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
pig-nosed bat- the smallest animal among chiropteran mammals. It is almost impossible to meet this creature in nature, because it leads carefully hidden image life. 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 wild nature 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.
Incredible Facts
People tend to pay attention to large objects that grab our attention right away.
On the contrary, small things can go unnoticed, although this does not make them less important.
Some of them we can see with the naked eye, others only with a microscope, and there are those that can only be imagined theoretically.
Here is a collection of the smallest things in the world, ranging from tiny toys, miniature animals and people to a hypothetical subatomic particle.
The smallest pistol in the world
The smallest revolver in the world SwissMiniGun looks no bigger than a door key. However, appearances are deceiving, and the gun is only 5.5 cm long and weighs just under 20 grams and can shoot at a speed of 122 m per second. This is enough to kill at close range.
The smallest bodybuilder in the world
According to the Guinness Book of Records Aditya "Romeo" Dev(Aditya "Romeo" Dev) from India was the smallest bodybuilder in the world. At only 84 cm tall and weighing 9 kg, he could lift 1.5 kg dumbbells and spent a lot of time perfecting his body. Unfortunately, he died in September 2012 due to a ruptured brain aneurysm.
The smallest lizard in the world
Kharaguan sphero ( Sphaerodactylus ariasae) is the smallest reptile in the world. Its length is only 16-18 mm, and its weight is 0.2 grams. He lives in national park Jaragua in the Dominican Republic.
The smallest car in the world
The Peel 50 weighing 59 kg is the smallest production car in the world. In the early 1960s, about 50 of these cars were produced, and now only a few models remain. The car has two wheels in front and one in the back, and it reaches a speed of 16 km per hour.
The smallest horse in the world
The smallest horse in the world named Einstein was born in 2010 in Barnstead, New Hampshire, UK. At birth, she weighed less than a newborn baby (2.7 kg). Her height was 35 cm. Einstein does not suffer from dwarfism, but belongs to the breed of pinto horses.
The smallest country in the world
The Vatican is the smallest country in the world. This is a small state with an area of only 0.44 square meters. km and a population of 836 people who are not permanent residents. A tiny country surrounds St. Peter's Cathedral - the spiritual center of the Roman Catholics. The Vatican itself is surrounded by Rome, Italy.
The smallest school in the world
The Kalou School in Iran has been recognized by UNESCO as the smallest school in the world. In the village where the school is located, only 7 families live, where there are four children: two boys and two girls, who attend the school.
The smallest kettle in the world
The smallest teapot in the world was created by a famous ceramics master Wu Ruishen(Wu Ruishen) and it only weighs 1.4 grams.
The smallest mobile phone in the world
The Modu phone is said to be the smallest mobile phone in the world according to the Guinness Book of Records. With a thickness of 76 millimeters, it weighs only 39 grams. Its dimensions are 72mm x 37mm x 7.8mm. Despite its tiny size, you can make calls, send SMS messages, play MP3s and take photos.
The smallest prison in the world
Sark Prison in the Channel Islands was built in 1856 and holds one cell for 2 prisoners.
The smallest monkey in the world
Dwarf marmosets that live in tropical moist forests South America, are considered the smallest monkeys in the world. The weight of an adult monkey is 110-140 grams, and the length reaches 15 cm. Although they have rather sharp teeth and claws, they are relatively docile and are popular as exotic pets.
The smallest post office in the world
The smallest postal service WSPS (World's Smallest Postal Service) in San Francisco, USA converts your letters into miniature form, so the recipient will have to read it with a magnifying glass.
The smallest frog in the world
species frog Paedophryne amauensis with a length of 7.7 millimeters, it lives only in Papua New Guinea, and is the tiniest frog and smallest vertebrate in the world.
The smallest house in the world
The smallest house in the world of an American company Tumbleweed architect Jay Shafer is smaller than some people's toilets. Although this house is only 9 sq. meters looks tiny, it holds everything you need: workplace, bedroom, bathroom with shower and toilet.
The smallest dog in the world
In terms of height, the smallest dog in the world according to the Guinness Book of Records is a dog. Boo Boo- Chihuahua with a height of 10.16 cm and a weight of 900 grams. She lives in Kentucky, USA.
In addition, the title of the smallest dog in the world claims Macy- a terrier from Poland is only 7 cm high and 12 cm long.
The smallest park in the world
Mill Ends Park in the city of Portland, Oregon, USA - this is the smallest park in the world with a diameter of only 60 cm. On a small circle located at the intersection of roads there is a butterfly pool, a small Ferris wheel and miniature statues.
The smallest fish in the world
species fish Paedocypris progenetica from the carp family, found in peat bogs, grows only up to 7.9 millimeters in length.
The smallest person in the world
72 year old Nepalese Chandra Bahadur Dangi(Chandra Bahadur Dangi), with a height of 54.6 cm, was recognized as the shortest man and man in the world.
