What is the smallest animal. The largest and smallest living creature on the planet

On Earth you can meet many animals that surprise every person with their size, external features and behavior. In addition to water giants, large mammals and ferocious predators, tiny representatives of the fauna also live in nature. Today we will highlight the TOP smallest animals in the world.

As the statistics say, many have never heard of many miniature creatures, and when they meet them, they take their breath away. Rating, we will pay attention to the inhabitants of reservoirs, forests and steppes, as well as the class of amphibians. Oddly enough, but unique individuals with incredibly small sizes are found in almost all classes of animals. We select representatives:

  • the organic world as a whole;
  • amphibians;
  • reptiles;
  • mammals;
  • birds;

The smallest animal in the organic world

If we take into account the little-studied organic world of wildlife, then mycoplasma will become its smallest representative. Although it is essentially impossible to call this creature an animal. This is just one of the varieties of living matter of the organic world, which is the simplest microscopic unicellular organism. Having studied the structure of such matter, scientists determined that her cell lacks a nucleus. It's hard to imagine how small mycoplasma is.

According to microbiologists, the size of such an organism rarely exceeds 0.8 microns and ranges from 0.3-0.8 microns. But despite this, the creature can significantly harm the human body, becoming the causative agent of diseases of the genitourinary, circulatory and immune systems.

The smallest amphibian

Few people know about the existence of a tiny frog Paedophrynewhose length is 7.7 mm. The largest individuals rarely reach 11.3 millimeters in length and, as a rule, they are females. The miniature animal has a brown color, so it is almost impossible to notice in the wild. especially on the grass, tree bark or foliage. Due to its tiny size, the frog received presacral vertebrae and a reduced number of fingers.

The frog was first found by American biologists during an expedition to New Guinea. The creation is several times smaller than the 100-cent coin of the United States of America, so it can easily fit on such a coin. The amphibian is considered the smallest animal belonging to the subtype of vertebrates.

The smallest representative suborder of lizards on Earth is the chameleon lesser brookesia. Its dimensions are 1-2 mm. There is a chameleon in the forests of Madagascar, although it is extremely difficult to find it among the foliage. It is known that such an animal has a unique ability to change the color of its skin in accordance with the colors of the environment.

Also on the list of the smallest reptiles is the Namaqualand tortoise, or as it is called the "Cape speck". If the largest turtles reach 200 kilograms of weight, then these individuals rarely weigh more than 160 kilograms. The average body weight of an adult varies between 95-165 kilograms with a body length of 6-10 centimeters. Females are always larger than males.

During the mating season, males become aggressive, and not only to other same-sex individuals, but also to females. Because of this, they often fight each other, bite and stab with the front edge of the shell.

The female goes to the winner, and after mating immediately lays tiny eggs in a dug hole. After four months, a newborn appears in the world, which weighs less than 5-8 grams. By the way, by weight, it is less than a quail egg, which reaches 10-12 g.

The miniature turtle can be found in South African regions, usually in dry forests and scrub savannahs. Currently, reptiles are listed in the Red Book as an almost extinct species. Until recently the tribes, inhabiting the Republic of South Africa, used these animals for medical purposes.

The smallest fish in the world

Compiling a rating of the smallest animals in the world, one cannot ignore the group of fish. According to the latest up-to-date information, there are two representatives of the group in the Guinness Book of Records. The first, called Paedocypris progenetica, belongs to the carp family and is found in the peat bogs of Indonesia. The second one (Photocorybus spiniceps) lives in tropical and subtropical waters of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans at depths of 1000 meters, where there is practically no sunlight. An adult reaches 7.9-10.3 millimeters.

Males are distinguished by unique spots between the eyes and on the crown. It is important to note that until the 21st century, scientists did not study the fauna of peat bogs, referring to the high acidity of the water, which prevents the formation of any life forms. However, in 2006 they managed to make an incredible discovery in the form of a tiny fish from the carp family. Such a surprise from nature has become a real phenomenon of the underwater world. The body length of the female reaches 5-7 centimeters, and the males - 6-9 millimeters.

