these giant jumping rats are a far cry from the dirty, subway-dwelling rodents that haunt your dreams.

Found exclusively in the Menabe region of Madagascar, the Malagasy Giant Rat is a hopeless romantic, sticking with their mate for life. Together, they create vast burrows up to 16 ft across, complete with as many as six entrances.