35 Smallest Animals in the World

Are you ready to discover the smallest animals in the world?

Earth is home to some truly magnificent creatures. If you’ve ever swum with the whale sharks, seen a lion in the African savanna or watched a grizzly bear run at full speed, then you know the power of the world’s largest creatures. But while we’re busy chasing “bigger,” we’re overlooking a very rich and varied part of the ecosystem — yes, we’re talking about the world’s smallest animals.

From frogs no bigger than the size of a dime to a tiny octopus that can perch on the tip of your finger, the world has some remarkable animals that live on the smaller end of the scale. Read on to discover this tinier side of life.

35. Vaquita

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Length: 4.5 feet

Weight: 94 pounds

Geographic Range: Gulf of California

Vaquita means “little cow” in Spanish, an appropriate name for the smallest member of the Cetacean family, which includes whales, porpoises and dolphins.

Its Story

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The vaquita is one of the rarest marine mammals on the planet. Sadly, their population is dwindling — and fast. According to the World Wildlife Fund, the species is critically endangered with just about 10 individuals remaining. The porpoise was not discovered until 1958 and is on the brink of vanishing due to illegal fishing operations in the protected marine areas in the Gulf of California.

Typical characteristics of a vaquita include a large dark ring around the eyes and dark patches on the lips. Newborns are darker in color and have a wide gray fringe that spans from the head to the flukes.

34. Vechur

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Length: 4 feet

Weight: 286 pounds

Geographic Range: Kerala, India

Vechur cows, the smallest cattle breed in the world, are indigenous to Kerala, India.

They are named after the village where they are believed to be from.

Its Story

Vechur Cow Conservation / Facebook

They are highly prized because they require minimum upkeep and yield high quantities of milk for a cow breed of their size.

The breed was on the verge of extinction but has managed to rally.

33. Royal Antelope

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Length: 1.6 feet

Weight: 4.8 pounds

Geographic Range: Western Africa

The world’s smallest antelope happens to live in the rainforests and savannas from Ghana to Sierra Leone in Africa.

Its Story

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Royal antelope are typically solitary creatures that are most active at night. They are incredibly swift creatures and can cover about 9.2 feet in a single leap.

The main threat to the royal antelope is hunting, but habitat deterioration is a common concern as well. At last count according to the IUCN Red List, there are only about 62,000 left in the world.

32. Rusty-Spotted Cat

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Length: 1.1 feet

Weight: 3 pounds

Geographic Range: India, Sri Lanka

The world’s smallest wild cat is found only in India and Sri Lanka, with a few to be found in Nepal.

They can be found in dry and bamboo forests, grasslands and rocky slopes.

Its Story

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Much is still to be learned about the rusty-spotted cat, but it’s believed they are nocturnal and excellent hunters and climbers. The cats are classified as Near Threatened. Their threats include loss of habitat and lack of prey.

The rusty-spotted cat is usually short and brownish gray. Those of the Sri Lankan cats are more of a reddish-brown. Cheeks have two streaks of darker fur, and ears are small and round. They are typically solitary animals.

31. Chihuahua

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Length: 9.5 inches

Weight: 3.3 to 6.6 pounds

Geographic Range: Now Domesticated; Originally Mexico

While the Chihuahua is a common domesticated dog breed, the original Chihuahuas were found among the indigenous tribes of pre-Hispanic Mexico.

Dogs that looked remarkably similar are depicted on artifacts from civilizations dating back to the Toltecs and the Aztecs.

Its Story

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The breed derives its modern name from the Mexican state of Chihuahua, where the majority of the species have been found. They are known for their compact look, lightweight, loyalty and personalities.

The breed became popular in the 19th century when Americans were exposed to them and wanted to domesticate them as pets.

30. Pygmy Rabbit

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Length: 9.3 inches

Weight: 1 pound

Geographic Range: Oregon, California, Nevada, Utah, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Washington

The smallest species of rabbit in North America, the pygmy rabbit is typically found in a sagebrush ecosystem.

They dig their own burrows, but sometimes, they use burrows made from other species.

Its Story

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Pygmy rabbits are prey for weasels, coyotes, badgers, bobcats, raptors, owls, ravens, crows and foxes.