The smallest mammals

In the list of the smallest mammals there are unique animals that may seem like a miniature copy of their larger counterparts or characters from a science fiction movie about other worlds. Due to their amazing size, these little animals freely climb plants, thin branches of trees and catch insects in the smallest depressions. Often their size is comparable to the size of a bumblebee.

So, let's highlight the smallest mammals that are found in the world.

dwarf couscous

And although pygmy couscous looks more like tiny chinchillas, it belongs to the marsupial family and is compared with kangaroos. The length of an adult couscous varies between 5-10 centimeters and weighs 10-45 grams.

Like other relatives, these tiny creatures are used to being nocturnal. Using a flexible tail, they calmly hang upside down from tree branches. The main range is Australia, Papua New Guinea and the islands of Indonesia. With the advent of winter cold, the animal forms a dense ball, and closing its eyes with its ears, it goes into hibernation. Due to the decrease in metabolism, there is no need for nutrition. For wintering, there is enough nutrients collected during the warm season, which are found in the sebaceous deposits of the tail.

American shrew mole

The length of this mammal reaches 6 centimeters, while the tail grows up to 2.5 cm. The tiny fluffy is found in the forests of the northwestern United States and in Canada, in places with high humidity.

The animal has a long, flat-tipped snout, characteristic of other moles, and sharp claws that allow it to quickly dig deep tunnels underground. Unlike relatives leading an underground lifestyle, these miniature moles often come to the surface of the earth in search of food. They often prey on insects by climbing bushes and plants.

Etruscan mouse shrew

The weight of an adult Etruscan shrew mouse is 2 grams. The body length is 3.5 centimeters, while the tail reaches 1/3 of the body length.

The mouse stands out with an impressive appetite, because. she is able to eat a lot of food, about twice her weight. And this is every day. Also, the crumbs are characterized by an increased heart rate, about 25 heart beats per second or 1500 beats per minute. For example, the human heart makes 72-80 beats per minute.

Most often, the Etruscan mouse is found in the wet fields of southern Europe, North Africa and the Middle East.

The smallest birds

Among the smallest birds in the world, the following types can be distinguished:

  • Cuban bird-bee - hummingbird. It is considered the smallest bird in the world and the smallest warm-blooded animal. The length of an adult male from beak to tail hardly reaches 5 centimeters. Females are slightly larger, although when compared to butterflies or beetles, they still seem like real crumbs. The size of the bird is slightly larger than the size of a bee, due to which the hummingbird began to be called the “bird-bee”. The distinctive features of the hummingbird are the incredible speed of the flapping of wings, which reaches 80 times per second, the bright color of shiny feathers and the sharp beak - a tool for extracting flower nectar.
  • Korolki. They are found in the forests of the Russian Federation and are considered the smallest songbirds in the world. They can only live in the wild, so any attempt to keep them in a cage leads to the death of the chicks. The bird needs a constant search for food in the form of larvae, small insects and their eggs. You can’t feed the beetle with anything, because. his diet should be balanced. The body length of the beetle reaches nine centimeters, and the weight is 5-6 grams.
  • Wrens are another species of the smallest birds in the world, which reach 10.7 centimeters in length. These birds differ from the aforementioned kinglets only in body weight. These little ones feed on spiders and other small insects. They live in Russia.

Have you ever wondered which animal is the smallest in the world? Then you have come to the right place. Some animals are so small that you just won't believe your eyes. From frogs to horses, different types of animals around the world have been treated unfairly. Even more interesting is the fact that scientists and researchers discovered many of these animals quite recently. We'll make you wonder what other little creatures might be lurking around. I wonder what miniature animals we dug up? Here are 25 smallest animals in the world that you won't believe exist.

25. Chihuahua

Everyone knows that Chihuahuas are tiny, but you can't even imagine how tiny they can be. The Guinness Book of Records named the Chihuahua Milly the smallest dog in the world. It reaches 9.6 cm in height, which is approximately the height of stilettos.

