It's a big world out there, but it's still pretty hard to believe that there are a whopping 8.7 million animal species on Earth. While gigantic creatures like elephants and horses aren't too hard to spot, many other critters are so small that it's shocking they've been discovered at all.
We've already shown you just how big some of the planet's largest animals can grow to be, but anyone who's ever seen a nearly invisible spider scuttling up the wall and compared it to a tarantula in their mind knows that lots of creatures can vary greatly in size. It's not just bugs, either — lots of cute and cuddly creatures range from mighty to minuscule as well!
Just as the biggest animals in the world can appear to be Photoshopped, so can the tiniest creatures on the planet. But unlike these animals who unknowingly created mind-bending optical illusions, the animals in the photos below aren't trying to fool you. They're 100 percent real, but unless you walk around constantly looking through a microscope, you're still unlikely to see most of them anywhere but in a photograph.
Take a look at these animals that are the smallest of their kind, and make sure you have a ruler handy so you can imagine just how tiny they really are. Number 9 is so small, I would have definitely thought it was a bug instead of a reptile if I didn't know better!
Make sure you SHARE these itty bitty creatures with everyone you know!
1. Smallest Horse - Falabella
The Falabella is a breed of miniature horse that usually doesn't get taller than eight hands (32 inches) at the withers. Despite their size, they're considered horses rather than ponies, and they can be taught to pull carts or even act as guide animals.
2. Smallest Dog - Chihuahua
It's a close race between these tiny dogs and Yorkshire terriers, but with a maximum height of 10 inches and an average weight between 4 and 6 pounds, the Chihuahua is the smallest dog breed recognized by the American Kennel Club. While "teacup" varieties of dogs might be even tinier in some cases, they aren't an official breed.
3. Smallest Cat - Singapura
This already small cat looks even tinier thanks to its huge eyes and ears. Males usually weigh no more than 8 pounds, while females usually don't grow to be more than 6 pounds.
4. Smallest Frog - Paedophryne Amauensis
Not only is this the smallest species of frog, but it's also the smallest known vertebrate in the world. It was discovered in Papua New Guinea for the first time in 2009, but it wasn't until 2012 that it was made known to the public.
5. Smallest Rodent - African Pygmy Mouse
The African Pygmy Mouse is tied with the Baluchistan pygmy jerboa for the place of smallest rodent in the world. Adults are normally no more than 3 inches long, excluding their tails. These little guys are found in the wild in sub-Saharan Africa, but you can get them as pets in many other parts of the world.
6. Smallest Fish - Paedocypris Progenetica
This itty bitty fishy is found swimming in the swamps and streams of Indonesia. Adults grow to be only 0.4 inches long, and they were the smallest known vertebrates in the world until Paedophryne amauensis (number 4 on this list) was discovered.
7. Smallest Bat - Kitti's Hog-Nosed Bat
Also known as the bumblebee bat, these little critters are often considered the smallest mammals on the planet. They can be found in the wild in Thailand and Burma, and they rarely grow to be longer than 1.3 inches.
8. Smallest Monkey - Pygmy Marmoset
Weighing just 3.5 ounces, these marmosets are the smallest monkeys on Earth. They live in the rainforests of South America, and the ones that live in more touristy areas are actually pretty friendly with humans!
9. Smallest Snake - Barbados Threadsnake
Unless you live on Barbados, you don't need to worry about mistaking this snake for a worm. These little snakes usually don't grow longer than 4 inches.
10. Smallest Bird - Bee Hummingbird
Spotting the world's smallest bird is hard enough, but you're never going to see it outside of Cuba. The bee hummingbird weighs about 0.07 ounces and doesn't grow larger than 2.4 inches in length.
11. Smallest Tortoise or Turtle - Speckled Padloper
These tiny tortoises are found in Little Namaqualand, which is a region in South Africa. They weigh less than 6 ounces and normally don't grow to be more than 3 inches in length.
12. Smallest Reptile - Virgin Islands Dwarf Sphaero
Technically, this little lizard shares its title with the dwarf gecko. At just 0.7 inches and 0.005 ounces, it's amazing that anyone ever found this itty bitty reptile!
Make sure you SHARE these tiny critters with everyone you know!