The tiny animals are gray in color, with brown legs, chests and backs of the neck.

29. Dwarf Lantern Shark

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Length: 7.9 inches

Weight: 0.5 ounces

Geographic Range: Colombia and Venezuela

The dwarf lantern shark is the smallest species of shark on the planet.

In fact, it is smaller than the human hand and is rarely seen, even in its ocean habitat off the coast of Colombia and Venezuela.

Its Story

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They are called “lantern sharks” because of their light-emitting organs, which run along the belly and fins. The glowing belly blends in with sunlight that shines through darker water and helps the shark camouflage against predators.

When water is dark, the light draws in smaller animals, on which the dwarf lantern shark feeds.

28. Pink Fairy Armadillo

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Length: 6 inches

Weight: 4 ounces

Geographic Range: Central Argentina

One of the more unusual creatures on the planet, the pink fairy armadillo only lives in central Argentina and is the smallest armadillo species in the world.

It has a shell like other armadillos but is much thinner and more flexible.

Its Story

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These creatures are hardly ever spotted by humans, as they are nocturnal and spend most of their time in a burrow underground.

They also cannot survive outside of their very specific environment.

27. Philippine Tarsier

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Length: 6 inches

Weight: 2.5 to 5.6 ounces

Geographic Range: Philippines

The Philippine Tarsier is one of the smallest primates in the world. Sadly, the species, which is endemic to the southwestern portion of the Philippines, is considered near threatened.

These primates are born to be wild. It is well-known that they do not do well in captivity. In fact, many have been known to commit suicide due to the stress of it, banging their heads against the walls of their cages.

Its Story

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The Philippine Tarsier is known for its large eyes, flexible ears, and ability to see, hear and hunt in complete darkness.

These creatures are insectivores and mostly eat grasshoppers, spiders or crickets. They are relatively quiet creatures who live in small groups and are also monogamous with their partners.

26. Pygmy Marmoset

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Length: 4.7 inches

Weight: 3.5 ounces

Geographic Range: Western Amazon Basin (Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia)

The Pygmy Marmoset is the smallest of the New World monkeys, native to the western Amazon Basin.

They are tree-dwelling creatures that can jump through rainforest understory up to 66 feet from ground level. However, unlike other primates, they do not have prehensile tails.

Its Story

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This creature has black claws, golden-brown fur and a main that grows around its head. They mostly eat tree sap and resin as well as some fruits, insects and spiders.

They, too, are monogamous primates and live in their ever-growing extended families, known as a troop.

25. North American Bog Turtle

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Length: 4.5 inches

Weight: 3.8 ounces

Geographic Range: Northeast United States

One of the smallest turtles found in North America, the Bog Turtle is easily recognized by the orange patches on the sides of its head.

These turtles thrive in wet meadows and — you guessed it — bogs.

Its Story

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The oldest reported bog turtle lived to be in its 60s.

Unfortunately, these turtles are critically endangered due to loss of bog habitats around the region. They are also at risk because of diminished water quality and mortality on roadways.

24. Barbados Threadsnake

Length: 4.1 inches

Weight: .02 ounces

Geographic Range: Barbados

The Barbados threadsnake is the smallest known snake species, and it’s native to the forests of eastern Barbados.

Today, Barbados has just a few square miles of forest, which is threatening the existence of the threadsnake.

Its Story

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This tiny animal is still shrouded in a bit of mystery, as it was only first discovered in 2008, but scientists believe it feeds on insect larvae.

It is one of about 300 different species of threadsnake.

23. Musk Turtle

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Length: 4 inches

Weight: 1 pound

Geographic Range: Canada and United States

Common musk turtles live throughout North America, but are primarily confined to the northern parts of the U.S. or southern Ontario, Canada.

They are known for the dark brown or black shells and the two distinct stripes on their head, chin and throat.

Its Story

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Musk turtles are nocturnal creatures and are often found swimming around shallow waters. They eat seeds, insects, tadpoles and algae, among other small critters and plants.

Its predators include raccoons, water pollution and accidental mortality from fishing lines.

22. Arboreal Salamander

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Length: 4 inches

Weight: 0.22 ounces

Geographic Range: California, Baja Peninsula

These tree-dwelling amphibians are known for their large toes and prehensile tails, which allow them to climb up to 60 feet above ground.