24. Dwarf rabbit


Photo: WikipediaCommons.com

The pygmy rabbit is the smallest and rarest rabbit in the world. On average, their size can be from 22.8 to 27.9 cm, and they weigh just under 500 g.

23. Dwarf marmoset


Photo: Pixabay.com

While the pygmy rabbit is the smallest rabbit in the primate world, the pygmy marmoset rules like a tiny queen. These animals live in South America and look like a squirrel, if not for the head. They are so small that they can fit in a human hand. The weight of a marmoset is usually 90-150 g, and the height is only about 15 cm.

22. Chameleon Lesser Brookesia (Brookesia Micra)


Photo: commons.wikimedia.org

Found on the island of Madagascar, the Lesser Brookesia chameleon is the smallest chameleon ever found. It is so small that it can easily fit on a match head or the tip of a person's index finger.

21. Miniature horse



Photo: WikipediaCommons.com

Miniature horses can reach the size of an average dog. The smallest horse in the world was called Thumbelina, it was a miniature brown mare with a height of only 44.5 cm. It was officially entered into the Guinness Book of Records in 2006.


Photo: WikipediaCommons.com

Scientists have discovered the smallest lizard in the world in the Dominican Republic. The species is called sphaerodactylus ariasae and such a lizard can comfortably curl up on a US dime. Its length reaches less than 16 millimeters.


Photo: Pixabay.com

According to the Guinness Book of Records, the smallest cat was found in Taylorville, Illinois. The male Himalayan-Persian blue point named Tinker Toy, reaching adulthood, reached 7 cm in height and 19 cm in length.

18. Pygmy Lantern Shark


Photo: en.wikipedia.org

The pygmy lantern shark is rare because it swims about 439 m below the ocean surface off the coast of South America. Very little is known about her. We know that these fish are small enough to fit in a human hand.

17. Etruscan shrew


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The Etruscan shrew is not only the smallest shrew, but also the smallest mammal by weight. They usually weigh less than 2 grams and reach a length of 4 cm. But, despite the fact that they are small, they have an excellent appetite, and twice a day they eat a volume of food comparable in weight to their own weight.

16. Royal Antelope


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Found in the rainforests of Ghana and Sierra Leone, the Royal Antelope is the smallest antelope in the world at around 25 cm tall and weighing around 2.5 kg. It is extremely rare to meet her because of her secretive nocturnal lifestyle.

15. Pig-nosed bat (bumblebee bat)


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The pig-nosed bat boasts two achievements. This is not only the smallest bat, but also the smallest mammal. On average, they grow to about 33 mm and weigh only 2 grams.

14. The smallest seahorse


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Marine biologists have discovered the world's smallest seahorse in the Western Pacific. Known as Hippocampus denise, they were first mistaken for baby seahorses. Typically, such a seahorse reaches a length of only 16 mm.

13. Motley turtle


Photo: commons.wikimedia.org

The Speckled Padloper Tortoise is, you guessed it, the smallest turtle in the world. Measuring just 7cm in males and 10cm in females, these little creatures can be found crawling slowly along paths in South Africa.


Photo: commons.wikimedia.org

The smallest cow in the world is called Manikyam. Although it won't fit in the palm of your hand, it's about as small as cows can get. At just 61.5 cm tall, the little cow is considered a pet in the family to which it belongs.

11. Frog Paedophryne Amauensis


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The brownie-sized frog, Paedophryne Amauensis, is the smallest known vertebrate. It averages about 7.7 millimeters and looks like a tiny speck on a US dime.

10 Pygmy Mouse Lemur


Photo: WikipediaCommons.com

Living in Madagascar, the Pygmy mouse lemur weighs only about 60 g. Its body length, including its head, is approximately 5 cm. However, the tail is twice as long as the body.


Photo: pixino.com

One of the smallest species of salamander is Thorius Arboreus, found exclusively in Mexico. The length of this salamander, together with a wide head, is 17 millimeters. Unfortunately, they are under threat of extinction due to agricultural activities and deforestation.

