Big Surprises in Small Packages: 9 of the World's Tiniest Animals

May 16th, 2024 CHIRANJIT MITRA CHIRANJIT MITRA

[{"selector":"#anim-3ae836fe-2d87-413b-9151-4dc7af50d6e6 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(7.908163287516974%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3e0040ac-2b55-46ba-a124-677e50835cfe","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-43c47e2a-e578-426f-b589-901e50fc4e16","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Get ready to be amazed! We're shrinking to meet some of Earth's tiniest animals and discover where they roam.

1: Paedocypris Fish

[{"selector":"#anim-85caad7f-cf99-4124-b218-94850cb0294e [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0, 5.2326713395638755%, 0)","translate3d(0, 0%, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-75a573a7-f059-4d24-842c-0456f7690d6f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e4bbbe29-0d09-49b8-899f-cfad7e269748","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5fca695f-16fc-45b9-80f3-969d24424a16","keyframes":{"opacity":[1,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-32c6f6ea-b0f5-43f0-986b-99d08fcb9927","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(3)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Size: Less than 8mm long! Lives: Acidic peat swamps of Sumatra

2: Pygmy Marmoset

[{"selector":"#anim-d14b112e-4f68-4d4c-bda6-4bcc64567973 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-6.114732271582337%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-aa11cfd9-432d-46a5-a698-0dbbc9edb727","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-cb9a000e-7583-48a1-9dea-f3d2021b8273","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-13ebf458-2a6f-400b-a67f-5172969351ea","keyframes":{"opacity":[1,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ec2473c9-156f-43f0-9f1f-c34022c7964e","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(3)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Size: The smallest monkey, just larger than your thumb Lives: Amazon rainforest

3: Brookesia nana Chameleon

[{"selector":"#anim-5dd67676-5192-491d-bbc4-cb82ff6d6f88 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-5.029479718474615%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ef452d6f-d232-45c4-9324-8539d0ad4f83","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-98584b1a-ce10-49f6-af0a-a450b6a49fe8","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c05c2399-1e75-46f6-8ae5-e0a18c5c15b2","keyframes":{"opacity":[1,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-cc054885-fb5e-49f8-971c-fc1c491302ff","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(3)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Size: Could fit on a matchhead! Lives: Madagascar's rainforests

4: Bee Hummingbird

[{"selector":"#anim-78307ba5-ee86-40e7-861f-4ee8a8d45efe [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-7.753137837149798%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e3960d4f-ba76-4e22-b72a-6e173705e4ef","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ed4d3358-a679-41d7-aef3-bb3b479cd9e1","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a2c86aec-d169-43f6-b51b-2231eb1efcce","keyframes":{"opacity":[1,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2846d9e3-f735-46f3-a0c6-2775d4422424","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(3)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Size: Smallest bird, lighter than a dime Lives: Cuba

5: Etruscan Shrew

[{"selector":"#anim-f9821df6-4f09-491f-a987-678cd3ff72fb","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-56b7d4dc-23d4-46a1-9c7b-91e737651add","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-af0b46dd-6ac5-4cfb-a679-460970feb1d5","keyframes":{"opacity":[1,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ba4ae70b-18ff-4989-add7-366fec0bf217","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(3)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ca6a84c1-f9a9-473f-8314-8016c1fabad1 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-25.16051850549354%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] Size: Smallest mammal by mass (around 1.8 grams) Lives: Mediterranean regions

6: Speckled Padloper Tortoise

[{"selector":"#anim-431aaa3e-7500-4b1f-b291-1ba75195f266 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(35.950483888972926%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-83852054-0f93-4cf5-b743-373c594f8654","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5ac70ef1-5a34-41bd-aa8e-6d95f262bdfa","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-89d6266c-8d2a-4e75-8d4d-b95945f7c3c6","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-123.04832%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f646a5b1-065a-42aa-ae12-d70d85b1d6e1","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0dcabd6b-3dbf-4edf-991a-585ca6a6840b","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] Size: Smallest tortoise, shells about 8cm long Lives: South Africa

7: Barbados Threadsnake

[{"selector":"#anim-62427ec7-3b61-411a-a777-6288a2ddb63d [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(4.7607300881333785%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f18762a9-b2cd-4641-bba1-2dc7e9553d8e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-bf7d826a-805f-421d-a062-5107b2b947d6","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a5e4f044-2165-4553-b6da-0717df1c469c","keyframes":{"opacity":[1,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2d155092-2f80-4082-9c23-9926023ee2ee","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(3)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] S ize: Thinner than spaghetti Lives: Barbados, Caribbean

8: Kitti's Hog-nosed Bat (Bumblebee Bat)

[{"selector":"#anim-49d1ff2a-6b42-47cf-b7fa-08de0434a93e [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-32.262406526255766%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0e0b655f-ac4d-4ec6-98a0-e7c8a287403e","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.18987%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a4011ed7-e44a-4d8a-89cd-2b435780fcdf","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3be107c6-82ed-4aa3-bb31-f8d67c5f147f","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ddbb5808-489c-40a8-b5da-1a77eb244731","keyframes":{"opacity":[1,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-766f3f2c-144d-4f67-bc91-02cac67c1d28","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(3)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Size: Around a bumblebee's size Lives: Thailand and Myanmar

9: Madame Berthe's Mouse Lemur

[{"selector":"#anim-889fd017-8025-4ce5-b4ca-da70cad25620 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(26.25242171511948%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5cdb9986-82f4-4fc6-b3e4-c2cbfda39add","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6a79e861-9b38-4bf1-83a8-275fc47ed966","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-728bebd8-b0c8-4e9d-b97f-d30ad372a811","keyframes":{"opacity":[1,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-31bfd201-bc80-43f5-872a-5cc6d4881cd4","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(3)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Size: Smallest primate, fits in your palm Lives: Madagascar

[{"selector":"#anim-0388e2aa-9948-4fbe-8612-170b0543e2b1 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1ccfec06-5267-4f30-bdb7-a895909e4dec","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ef1c9f2f-b56d-46aa-a552-c7f9e499f93f","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Small but mighty! These pint-sized creatures prove that amazing things come in tiny packages.