The species lives in North America along coastal California, from northern Humboldt County down to the Baja Peninsula. They thrive in oak woodlands, yellow pine and black oak forests.

Its Story

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Arboreal salamanders breathe through their skin and membranes in their mouths, as they do not have lungs. They eat insects and terrestrial invertebrates and are known for their sharp teeth.

They are nocturnal creatures that migrate to rodent burrows in the dry season so that they can stay damp.

21. Madame Berthe’s Mouse Lemur

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Length: 3.6 inches

Weight: 1.2 ounces

Geographic Range: Madagascar

Like all species of lemurs, Madame Berthe’s mouse lemurs are indigenous to the island of Madagascar, though they have also been found in nearby areas.

They prefer dry, deciduous forests, though their numbers are dwindling due to temperature fluctuations, food scarcity and a seven-month dry season.

Its Story

The creature is solitary and nocturnal, spending the majority of its time alone and the rest sleeping in groups.

Their diet consists of larvae secretion as well as flowers, fruits, arthropods, and small chameleons and geckos. They are considered an endangered species.

20. Williams’ Dwarf Gecko

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Length: 3 inches

Weight: .06 ounces

Geographic Range: The Williams’ Dwarf Gecko is endemic to the foothills of the Uluguru Mountains in eastern Tanzania.

Male Williams’ Dwarf geckos are characterized by their bright blue color and black stripes, while females are known for their more earthy or green tones.

Its Story

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These social creatures are territorial and active, though habitat loss is a risk because of ongoing deforestation.

19. Speckled Padloper Tortoise

Turtle Conservancy / Facebook

Length: 2.4 inches

Weight: 3.4 to 5.8 ounces

Geographic Range: South Africa and Southern Namibia

The speckled padloper tortoise is the world’s smallest tortoise. It is characterized by a flattened shell with slightly serrated edges.

The orange-brown shell is peppered in black spots, and it has five toes on its feet, unlike other tortoises that have four toes.

Its Story

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This species is treated by habitat destruction and poaching as well as introduced species like domestic dogs and pigs.

They are herbivores that munch on small succulents.

18. Bee Hummingbird

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Length: 2.25 inches

Weight: 0.056 to 0.071 ounces

Geographic Range: Cuba

Found only in Cuba, the bee hummingbird is about as small as hummingbirds can get. In fact, they are so small that they are often mistaken for bees (hence their name).

In flight, a bee hummingbird beats its wings about 80 times per second. But when courting each other? They beat their wings up to 200 times per second.

Its Story

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Female bee hummingbirds build nests that are just shy of an inch across, and their eggs are roughly the size of a coffee bean.

Males are stunning with pink-red hues along their heads and necks as well as fiery red feathers down the sides of the breast.

17. Baluchistan Pygmy Jerboa

Length: 2 inches

Weight: 0.13 ounces

Geographic Range: Pakistan

The Baluchistan pygmy jerboa, otherwise known as the dwarf three-toed jerboa, is one of the smallest of the jerboa species in the world. It’s known to live in the sand dunes and gravel flats of Pakistan.

They move through their dry and hot habitats with long hops, often balancing on their tails.

Its Story

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Their diet consists of seeds and succulent leaves, and they burrow in holes underneath desert bushes.

Predators of the jerboa are the leaf-nosed viper, the trans-Caspian monitor lizard and the sand cat.

16. Etruscan Shrew

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Length: 1.5 inches

Weight: 0.046 to 0.088 ounces

Geographic Range: Mediterranean Lowlands (Portugal to the Middle East)

Etruscan shrews have a wide geographic range, mainly in the Mediterranean lowlands that run from Portugal to the Middle East, though some have been found in Africa.

They prefer to live in forests, shrubs and grasslands.

Its Story

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Etruscan shrews are grayish-brown with short hair and are recognizable by their smaller hind limbs. According to research, they appear to be monogamous, though it is not known for sure.

They are active creatures and always seem to be on the lookout for food. Their diet consists of small insects, including ants, mealworms and crickets. They tend to be solitary animals.