8 Samoan Moss Spider


Photo: Pxhere.com

We all know that spiders can be quite small, not to mention terrifyingly gigantic, but in this case, the Samoan Moss was recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records as the smallest spider in the world. Its size reaches only 0.3 mm.

7 California porpoise


Photo: WikipediaCommons.com

The California porpoise is the smallest marine mammal in the world, but unfortunately it is endangered due to illegal fishing. These tiny cetaceans average 1m in length. Recently, only thirty individuals are known to be left in the wild, a 97% decrease from the year before these data were taken.

6. The smallest snake



Photo: WikipediaCommons.com

The smallest snake in the world was discovered on the island of Barbados. Measuring just 10 cm in length, this rare snake is a type of threadsnake and is as thin as spaghetti. Unfortunately, much of her habitat has been destroyed by farms and buildings.

5. Paedocypris fish


Photo: commons.wikimedia.org

The Paedocypris fish is the smallest vertebrate in the world. From head to tail, it reaches a length of about 7.9 mm and can comfortably fit on a human finger. But, this is not the only interesting fact about her. Fish can swim and live in very acidic water.

4. Hummingbird - bee


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Hummingbird - a bee lives on the island of Cuba. It is the smallest bird in the world, weighing only 2 grams. Her eggs are the size of coffee beans and her nest is the size of a quarter. Because of its size, it has to compete with insects rather than other birds.

3 Smooth-fronted Dwarf Caiman


Photo: WikipediaCommons.com

The smooth-fronted pygmy caiman swims up and down the waters of South America looking for vertebrates to drag underwater and eat. While their length of 1 meter may not cause fear, they are quite dangerous.

2. Longtail planigal


Photo: australianwildlife.org

The long-tailed planigal looks like a tiny rat, but is actually the smallest marsupial in the world. The animal reaches a length of 5.5 cm, and its tail is usually the same length, or slightly longer. Planigals live mainly in the grasslands of Northern Australia.

1. Dwarf three-toed jerboa


Photo: shutterstock

It looks like a cotton ball with two eyes and giant legs, but, in fact, the Pygmy Three-toed Jerboa is the smallest rodent in the world. It weighs less than a gram, and its body length is 4 cm. Be careful, look at it longer, and you may want to take this cute creature to your home.

The smallest animal in the world - what is it? To answer this question in more detail, you need to understand what kind of representative will be discussed. The systematics and classification of living organisms on Earth is a loose concept: mammals have their own babies, and insects, reptiles, amphibians and fish have their own. Everything is relative here. That is why several champions should be considered at once.

Who is the smallest in the world?

The smallest animal in organic

If we consider the organic world of wildlife as a whole, then the most miniature creature is the so-called mycoplasma. By the way, it cannot be called an animal either. This is one of the types of living matter of the organic world, which is the simplest unicellular organism. Microbiologists have studied this matter and have come to the conclusion that its cell does not even have a nucleus! So much a being. The size of these protozoa ranges from 0.3 to 0.8 microns. Despite its tiny size, mycoplasma is quite capable of causing serious harm to human health. The fact is that this microbe is the causative agent of the disease, leading to complications of the genitourinary, circulatory and immune systems.

The smallest amphibian in the world

Baby among bats

The pig-nosed bat is the smallest animal among bats. It is almost impossible to meet this creature in nature, because it leads a carefully hidden lifestyle. The body length of this baby is only 3 cm, and its weight is about 2 g. Such dimensions make it easy to confuse this bat with insects. The nose of this creature resembles a pig's snout, and the head is large and occupies a third of the entire length of the calf. Its wings are relatively wide and long. The pig-nosed bat has a gray or brown body color with a light belly.

miniature shrew

If we continue talking about the smallest mammals on our planet, then in second place after the pig-nosed bat is the Etruscan shrew, or pygmy shrew. The maximum length of her body does not exceed 5 cm, and her weight is 1.8 g. The shrew is a very mobile and active creature with an increased metabolism. This causes her to eat twice her own weight in food! Unfortunately, at present, miniature pygmy shrews are under the threat of complete extinction in some countries.

