This news story just passed by on a MUD I hang out on. The BBC news has a story reporting that Giant Gerbils Infest China.

The Great Gerbil found in many parts of Central Asia can be up to 400 millimetres (16 inches) long from head to tail.

With its short fur, it is the member of the family most resembling the rat.

Officials say the gerbils have damaged more than 4m hectares (11m acres) of grassland - about the size of Switzerland. [BBC News]

Damn. 16 inches. I remember having gerbils in the classroom when I was in gradeschool. Those were what, three, maybe four inches long? I remember getting one or two gerbil bites because of them being a little jumpy. If you got bit by one of these you might lose a finger!