15. Kitti’s Hog-Nosed Bat

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Length: 1 inch

Weight: 0.074 ounces

Geographic Range: Thailand and Myanmar

The smallest bat in the world, the Kitti’s Hog-Nosed Bat is endemic to Thailand and Myanmar, where it lives in limestone caves along the rivers.

It gets its name from its signature pig-like nose. Colonies tend to include anywhere from 50 to 100 bats.

Its Story

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Not much is known about these tiny mammals, but they are on the brink of extinction, threatened by habitat loss.

They are most active at dawn and dusk, and tend to forage in cassava and kapok fields or at the top of bamboo and teak trees. Their primary source of nourishment are flies.

14. Brookesia Micra Chameleon

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Length: 1 inch

Weight: 0.006 ounces

Geographic Range: Madagascar

Among the tiniest reptiles in the world, the Brookesia micra chameleon is endemic to the island of Madagascar. They were discovered in the early 2000s on a small, uninhabited island in the Nosy Hara archipelago.

Typically, they are found in leaves during the day and tree branches at night.

Its Story

Brookesia micras have short, orange tails and larger heads.

Currently, they live in a habitat that is subject to destruction and would be at high risk for extinction if that destruction were to occur.

13. Jaragua Dwarf Gecko

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Length: 0.75 inches

Weight: 0.004 ounces

Geographic Range: Dominican Republic

One of the world’s smallest reptiles, the Jaragua Dwarf Gecko was discovered in Jaragua National Park in the Dominican Republic.

Its Story

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Not much is known about this species, only that it is one of the world’s two smallest known reptiles.

It can also be found on nearby Beata Island, which is shared with Haiti.

10. Virgin Island Dwarf Sphaero (tie)

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Length: 0.6 inches

Weight: 0.004 ounces

Geographic Range: British Virgin Islands

The Virgin Islands Dwarf Sphere, also known as the Virgin Islands Dwarf Gecko, is one of the smallest terrestrial vertebrates.

It is found in the British Virgin Islands, but only on three of them: Virgin Gorda, Tortola and Mosquito Island.

Its Story

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These tiny creatures are deep brown in color and prefer to live on dry hillsides. They have several stripes of light color behind the eyes, and there is no difference in coloring between males and females.

There is still much to be learned about this species, but the species has been reported as moderately common and is not at risk of extinction.

10. Sexy Shrimp (tie)

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Length: 0.6 inches

Weight: 0.004 ounces

Geographic Range: Atlantic and Indo-Pacific Oceans

The smallest species of shrimp known (and perhaps the one with the most fun name on this list), the sexy shrimp is typically found across the Indo-Pacific oceans and in parts of the Atlantic, typically near Mexico and the Caribbean.

They can even be found in the Red Sea and around the Canary Islands.

Its Story

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These small shrimp are olive or brown in color, peppered with shimmering yellow-white spots. They have five pairs of swimming legs and a glossy, light brown tail.

They are known to live more than three years in the world and are usually found in pairs or in small groups, living on a sea anemone as a host. They feed on particles locked in the membranes of an anemone, such as plankton or other small crustaceans, and krill.

10. Thorius Arboreus (tie)

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Length: 0.6 inches

Weight: 0.004 ounces

Geographic Range: Mexico

Thorius arboreus is otherwise known as the arboreal minute salamander. This species of salamander is endemic to Mexico, specifically the mountains of Oaxaca.

The name arboreus indicates its preferred tree habitat.

Its Story

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The arboreal minute salamander prefers to live in the cloud forests of Oaxaca. It is known for its reddish stripe and elaborate patterns over the shoulders.

The biggest risk to its existence is logging and the development of its habitat.

8. Denise’s Pygmy Seahorse (tie)

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Length: 0.5 inches

Weight: <0.004 ounces

Geographic Range: South Pacific

Swimming the waters around the western Pacific, including Indonesia and Micronesia, Denise’s pygmy seahorse is one of the smallest species of seahorses.

This specific seahorse has a short snout and a prehensile tail and is either smooth or covered with tubercles.

Its Story

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Colors can be yellow or orange with small dark spots, but Denise’s pygmy seahorse is a master at camouflage. It preys on small crustaceans and zooplankton. Like other seahorse species, it is the male who carries the eggs in its pouch.