The smallest reptile

The smallest animals on Earth are truly amazing creatures! They are almost impossible to see in the wild with the naked eye. But as soon as you look at them, a feeling of tenderness and simultaneous joy for these crumbs involuntarily appears. Photos of animals are presented in our article. One of these creatures is a miniature chameleon called lesser brookesia. Its scientific name is Brookesia minima. The smallest lizard on our planet reaches a length of no more than 1.2 cm. This charm lives in the tropics of Madagascar, but it is not so easy to see this chameleon! The fact is that he, like all other chameleons on Earth, is able to skillfully disguise himself: the chameleon changes the color of its skin, merging with the environment.

Miniature jellyfish and baby fish

The smallest jellyfish in the world lives in the waters of the Pacific Ocean (near the coast of Australia). The scientists who discovered this species christened it. Outwardly, it resembles a white translucent bell, and its dimensions do not exceed 25 mm (tentacles - from 1 mm to 1 m!). Despite the fact that this jellyfish is a baby, it is capable of paralyzing or even killing a person: the composition of the poison of this creature has not yet been fully studied, which means that a certain antidote has not been invented either. The smallest fish on Earth is unanimously recognized as a fish called Paedocypris progenetica. Its favorite habitats are peat bogs, sewage streams and quiet backwaters. You can meet this creature in Indonesia. The females of these fish do not exceed a length of 10.2 mm. Scientists have classified these creatures as a species belonging to the family of carp fish.

Little beautiful animals of Russia

Our country also has its own miniature creatures, which it is simply impossible to keep silent about. For example, among birds, the body length of this bird does not exceed 10 cm, and its weight is 10 g. Despite its small size, from afar this bird resembles a sparrow. Russian ornithologists involved in the statistical data of birds noted the yellow-headed beetle as a fairly rare species on the territory of our country. You can mainly meet him in the Krasnodar Territory. The smallest fox in Russia is the Korsak. The length of this animal is 50 cm, and the height at the withers is 30 cm. Korsak lives in the southern regions of Tatarstan, as well as in the European part of Russia up to Volgograd. Photos of the animals described in this paragraph are not presented within the framework of this article.

Most of the "world's smallest animals" live in isolated areas, such as the island of Madagascar, on the southeast coast of Africa and others. But now, when there are practically no white spots left on the world map, these babies are endangered due to human activity.

And knowing these animals is our first step in order to appreciate their uniqueness, their beauty and charm (or, as it is fashionable to say now, cuteness), and most importantly, their functionality within the ecosystem in which they live. And, of course, to do everything in our power to save these unique animals.

These are some of the smallest animals on our planet, living in various parts of it. I hope they charm you with their miniature charm.

1. Pygmy monkey

The pygmy marmoset lives in the Amazon rainforests of Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. This is the smallest monkey on Earth. Even in adulthood, its weight does not exceed 100 grams, and its size does not exceed 35 cm. It lives on average 12 years. It feeds on the juices of some plants, fruits and insects.

2. Brookesia

Brookesia is a lizard from the chameleon family. Brookesia micro lives on the island of Nosy Hara north of Madagascar and was first described by scientists only in 2012. This is the smallest representative of the reptile order on Earth, which barely reaches a length of 2.5 cm. Brookesia is difficult to detect among the foliage, as it completely merges with it in color.

3. Philippine tarsier

The Philippine tarsier is one of the smallest representatives of primates and lives in a very small area of ​​the Philippines, on the islands of Bohol, Samara, Leyte, Mindanao. This nocturnal resident sleeps all day in small hollows and depressions in trees and shrubs, and at night goes hunting for insects. The size of an adult Philippine tarsier barely reaches 10 cm, and they weigh only 110-130 grams. The bulging eyes of these nocturnal inhabitants are larger in size than their stomach and are the largest in relation to body size among mammals. Females carry their cubs for 6 months and they are born with a weight of approximately 23 grams. Therefore, the embryos of this species are recognized as the slowest growing among mammals.

