Are you interested in the animal kingdom?
The animal kingdom is full of various creatures, and it is no secret that animals come in all shapes, sizes, colors, and temperaments. Some can be domesticated and easy to train, while others should be avoided by humans because they can be dangerous when they feel threatened.
However, there are many animals so small that they are barely noticeable. Unfortunately, they can even be crushed by people who explore the wilderness because they are very small and hard to spot. So if you ever notice an animal like this while you’re out and about in the wild, make sure you don’t crush them because they’re tiny and sensitive!
Moreover, the animal species that you will find in this article are miniature versions of larger animals, and some of them are smaller than your nails. Read on for more info!
Bumblebee bat
- Kitti’s hog-nosed bat (Craseonycteris thonglongyai)
The bumblebee bat is a threatened species of bat that can be found in western Thailand and southeast Myanmar, namely in limestone caves along rivers (with an average of 100 individuals per cave).
As you probably already guess, the bumblebee bat is the smallest species of bat and probably the smallest mammal in the world. In general, their diet consists of insects. In addition, females give birth annually to a single offspring.
The bumblebee bat is actually the only extant species in the family Craseonycteridae. They are about the size of a large bumblebee, weighing in at just two grams.
Madame Berthe’s mouse lemur
- Berthe’s mouse lemur (Microcebus berthae)
The Madame Berthe’s mouse lemur is the tiniest species of the mouse lemur, as well as the smallest primate in the world. This species of lemur can be found in the Kirindy Forest in western Madagascar.
Madame Berthe’s mouse lemur was discovered in 1992 and was named after the conservationist and primatologist Berthe Rakotosamimanana of Madagascar.
They have an omnivorous diet, including sugary homopteran secretions, fruit, flowers, gum, arthropods, and small vertebrates, such as geckos and chameleons. However, they prefer flying insects because they are available in both seasons. Don’t you think that this tiny mouse lemur is adorable? We sure think so! Leave a comment below and let us know what you think!
Paedophryne amanuensis
Have you ever heard about Paedophryne amanuensis? This tiny and adorable frog species is as small as 0.27 inches, or 7 mm, and it’s part of the smallest vertebrate family, which includes birds, fish, mammals, and amphibians.
Paedophryne amanuensis is a species of microhylid frog – commonly known as narrow-mouthed frog. This species of frog can be found in Papua New Guinea. According to animal experts, Paedophryne amauensis is the smallest known vertebrate in the world and was discovered in 2012.
Animal experts say that this species of frog is actually smaller than a coin. Their young babies are not born as tadpoles, but they look like miniature adults. In other words, they live on land, so their life cycle doesn’t include a tadpole stage.
Brookesia Micra
- Nosy Hara leaf chameleon
The Brookesia micra is a species of chameleons, and at its discovery, it was considered the smallest known chameleon and among the smallest reptiles in the world, but its relative called B. nana was discovered in 2021, which seems to be smaller.
This species of chameleon can be found in the islet of Nosy Hara in Antsiranana, Madagascar. They spend their time in leaf litter during the day, but climb up into tree branches at night to sleep.
However, according to animal experts, their relative, Brookesia nana could be the world’s smallest reptile.
Bee hummingbird
- Zunzuncito or Helena hummingbird (Mellisuga helenae)
The bee hummingbird is a species of hummingbird, as well as the smallest bird in the world. This species of hummingbird can be found in Cuba. In general, females are slightly larger than males.
The female bee hummingbird lays only two eggs at a time and each one is about the size of a coffee bean or rice.
Due to their bright and iridescent colors, these little birds look like tiny jewels. Their diet consists mainly of nectar, yet they play a major role in plant reproduction, as in one day, they can visit about 2000 flowers.
Rusty-spotted cat
- Prionailurus rubiginosus
The rusty-spotted cat is the smallest of all the “big cats”, only about the size of a domestic cat. They can be found in India and Sri Lanka, as well as in the western Terai of Nepal – where they were recorded in 2012. In general, they can be found in dense vegetation and rocky areas.
According to animal experts, many individuals were observed hiding in trees and in caves. Their diet consists mainly of rodents and birds, but they can also eat lizards, frogs, and insects.
Barbados thread snake
- Tetracheilostoma carlae
The Barbados thread snake is a species of thread snake. At only ten cm long (3.94 inches), the Barbados thread snake is actually the smallest known snake species in the world. In addition, they can be found on the Caribbean island of Barbados. Animal experts say that they have also been recorded on the islands of Antigua and Barbuda.
They are so small, they don’t even have any eyes, which makes the completely blind. Unlike other species of snakes, Barbados thread snakes have been observed to lay just one egg per season.
Sphaerodactylus ariasae
- Jaragua sphaero or the Jaragua dwarf gecko
As you probably guess, the Sphaerodactylus ariasae is the world’s smallest species of lizard in the family Sphaerodactylidae, which only grows to 16 mm. They can be found in the British Virgin Islands.
When it comes to their reproduction process, this species of lizard is regarded as oviparous – which means that they lay eggs with little or no other embryonic development within the mother.
This creature was discovered in 2001 by two biologists, Blair Hedges and Richard Thomas, issue of the Caribbean Journal of Science.
Denise’s pygmy seahorse
- Hippocampus Denise or the yellow pygmy seahorse
The Denise’s pygmy seahorse is a seahorse of the family Syngnathidae, as well as the smallest seahorse species in the world that has ever existed.
They only grow to be about 16 mm and can be found in the western Pacific, including Indonesia, Vanuatu, Palau, Malaysia, the Solomon Islands, and Micronesia.
They usually hide in fields of gorgonians, using their skills in adaptive camouflage (which means that they change their colors to match that of the surrounding gorgonians).
Pygmy hippopotamus
- Choeropsis liberiensis or Hexaprotodon liberiensis
The pygmy hippopotamus is a small hippopotamid. They live in the forests of West Africa, primarily in Liberia, as well as in Sierra Leone, Guinea, and Ivory Coast.
According to animal experts, the pygmy hippopotamus is a nocturnal animal, semi-aquatic, and relies on water to keep its skin moist and its body temperature cool. Do you like to learn more about the animal kingdom? Here’s an amazing book you should read this book because it’s a fantastic one!
Their process of reproduction, whether we are talking about mating or giving birth, may occur in water or on land. If you’re looking for another article to read, here’s one that you’ll love: I Bet You Didn’t Know These 13 Mindblowing Animal Facts!