The smallest woman in the world
The shortest woman in the world is Yoti Amge(Jyoti Amge) from India. On her 18th birthday, the girl, with a height of 62.8 cm, became the smallest woman in the world.
The smallest police station
This small telephone booth in Carabella, Florida, USA is considered the smallest working police station.
The smallest baby in the world
In 2004 Rumaisa Rahman(Rumaisa Rahman) became the smallest newborn child. She was born at 25 weeks and weighed only 244 grams, and her height was 24 cm. Her twin sister Hiba weighed almost twice as much - 566 grams with a height of 30 cm. Their mother suffered from a severe form of pre-eclampsia, which can lead to having smaller children.
The smallest sculptures in the world
British sculptor Ullard Wigan(Willard Wigan), who suffered from dyslexia, did not excel academically and found solace in creating miniature works of art that are not visible to the naked eye. His sculptures are placed in the eye of a needle, reaching a size of 0.05 mm. His recent work, which is called only "the eighth wonder of the world" does not exceed the size of a human blood cell.
The smallest teddy bear in the world
Teddy Bear Mini Pooh created by a German sculptor Bettina Kaminsky(Bettina Kaminski) is the tiniest hand-sewn teddy bear with movable legs, measuring just 5mm.
The smallest bacterium
The smallest virus
Although there is still debate among scientists about what is considered "alive" and what is not, most biologists do not classify viruses as a living organism, since they cannot reproduce and are not capable of exchange outside the cell. However, a virus can be smaller than any living organism, including bacteria. The smallest single-stranded DNA virus is porcine chirocovirus ( Porcine circovirus). The diameter of its shell is only 17 nanometers.
The smallest objects visible to the naked eye
The size of the smallest object visible to the naked eye is 1 millimeter. This means that at necessary conditions you can see the common amoeba, the shoe ciliate, and even the human egg.
The smallest particle in the universe
Per last century science has taken a huge step towards understanding the vastness of the universe and its microscopic building materials. However, when it comes to the smallest observable particle in the universe, there are some difficulties.
At one time, the atom was considered the smallest particle. Then scientists discovered the proton, neutron and electron. Now we know that by pushing particles together (as in the Large Hadron Collider, for example), they can be broken up into even more particles, such as quarks, leptons and even antimatter. The problem is only in determining what is less.
But at the quantum level, size becomes irrelevant, as the laws of physics we're used to don't apply. So some particles have no mass, some have negative mass. The solution to this question is the same as dividing by zero, that is, impossible.
The smallest hypothetical object in the universe
Considering what was said above that the concept of size is inapplicable at the quantum level, we can turn to the well-known string theory in physics.
Although this is a rather controversial theory, it suggests that subatomic particles are composed of vibrating strings, which interact to create things like mass and energy. And although such strings have no physical parameters, the human tendency to justify everything leads us to the conclusion that these are the smallest objects in the Universe.
The animal world is so diverse that we are hardly familiar with a hundredth of the inhabitants of our planet. The most famous are large mammals. But there are many miniature representatives of the fauna.
The smallest frog
The length of this tiny frog called Paedophryne is 7.7 millimeters, although there are “giants” among them, reaching 11.3 millimeters. Males are always smaller than females. Due to their brown color, they manage to remain unnoticed both on the ground and in the trees.
The smallest chameleon
2
The tiny chameleon lizard the small brookesia (Brookesia minima) lives in the tropics of Madagascar. Its length is 1.2 centimeters.
The smallest jellyfish
3
The Irukandji jellyfish looks like a tiny (25 by 12 millimeters) almost transparent white bell. At the same time, the size of the tentacles can reach lengths from one millimeter to a meter. main feature Irukandji is that its poison, which, by the way, has not been studied by scientists, is capable of paralyzing or killing a person.
smallest mammal
4
The weight of a dwarf multi-tooth with a body length of 3-4.5 centimeters is less than 2 grams.
The smallest deer
5
The growth of the northern pudu reaches 30-40 centimeters. The horns are also very small. The northern pudu lives in southern Chile and the island of Chilos, although it is very difficult to see it there - the animals lead a rather secretive lifestyle.
Little animals of Russia
6
7
The smallest bird is the yellow-headed kinglet. The length of his body is about 10 centimeters, the bird weighs up to 10 grams. His brother - the red-headed kinglet - weighs even less, only 5 grams, and the body length barely reaches nine centimeters.
8
Quails are considered the smallest representatives of chicken. They weigh about 100 grams.
9
The smallest fox is called the corsac. With a body length of about 50 centimeters, the fox reaches a height of 30 centimeters.
The smallest creature on earth
10
Kitty's pig-nosed bat is considered the smallest creature on Earth. This inhabitant of Thailand weighs less than 2 grams with a body length of 2.9 cm to 3.3 cm. During the day, animals hide in the caves of limestone hills, and in the evenings they hunt insects in small groups. According to biologists, their number reaches a little more than 500 individuals.
