Top 7 Smallest Mammals In The World

In the vast kingdom of mammals, where giants like elephants dominate the land and whales conquer the open sea, it’s easy to overlook the world of minuscules. Despite the smallest mammals in the world weighing less than a coin or measuring shorter than a matchstick, they simply thrive in environments where agility, stealth, and efficiency are paramount.

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These miniature mammals often live fast and die young. Their small bodies lose heat quickly, so they must consume high-energy food and remain active almost constantly. These tiny mammals remind us that nature’s brilliance often lies in the details and here we would like to share with you the top 7 smallest mammals in the world.

7. American shrew mole (~4 inches)

The American shrew mole (Neurotrichus gibbsii) is the smallest species of mole in North America, measuring around 4 inches in length and weighing between 7 to 11 grams. This mole is a powerful digger and an energetic insectivore, thriving in the damp forests of the Pacific Northwest.

It has a shrew-like body with soft, velvety fur, a pointed snout, and small eyes. Its forelimbs are adapted for digging, though less robust than those of larger moles. - Its diet consists mainly of insects, larvae, worms, and other invertebrates, which it hunts using its keen sense of smell.

6. Pygmy Possum (~3 inches)

The Tasmanian pygmy possum (Cercartetus lepidus) is the smallest possum in the world, measuring just about 3 inches in body length and weighing between 7 to 10 grams. Despite its tiny size, this marsupial is a remarkable survivor, thriving in cool, temperate habitats across Tasmania and parts of southern Australia.

It somehow resembles a dormouse, with large eyes, soft gray-brown fur, and a prehensile tail used for climbing and balance. The pygmy possum is omnivorous, feeding on nectar, pollen, insects, and small invertebrates. On top of that, it plays a vital role in pollination, especially of native Australian plants like Banksia and Eucalyptus.

5. Long-Tailed Planigale (~2.3 inches)

Credit: Donna Belder

The long-tailed planigale (Planigale ingrami) is the smallest marsupial in the world. It can be found abundantly in northern Australia. It's an elusive creature, a master of survival in harsh, cracked-soil landscapes. They measure just under 5 cm in body length as well as weigh as little as 4 grams.

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It has a flattened head, just 3 to 4 mm deep, allowing it to slip into narrow soil cracks. Its fur is short and brownish, blending well with the dry terrain. As a marsupial, females carry their young in a pouch, though the pouch is often rudimentary compared to larger marsupials.

4. African Pygmy Mouse (~2.1 inches in length)

Credit: Alouise Lynch

The African pygmy mouse (Mus minutoides) is one of the smallest mammals in the world, with adults weighing as little as 4 grams and measuring around 2.1 inches in body length. It can be found widely across sub-Saharan Africa, inhabiting the savannas, grasslands, and scrublands.

Its fur color varies from gray to brick-red, with a pale underside. It has triangular ears and a compact, agile build. Not only that, but this creature is often kept as a pet in some regions. Found in Baluchistan, a harsh desert region in southeastern Pakistan, the pygmy jerboa survives in one of the most extreme environments on Earth.

3. Pygmy Jerboa (~1.7 inches)

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The Baluchistan pygmy jerboa (Salpingotulus michaelis) holds the title of the smallest rodent by body mass and length. Native to the deserts of southeastern Pakistan, this tiny creature weighs just 3.2 grams and measures about 1.7 inches in body length.

They have a compact body, long hind legs for jumping, and a disproportionately long tail that helps with balance. Their fur is pale and sandy, ideal for desert camouflage.

2. Etruscan Shrew (~1.5 inches in length)

Credit: Trebol-a

The Etruscan shrew (Suncus etruscus) is the smallest known mammal by mass, weighing just around 1.8 grams and measuring about 1.5 inches in body length. This tiny insectivore is a marvel of biological efficiency, packing a high-speed metabolism and lightning-fast reflexes despite having a body smaller than a matchstick.

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Don't be fooled by its miniature size, as the Etruscan shrew is a fierce predator, capable of consuming up to twice its body weight in insects every day. It can be found across southern Europe, North Africa, and Asia. This mammal is covered in soft, pale brown fur with gray underparts. It has a pointed snout, large ears relative to its head, and short hind limbs compared to its forelegs.

1. Bumblebee Bat (~1.1 inches in length)

Credit: Daniel Hargreaves

The bumblebee bat, also known as Kitti’s hog-nosed bat is widely considered the smallest mammal in the world by body length, measuring just 1.1 inches(about the length of a large paperclip) and weighing around 2 grams. This species is native to limestone caves in western Thailand and southeastern Myanmar.

Discovered in 1973 by Thai biologist Kitti Thonglongya, the bat was named in his honor and remains one of the rarest and most elusive mammals known to science. Its fur is reddish-brown or gray on top and pale underneath. It has dark wings with long tips, and a distinctive pig-like snout that gives it the “hog-nosed” nickname.

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