The animal kingdom is full of fascinating creatures of all sizes, from magnificent blue whales to the African elephant. But nestled amongst the giant mammals of the world are tiny creatures that are just as important to our ecosystem. We take a look at 18 of the smallest mammals that are thriving despite the challenges the world faces with climate change:
Etruscan Shrew
This world’s smallest mammal is the Etruscan shrew, which tips the scales at just 1.5 grams, which is lighter than a nickel. They can be found in warm and humid climates across Europe, North Africa, and Asia. Due to their size, their lifespans are relatively short, typically only lasting 15 months in the wild.
Baluchistan Pygmy Jerboa
This desert dweller, found in Pakistan and Afghanistan, measures just 4.1 cm in length, excluding its tail. Their large ears help them radiate heat in the scorching desert, which can reach 104 °F.
Pygmy Possum
These minuscule marsupials, native to Australia and New Guinea, come in various species, all under 5 cm long. They are nocturnal insectivores with excellent climbing skills and are essential pollinators for many plants, moving from flower to flower and feeding on nectar and pollen.
Bumblebee Bat
As the name suggests, this bat species is about the size of a bumblebee, with a wingspan of just 13 cm and a weight of just 2 grams. They are expert hoverers, feeding on nectar and insects.
Dwarf White-Toothed Shrew
Found in Africa, this tiny shrew averages around 2 grams and measures 24-44 mm. Their high metabolism fuels their active lifestyle on islands, such as the Isles of Scilly in the United Kingdom and the Channel Islands off the coast of France.
Least Weasel
Don’t let its name fool you; the least weasel can be ferocious hunters and are the smallest carnivores in North America, measuring around 11.4 cm. Least weasels have long and slender bodies with short legs and a tail that are less than half their body length.
Northern Forest Deer Mouse
These tiny rodents are vital seed dispersers in North American forests. Despite their size, around 7.6 cm, they can survive harsh winters by entering torpor, a state of lowered body temperature.
African Pygmy Elephant Shrew
These insectivores from Sub-Saharan Africa have a long, pointed snout perfect for digging and a long, flexible tail for balance. They are excellent burrowers and disappear underground in an instant.
Savanna Deer Mouse
Like their northern cousins, these savanna dwellers play a crucial role in seed dispersal in African grasslands. They are one of the most common rodent species in North America and can be found in a variety of habitats, including grasslands, forests, and even deserts.
Trinidad Pygmy Rice Rat
Endemic to Trinidad and Tobago, this tiny rice rat, also known as the long-eared Oligoryzomys, is another vital seed disperser in its tropical island habitat. They measure 100 to 130 mm and have a tail reaching 120 to 150 mm.
American Shrew Mole
The American shrew mole is the smallest species of mole found in North America. It’s also known as the least shrew mole or Gibbs’ shrew mole, which is ironic as it is not related to the shrew family. Unlike other moles, the American shrew is active above ground as well as underground. They can be spotted in woodlands in the U.S.A. and Canada.
Mouse Lemur
There are 18 known species of mouse lemur, all found in Madagascar. The tiniest of these primates is Madame Berthe’s mouse lemur, which weighs just 30 grams. Their distinctive large eyes enable them to see in the dark and dodge their prey.
Pygmy Marmoset
Typically weighing only around 100 grams, pygmy marmosets are arguably the cutest things you can spot in the western Amazon Basin. They’re known as gummivores as they get most of their food from tree gum, which they extract using their specialized lower jaws and sharp teeth.
Long-Tailed Planigale
These tiny marsupials measure just 5.7-6.1 cm and weigh 2.6-6.6 grams. They prefer floodplains, clay-soiled woodlands, and seasonally flooded grasslands in Australia. While they are prone to predators, they have a 40-day gestation, meaning there are a significant number in existence.
Pen-Tailed Tree Shrew
The pen-tailed tree shrew is a small, arboreal mammal native to Southeast Asia. They weigh 13 to 23 cm and are found in tropical rainforests in southern Thailand, the Malay Peninsula, Borneo, and some Indonesian islands. Despite their small stature, they eat small vertebrates like lizards and geckos.
African Striped Weasel
This small, black-and-white weasel is native to sub-Saharan Africa and weighs 339g (males) and 251g (females). It is hard to see these weasels in the wild as they come out to play at night and run around a lot.
Red Slender Loris
The red slender loris is one of the world’s smallest mammals, weighing 103 to 148 grams. One of its most striking features is its large, round eyes, which allow for excellent night vision, which is crucial for its nocturnal lifestyle. These shy creatures are exclusively found in the tropical rainforests of Sri Lanka’s southwestern wet zone.
Silky Anteater
The silky anteater is the smallest known anteater species, with adults measuring only 14 to 18 inches. Its sharp claws on its forefeet allow it to climb trees and rip open ant nests, and its long, prehensile tail helps it maintain balance when hopping through the rainforest.
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