Denise’s pygmy seahorses are rare creatures and are typically found living in the fields of gorgonian coral.

8. Octopus Wolfi (tie)

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Length: 0.5 inches

Weight: <0.004 ounces

Geographic Range: Western Pacific Ocean

Meet the world’s smallest known octopus. This cute little thing is most commonly found in warm, shallow waters of the Western Pacific Ocean.

Its Story

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They are known for their translucent appearance, fringes around the edges of its tentacles, and, of course, its diminutive size.

7. Paedocypris Fish

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Length: 0.4 inches

Weight: <0.004 ounces

Geographic Range: Borneo, Sumatra, Bintan

This tiny fish species is typically found in swamps and streams on the islands of Borneo, Sumatra and Bintan. They are the smallest known species of fish in the world.

The tiny bodies are transparent, through which it’s possible to see a small skeleton.

Its Story

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Because of their small size, this species can live through the droughts of the dry season, as they can flourish in even the smallest puddles.

That said, development of their natural habitat has put the species at risk.

6. Monte Iberia Eleuth

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Length: 0.3 inches

Weight: <0.004 ounces

Geographic Range: Cuba

This species of frog is endemic to the rainforest in a very small section of Cuba.

The tiny frog is a dark brown color with a copper stripe that gradients to orange, yellow and gold.

Its Story

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Their skin is toxic, and one of the only eleutherodactylus frogs to have skin toxins.

It is a critically endangered species due to deforestation, as they prefer to live in a closed-canopy rainforest.

5. Paedophryne Amauensis Frog

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Length: 0.27 inches

Weight: <0.004 ounces

Geographic Range: Papua New Guinea

The Paedophryne amauensis is the world’s smallest vertebrate.

The well-camouflaged frog lives on the forest floors of Papua New Guinea, and their call is similar to those of other insects, making them really tough to spot.

Its Story

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They are challenging to study because of their ability to blend so well, but scientists have determined that they eat incredibly small insects and are probably preyed upon by scorpions.

4. Nudibranch

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Length: 0.25 inches

Weight: <0.004 ounces

Geographic Range: Saltwater Oceans, Worldwide

Nudibranch is just a fancy word for a sea slug. But one look at the nudibranch, and you’ll see why it’s entitled to a fancier name.

These shell-less mollusks are brilliantly colored, from dayglo purples to aquamarines, fluorescent orange and brilliant teal.

Its Story

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They are also covered in tentacles, which are sensitive to touch, taste and smell. There are about 3,000 known species of nudibranchs around.

These are carnivorous creatures that feast on sponges, other sea slugs and sometimes even their own species.

3. Juvenile Frogfish

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Length: 0.125 inches

Weight: <0.004 ounces

Geographic Range: Subtropical and Tropical Oceans and Seas

Frogfish are so unusual looking that they have become divers’ favorite things to spot.

Its Story

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They come in a variety of brilliant colors but are masters at camouflage. That’s why they’re such a thrill to spot.

While adults can grow up to almost 2 feet, it’s the babies that are particularly tiny.

2. Long-Tailed Planigale

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Length: 0.12 inches

Weight: <0.004 ounces

Geographic Range: Northern Australia

The smallest of all marsupials, the long-tailed planigale is endemic to northern Australia.

These hard-to-spot critters live in the blacksoil plains, clay woodlands and the northern grasslands.

Its Story

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All planigales have flattened heads, but these long-tailed ones look like very tiny mouses with long, bald tails.

Long-tailed planigales feast on small invertebrates and vertebrates, which they forage for at night.

1. Spruce-Fir Moss Spider

Blue Ridge Discovery Center

Length: .1 inches

Weight: <0.004 ounces

Geographic Range: Southern Appalachian Mountains

Meet the smallest spider we know: the spruce-fir moss spider, endemic to the highest mountain peaks in the Southern Appalachian Mountains of western North Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia.

These arachnids thrive in the high elevation, as their habitats are the Fraser firs and red spruce.

Its Story

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These spiders are light brown, yellow-brown or dark reddish brown and do not have any markings on their abdomens.

As the trees of this part of the country are dying off due to invasive species infestation, spruce-fir moss spiders have begun to climb the endangered list.