11
The pygmy shrew Savi is the smallest animal on Earth among land mammals. Its weight is approximately 1.5 - 2.5 grams. This creature has one feature - it eats food about three to four times its weight per day.
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 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
Photo: commons.wikimedia.org
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
Photo: commons.wikimedia.org
Dwelling in tropical forests Ghana and Sierra Leone, the Royal Antelope is the smallest antelope in the world at about 25 cm tall and weighing about 2.5 kg. It is extremely rare to meet her because of her secretive nocturnal lifestyle.
15. Pig-nosed bat (bumblebee bat)
Photo: commons.wikimedia.org
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
Photo: commons.wikimedia.org
In the Western Pacific Ocean, marine biologists have discovered the smallest seahorse. 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
Photo: commons.wikimedia.org
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 most little 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 reach an average length of 1 m. Lately only thirty individuals are known to remain in the wild, a 97% decrease from the year before these data were obtained.
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, it's not the only one interesting fact about her. Fish can swim and live in very acidic water.
4. Hummingbird - bee
Photo: commons.wikimedia.org
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 animals in the world confirm the fact that the Earth is a unique planet, where representatives of the most diverse species are concentrated. Sometimes you are surprised not only by the richness and diversity of vegetation, but also by the uniqueness of the “friends of man”. It turns out that our world has huge elephants(about 6 tons), which do not pose a threat and small scorpions, capable of hitting up to 40 people to death with their sting. Read more in the article about the most dangerous animals. This time, we will consider the smallest representatives of the planet, including birds, fish and other human “companions”.
Top 10 smallest animals in the world
The rating of the smallest inhabitants of the planet is opened by the dwarf lemur, whose dimensions are about fifteen centimeters in length. At the same time, the weight of a unique creation is only one hundred and fifty grams. The tail of marmosets is twice as long as the entire body of a lemur. At the same time, small inhabitants have thick fur. Because of it, a small torso is almost invisible. However, it is clear that they have a beautiful face, which makes them look much larger in the dark. In fact, they are much more active at night. It is quite difficult to catch a lemur during the day!
Surely, many people know that the smallest bird in the world is the Hummingbird. This animal lives in Cuba. For a bird, it is only 6 centimeters. Weighs only two grams. Comparing a bird with an average beetle, we can say that its weight will be about twenty times greater. However, almost any beetle is larger than a hummingbird. Its size is so meager that many confuse a bird with a wasp. However, hummingbirds make quite loud noises. But they are more reminiscent of the buzzing of various insects than singing. The length of the eggs varies from six to eleven millimeters.
The seahorse is one of the smallest animals on Earth. Currently, up to thirty-two species of representatives of marine fauna are known to scientists. All of them are tiny in size. However, the smallest one is called Hippocampus Denise. The length of his body is sixteen millimeters. Because of this, it is almost invisible. It is worth noting that most of their existence, skates are found in deepwater reefs. They cling to corals and feed, respectively, on the motes that they find in the area.
In the forests of Madagascar, you can find a tiny chameleon, whose length is three centimeters. To your favorite places unique look fallen leaves and wet trees should be taken. Thus, small chameleons most often fall into the field of vision of people in bad weather. Unlike standard dwarf chameleons, they cannot change color. They camouflage themselves by living in places where they blend in with the surrounding landscape. Therefore, it is quite difficult to notice them.
Did you know that the smallest hamster is only 5 centimeters long? This species appeared for the first time in the UK. The record holder is a hamster 2.5 centimeters long. They are called Roborovsky in honor of the person who discovered them. Veterinarians assure that such individuals are distinguished by a birth defect. Due to a malfunction in the body, they stopped developing and growing further. However, this phenomenon does not affect the behavior of hamsters in any way. They, like other species, love fields and easily adapt to life.
Surely, many would like to have Mr. Pibbles as a cat. This is a unique kitten found in the USA. Its weight reaches 200 grams. The length of the body is only fifteen centimeters. The pocket cat is distinguished by a congenital genetic defect. However, he was not subjected to selection experiments, so scientists did not fully reveal his secrets. You may be interested in reading another article about cats, which reveals a lot of secrets of your favorite pets. They are not few!
Do not be surprised, but we are not talking about ponies at all. We are talking about a unique tiny horse, whose length is forty centimeters. Weighs only thirty kilograms. To this day, a huge number of zoologists cannot explain the anomaly. However, there are more and more such horses. Many are tamed and bought as pets. They do not have a block, beautiful and obedient. In addition, it has long been believed that the horse is the most noble animal among the rest. But the price leaves much to be desired. One horse costs about $40,000.
Finally, I would like to talk about the smallest snakes. Leptovphlops Carlae is 10 centimeters long. At the same time, the snake is able to bear an ordinary egg with a snake, which is born with a size comparable to half of the parent. On the this moment Leptovphlops Carlae is endangered. Snakes are not dangerous, since the concentration of poison is scanty. They live on the island of Barbados. Speaking of the islands, I would like to bring to your attention an article that will be useful to everyone!
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