4. Pig-nosed bat

The pig-nosed bat, or as it is also called the bumblebee mouse, is by far the smallest representative of the order of bats and one of the smallest mammals in the world. The body length of this bat is about 3 cm, weight does not exceed 2 grams, but the wingspan can reach 15 cm!
The bumblebee mouse lives in the karst caves of Thailand, the province of Kanchanaburi and in southeastern Burma. At night, they fly out of their caves to hunt for insects in the thickets of bamboo and teak trees.

5. Carp Paedocypris

The Paedocypris carp is the world's smallest fish known today. This type of carp was discovered in the swamps of Sumatra in 2006. The scientific name of this fish is Paedocypris progenetica. In adulthood, it barely reaches 8 mm in size. Has a transparent skull of an unusual shape, exposing the brain.

It feeds mainly on plankton and, according to scientists, is endangered due to the destruction of Indonesian wetlands for palm oil plantations. It lives in the swamps of the islands of Sumatra and Borneo.

6. Tetracheilostoma carlae

Tetracheilostoma carlae is the smallest snake known to date on Earth, belongs to the family of narrow-mouthed snakes. The smallest snake in the world was discovered on the Caribbean island of Barbados in August 2008 and is so thin that it resembles spaghetti. In adulthood, it reaches 10 cm, the female lays only 1 egg, the cub is born 5 cm in size. It feeds mainly on ant larvae and other insects.

7. Bee Hummingbird

This miniature hummingbird is the smallest bird on our planet. True, to be more precise, the males of this species, since the females are slightly larger.

The bee hummingbird is an endemic from the island of Cuba, weighs about 1.8 grams, and has a body length of 5 cm. They are so tiny that they can easily be confused with insects. The eggs that this type of hummingbird lays are smaller than a coffee bean. The human retina cannot catch its 80 rapid wing beats per second.

8. Seahorse Denise

Denise's seahorse is no bigger than a human fingernail. Its length from the snout to the tip of the tail is about 1.6 cm. It is so small that scientists previously considered it to be a cub of other species. Therefore, as a new species, it was described only in 2003. The tiny seahorse lives in the western part of the Pacific Ocean at a depth of 13 to 90 meters (Southeast Asia).

These beautiful creatures are one of the most well-camouflaged species in the ocean and are very hard to spot among the corals they live on, known as gorgonians.

A feature of these seahorses is the fact that their fathers carry their cubs. Yes Yes! You read it right: males get pregnant and carry from 10 to a thousand fry. But even more surprising is that the males of this species, having given birth to offspring, become pregnant again after 1-2 days.

9. Mountain Frog Iberia Eleut

This little creature was discovered in one of the mountains of Cuba. The discovered specimens reach 8.5 mm in size: this is the smallest amphibian on the planet and the smallest animal with 4 legs. It is under the threat of extinction, since its habitat is only 100 km2 and for many years it has been deforested for agriculture. But now this territory is taken under protection by the Alexander Humboldt National Park. Nevertheless, deforestation continues.

10 Mouse Lemur

The mouse lemur, whose length from head to tip of the tail does not exceed 27 cm, is officially recognized as the smallest primate on Earth.

They live in the forests of Madagascar and are nocturnal, which is why it is so difficult to see them in the crowns of trees. Scientists have described 8 varieties of this lemur. Due to deforestation, they are endangered.

Traveling the world with Elena Vivas

TOP small animals

When compiling the rating of the smallest animals, attention was paid to amphibians, representatives of water bodies, and inhabitants of forests and steppes.

The smallest frog

The miniature frog, which is only 7.7 millimeters long, is called Paedophryne. The largest individuals reach a length of 11.3 millimeters. In this case, the female is always much larger.

These frogs have a brown color, due to which they are practically invisible on the ground, among the foliage and on the bark of trees. Such a small size could not but affect the structure of the body of the animal. We are talking about a reduced number of fingers and presacral vertebrae.

