List of 10 Smallest Animals from all over the World
It is said that all good things come in little packages. There are some magnificent tiny creatures that exist in this world, with whom we are not very familiar. They are unique in their own way and possess remarkable beauty. However, since they are so small, everything around them is a likely threat, so the fact that they manage to survive is indeed amazing. Nature really is amazing and we should do our best to preserve it just the way it is, or else, the forthcoming generations will only read about tiny creatures that once walked the Earth, instead of actually being able to see the wonders of nature.
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Bee Hummingbird
Native to Cuba, Bee Hummingbird is the smallest and the lightest known living bird in the world. These birds are about two and a half inches long. Because of its small size, it is often mistaken for a honey bee, and that is why it is known as ‘Bee Hummingbird’. They are of same weight as that of a small coin and lay the world’s smallest eggs. They survive on the nectar obtained from flowers. They can flap their wings more than a hundred times a minute which produces a soft humming sound. Hummingbirds are famous for their unique ability to fly backwards and upside down!
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Chihuahua
Chihuahuas are generally known as the world’s smallest dog breed. These toy dogs enjoy immense popularity around the world as arm candies. They are adorably portable and can even be carried in a small purse. They are about 6 to 9 inches tall and weigh between 1-4 kilograms. Bred with either short or long hair, Chihuahuas come in more than 30 different colors and varieties. The ‘Teacup Chihuahuas’ are the ‘extra small’ Chihuahuas and as the name suggests, they can easily fit in a teacup. However, these little dogs come at an exorbitant price, starting from 50 thousand rupees to 4 lakh rupees.
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Pygmy Marmoset Monkey
The pygmy marmoset monkeys are miniature monkeys that grow only to about 6 inches in size and look like the country cousins of squirrels. Because of their small size, they are also known as ‘finger monkeys’ or ‘pocket monkeys’. These monkeys are mainly found in South America. This is the cutest breed of monkeys and their tiny size makes kids love them. However, to keep them as pets, legal permission is required and they are not available in pet stores. These monkeys feed primarily on tree sap or ‘gum’, but they also love to eat fruits and small animals such as insects and spiders.
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Paedocypris Fish
Paedocypris fish is a tiny fish found in Southeast Asia that grows about 1/3 of an inch, which is roughly the size of a big mosquito. These fish are known for their unique ability to survive even in highly acidic water. These fish are so sturdy that they can survive in vinegar as well. They hold the world record for being the smallest vertebrate (animals with a backbone). These fish look like small larvae and are mostly transparent.
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Brookesia Micra Chameleon
Brookesia micra is believed to be the smallest chameleon in the world. This chameleon grows to 1.1 inches in length and as such can literally fit on the head of a matchstick. Isn’t it amazing to know that there are reptiles out there smaller than a lot of insects? Baby Brookesia micra can easily walk on the nail of an adult human fingertip. If you wish to hold one in your hand, book a flight to Madagascar Island!
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Bumblebee Bat
Bumblebee bats or Kitty’s hog nosed bats are the smallest bats and are found in Thailand. The bumblebee bat received its name because it only grows up to the size of an adult bee. It is also recognized as the smallest known mammal. Owing to the large scale deforestation and industrialization, today the bumblebee bat’s existence is endangered. People capture this little bat for display and sell them for money. Because of all the above stated facts, there is a slim chance you would get a glimpse of this small, delicate creature one-on-one.
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Barbados Threadsnake
Found in the Caribbean islands of Barbados, Barbados threadsnake is the tiniest snake known to man. Though it is known as ‘threadsnake’, a more apt name for it would be ‘spaghetti snake’ because it is just as thick as a spaghetti noodle, not thread! It grows to about 4 inches and can coil easily onto a coin of one rupee. These miniscule reptiles are non-venomous and feed on ants, termites and their larvae.
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Denise’s Pygmy Seahorse
These amazing little creatures are found in Indonesia, Japan, Australia and Malaysia. They are about the size of an average human finger nail and prefer to hide in coral reefs. Owing to their tiny size, they are extremely difficult to spot amongst the clusters of corals it inhabits. Pygmy seahorse is so perfect in the art of camouflage that the species wasn’t actually discovered until its host, the coral reefs were being examined in the lab. Hats off to this ‘Master of Disguise’!
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Pygmy Mouse Lemur
The world’s smallest species of lemur is an adorable 5 inch long animal weighing just 2 ounces. Pygmy mouse lemurs were discovered in Madagascar as recently as 1993. After all, it is not easy to spot such small critters in the wild woods, is it? These lemurs are herbivores and mainly eat flowers, fruit, tree leaves, grass and ferns. These lemurs are named after the Lemures (ghosts or spirits) of Roman mythology. However, they are so adorable that even a small child would not get scared of them!
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Patu Digua Spider
The smallest known species of spiders, Patu Diguas are natives of South America and are about the size of the ‘full-stop’ at the end of this sentence. It was discovered by some wildlife researchers in the forests of Columbia… goodness knows how!
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