Which are the cutest tiny animals in the world?
Interestingly, some of Earth’s smallest animals measure just a few millimeters. Can you imagine how it would be to hold a tiny one like that? While most of the animals that live on this planet are way larger than us humans, there are a lot of other species that are rarely seen in the wild. Are you curious about who they are and how they manage to survive daily?
Then buckle up because we have a long road ahead full of cuteness and adventure. And trust me when I say that you’ll find yourself “aww-ing” a lot during the lecture! Here are 12 tiny animals on the planet, ranging in size from a tiny chameleon to a pygmy monkey.
1. Electric blue gecko
One of the first tiny animals from the list is the adorable electric blue gecko. The typical adult gecko is just 3 inches long and is widely known as turquoise or electric blue gecko even if its real name is Williams’dwarf gecko. I know it looks cute, but having them as pets isn’t legal since several species that are unique in Tanzania are endangered.
2. Etruscan shrew
The 0.04–0.1 oz Etruscan shrew, also called the White-toothed Pygmy Shrew and Etruscan Pygmy Shrew, is a small rodent. That makes it the smallest mammal in the world in terms of weight, although the bumblebee bat beats it out in terms of length at 1.4–2 in (36–53 mm).
The Etruscan shrew is not without its characteristics, however; in comparison to all other creatures, its brain is the largest and even greater than a human’s! Wow, that’s interesting to know about.
3. Pygmy rabbit
Now, it’s time to release all the “awws”! The tiniest rabbits in the world are called pygmy rabbits; they weigh under a pound and are just nine to twelve inches long. Typically found in deep-soil parts of North America, they may burrow into the tall, thick sagebrush for food and cover. Wide, frequently used runways offer paths through sage thickets and serve as escape routes for predators.
This species is exclusive to Washington State and is considered endangered.
Some cute and tiny animals can be kept as pets, so if you are brave enough to adopt one, you might want to know extra information about how to take care of it. The Ultimate Encyclopedia of Small Pets and Pet Care is a full guide to pet keeping that is reader-friendly and costs only $16.99 on Amazon.
4. Paedophryne amanuensis frog
This is probably one of the most interesting and tiny creatures on the list! This frog can fit on a dime since it is so little, roughly the size of a housefly. At a little 7.7 millimeters in length, it is the tiniest vertebrate known to science.
5. Philippine tarsier
When it comes to tiny animals, tarsiers are among the cutest. Similar to marmosets, they measure around 9–16 cm (3.5–6 inches) long, excluding their tails, which are about twice that length. In the Philippines, especially in the southeast of the country, the Philippine tarsier is common. This tarsier is a cautious, nocturnal animal that likes to dwell alone in thick foliage.
Tarsiers may be tiny animals, but one of their most notable characteristics is their big goggling eyes, which are processed by a vast visual cortex in their tiny brain.
6. Pygmy seahorse
Aww, these pygmy seahorses are so tiny and adorable, you won’t believe they’re real! They were discovered by biologists in 2017, and this is mostly because they can camouflage perfectly in their thriving environment.
Who knows what tiny animals are somewhere in the world undiscovered yet?
7. Fennec fox
Who likes foxes? Let me see your hands! I am certainly a huge fan of these tiny animals. Fennec foxes are just the gnome version of regular foxes. They are nocturnal to adapt to the desert conditions and their huge ears aid in radiating body heat. That’s neat!
8. Chihuahua
Among all these tiny animals, we couldn’t leave out the Chihuahuas because everybody adores them. And what’s not to love about them, honestly? Sometimes you can’t even tell if somebody is carrying one of these miniature pets in a purse since they are extremely small.
Chihuahuas typically weigh 2.5–4.5 pounds and stand 5-8 inches tall; however, individual dogs may weigh less or more. Standard Chihuahuas shouldn’t weigh more than six pounds in general. Chihuahuas can grow for an additional several months after turning 12 months old, up to about 18 months.
D’aww!
9. Bumblebee bat
The tiniest bat is the Kitti’s Hog-nosed Bat, also known as the Bumblebee Bat, which is native to Thailand and Burma. Its length ranges from 1.1 to 1.6 inches (30 to 40 mm), and its weight is about 0.05 to 0.07 ounces (1.5 to 2 g).
With a nose that resembles a pig, it is around the size of a bumblebee (the connection with its nickname). It is found in limestone caverns among rivers; a single cave may support up to 100 individuals on average.
10. Slender blind snakes
Finally, a snake species that isn’t huge enough to kill us! This isn’t a fairytale, because slender, blind snakes are real and are one of the tiniest animals on the list. Their length is about 4.3 inches, and they are luckily not interested in biting humans or other animals.
These are blind, burrow-dwelling, non-venomous snakes that eat termites and ants. The majority of species discard the skin of insects after sucking out their contents. According to research, a total of 87 distinct species of slender blind snakes may be found in Africa, Asia, North and South America, and Africa.
11. Royal antelope
When we say “royal,” we usually associate it with something greater and bigger, but that’s not the case with this little cutie. The world’s tiniest antelope, being about 10 inches tall and weighing less than seven pounds, is the royal antelope.
Living in the jungles of Ghana and Sierra Leone, this adorable tiny critter is nocturnal, so your chances of spotting one are quite low, but if you are lucky enough to see one, snap a quick picture, and you know to keep it as a memory. You might not be that fortunate next time!
12. Pygmy marmoset
The tiniest monkey in the world is the Cebuella pygmaea, often known as the Pygmy Marmoset or Dwarf Monkey. It is indigenous to the canopies of the rainforests of Bolivia, Ecuador, Peru, Brazil, and Columbia. They are quite little, weighing only 0.5 oz (15 g) at birth, and their body length, not counting the tail, is 5.5–6.3 in (14–16 cm).
13. Mouse lemur
To stay on the same page with tiny animals, we must include lemurs on it. Madame Berthe’s Mouse Lemur (Microcebus berthae) holds the distinction of being the tiniest known animal, despite the pygmy marmoset possibly being the smallest monkey. 3.6 inches in length and about 1 oz in weight, lemurs were discovered in the Kirindy Mitea National Park in Western Madagascar.
Which one of these tiny animals is your favorite? Tell us in the comments.
If you enjoyed reading about tiny animals, we have another surprise for you: 7 Perfectly Timed Photos Proving the Power of Mother Nature. Fun is guaranteed!