The smallest chameleon

The smallest lizard on the planet, whose length is one centimeter two millimeters, was called the chameleon small brookesia. The scientific name is Brookesia minima.


It can be found in the rainforests of Madagascar, although it is not so easy to see. The fact is that the skin of a chameleon is able to change color, adjusting to the colors of the environment.

The smallest jellyfish

Another tiny creature of the planet is the Irukandji jellyfish. It looks like a white, almost transparent bell. The dimensions of this "baby" are twenty-five by twelve millimeters. Tentacles can be from one millimeter to a meter.


However, not only the tiny size of the jellyfish interested scientists. It turned out that this small animal can kill or paralyze a person. The poison is still not fully understood, so there is no antidote.

smallest mammal

From three to four and a half centimeters - the length of the pygmy multitooth, which is the smallest mammal on the planet. It weighs less than two grams.


The polytooth (or the baby shrew, or the pygmy shrew, or the baby polytooth, or the Etruscan shrew) looks like a tiny common shrew. However, the manytooth is a predator. It is useful, because, eating insects, it destroys pests.

The smallest deer

Speaking of deer, a large animal immediately appears. However, there is a deer that is about the size of a small dog. Its name is northern pudu. The height of the animal at the withers is only thirty to forty centimeters.

Deer antlers are very small, so height is not affected. In males, they are slightly visible, in females they are completely covered with wool. You can meet this wonderful deer in the south of Chile and the island of Chilos, although this is not easy, as the animals prefer to lead a secretive lifestyle.


Even bears are small. For example, Biruang has a height of about one and a half meters. .

Little animals of Russia

Russia has its smallest inhabitants. Among the birds, one of the smallest is the yellow-headed kinglet. There is a bright yellow spot on the head of this bird. Despite its small size, from a distance, the kinglet looks like a sparrow. The length of his body is no more than ten centimeters with a mass of up to ten grams. And the red-headed kinglet weighs about five grams, its length does not exceed nine centimeters. This is a fairly rare bird species in Russia. It is occasionally found in the Pskov and Kaliningrad regions, as well as in the Krasnodar Territory.


Among chickens, the smallest birds are quails. The mass of this bird does not exceed one hundred grams. In Russia, they inhabit fields, steppes, glades, meadows and edges.

A small fox is called a corsac. Its length is only fifty centimeters, and the height at the shoulders is thirty centimeters. Korsak is distributed in the European part to Volgograd, as well as in the southern regions of Tatarstan.


The smallest mammal in Russia is the pygmy shrew. Its weight is less than three grams, and its body length varies from three and a half to four and a half centimeters.

The smallest creature on earth

Kitty's pig-nosed bat is the world's smallest animal. She is from Thailand. Its length varies from two centimeters nine millimeters to three centimeters three millimeters, and its weight does not exceed two grams.

This mouse belongs to the order Chiroptera. The pig-nosed mouse was first discovered in 1973 by a Thai biologist. In size, this animal is inferior to many insects. This little bat is rivaled only by the pygmy shrew.


The nose of a pig-nosed mouse resembles a piglet. The color is gray or brown with a reddish tinge. They live exclusively in the southwest of Thailand in the Sai Yok National Park. The animals spend the day in small groups in the caves of the limestone hills. In the evenings, in a group of up to five individuals, they hunt, while not moving away from the places of daylight hours by more than a kilometer. Their main food is insects, which mice remove directly from the foliage. The number of these tiny bats is extremely small. Today, the population is about five hundred individuals.

The dwarf shrew Savi also belongs to the smallest animals on Earth. Among land mammals, this shrew is the smallest. It weighs from one and a half to two and a half grams. It is also the most voracious creature in the world, eating about two to four times its weight in a day. The shrew Savi also has the highest heart rate among animals. Animals live in North Africa, Southern Europe, Transcaucasia, Asian countries. It can be found in the Moscow region, Primorsky Krai, in the Baikal region and in the Urals.
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