Here Are 10 Of The Cutest Tiny Animals!

Image: Mark Thiessen National Geographic Society / Animal Theory Blog Spot

Madame Berthe’s Mouse Lemur & Etruscan Shrew

• Let’s start with the Madame Berthe's mouse lemur! This little critter is actually the world’s smallest primate, and it lives in the Kirindy Forest in Madagascar. Mouse lemurs have the smallest brain of any primate, at just 2 grams — how unbelievably small! In 1992, there were only two known mouse lemur species and by 2016, there were 24.
• Although the Etruscan shrew is the smallest mammal by mass — weighing only 1.8 grams, this animal has a huge appetite, eating up to 2 times its body weight every day! The tiny shrew has a heart rate that can climb up to 1500 beats per minute, which is faster than any other animal on the planet.

Image: Facts Net / Ashlee Benc

Kitti’s Hog-Nosed Bat & Pygmy Possum

• The Kitti's hog-nosed bat is named after its pig-like nose, but that’s where the resemblance with a hog ends. This minuscule bat also has the nickname of ‘the bumblebee bat’ as it weighs a tiny 2 grams and is 3 cm long! This bat occupies limestone caves along rivers in western Thailand and southeast Myanmar.
• Here in Australia we are quite well-known for our wildlife, such as our marsupial animals like the kangaroo and koala. The pygmy possum, however, is a little-known marsupial as they are so tiny and well hidden! This species of possum is the smallest in the world, and you can find them (if you look close enough!) in Tasmania and Kangaroo Island.

Image: Frank Glaw / Thomas Brown Flickr

Brookesia Lizard Nana & Monte Iberia Dwarf Frog

• This 21.6 mm long reptile is tiny enough to easily sit atop your finger! The Brookesia nana, also known as the nano-chameleon, is a species of chameleon endemic to montane rainforests in northern Madagascar. Interestingly, unlike other chameleons, the Brookesia nana doesn't change colours! This lizard is the world's smallest reptile, and in our opinion, it’s also the sweetest-looking reptile.
• The world’s smallest dwarf frog sounds cute, right? Well, don’t let the size fool you… the Monte Iberia dwarf frog packs a poisonous punch, releasing a muscle-paralysing toxin that freezes its predators. They do this via their unusual ability to take toxic alkaloids from their diet and sequester the compound on their skin — yikes!

Image: Simba Education Environment / Patty McGann

Dwarf Three-Toed Jerboa & Bee Hummingbird

• We think this rodent looks like a bizarre cross between a mouse and a kangaroo! The dwarf three-toed jerboa is 5 cm long, and is a remarkable jumper thanks to its kangaroo-like legs! Weirdly, it doen’t drink water – it gains all of the moisture it needs from the plants they eat.
• Only found in Cuba, these birds lay their eggs in nests the size of a $1 coin! The bee hummingbird is so miniature, that it’s often mistaken for a bee. In flight, the birds tiny wings beat 80 times a second, which allows them to fly up to 20 hours without a break! Everything about this bird is small, even their eggs, which are the size of a coffee bean — how cute!

Image: Luke Lopez Reddit / Floridapfe Getty Images

Speckled Cape Tortoise & Fennec Fox

• The Speckled cape tortoise is the world's smallest tortoise native to South Africa! During the breeding season, males become very aggressive towards each other and also females. The mating ritual of the Speckled cape tortoise involves the male and female nodding heads at each other. Very civilised!
• Last but not least, this cuddly-looking Fennec fox is the world's smallest fox! It’s indigenous to North Africa and lives in the Sahara Desert. Interestingly, the Fennec fox is known to purr like a cat when it’s happy, and when startled produces a musky smell from a scent gland on the tip of its tail! These funny little creatures are also extremely committed spouses — they are monogamous and mate for life!