Insanely cute miniature animals from around the world

[jw5]

Small but perfectly formed, miniature animals are some of the cutest creatures on the planet. Often known as 'pygmy' or 'dwarf' animals, these cute critters look like scaled-down versions of familiar faces from the animal kingdom. Sometimes these mini-cuties are wildlife wonders that have evolved to be dinky, others are the result of breeding programs to produce purposefully-petite creatures that are in high demand as pets.

 

[jw5]

Pygmy marmoset -

The smallest monkey in the world, the pygmy marmoset is found in the rainforests of the western Amazon Basin in South America. At around 15 cm (5.9 in), it's one of the tiniest primates on the planet.

 

[jw5]

Dwarf mongoose -

Native to several African countries including Angola and Zambia, the dwarf mongoose is Africa's smallest carnivore. The small animals live in large groups, and measure up to 26 cm (10.2 in) when fully grown.

 

[jw5]

Pygmy falcon -

The smallest raptor on the African continent, the pygmy falcon typically measures around 20 cm (7.8 in) in length. Native to eastern and southern Africa, they're small-but-mighty birds of prey, eating reptiles, insects, and even small birds.

 

[jw5]

Shetland pony -

These adorably-small ponies take their name from the Scottish Shetland Isles where they originated. The ponies, which typically measure around 102 cm (40.1 in) in height, are well-adapted to their harsh climate. These sturdy creatures served as working animals before finding popularity as children's pets.

 

[jw5]

Western dwarf coati -

Sometimes known as the western mountain coati, this cute coati is a high-altitude animal. It wanders the cloud forests of the Colombian and Ecuadorian Andes, and, at around 30 cm (11.8 in) excluding its tail, is half the size of other coati breeds.

 

[jw5]

Pygmy rattlesnake -

Less cuddly than many of its petite peers, the pygmy rattlesnake is native to the southeastern United States. At an average length of 30-61 cm (12-24 in), they're a lot smaller than your typical rattlesnake, and are reclusive creatures—although some people do keep them as pets!

 

[jw5]

Pygmy slow loris -

These big-eyed beauties are forest-dwelling primates found in Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, and China. Adults grow to a maximum of around 23 cm (9 in), and feast on fruits and tree sap as well as insects. They might look sweet, but watch out: they have a toxic bite!

 

[jw5]

Pygmy leaf chameleon -

One of the smallest lizard-types on the planet, this charismatic chameleon measures a maximum of 3.4 cm (1.3 in). Sometimes known as the Nosy Be pygmy leaf chameleon, the creature is native to Nosy Be, an island off the coast of Madagascar.

 

[jw5]

African pygmy kingfisher -

This small-but-beautiful bird measures around 12 cm (4.7 in) in length, and is found south of the African Sahara. The brightly-plumed birds nest in sandy burrows, and are known to eat geckos and lizards as long as themselves!

 

[ginfreely]

Pygmy slow loris -

These big-eyed beauties are forest-dwelling primates found in Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, and China. Adults grow to a maximum of around 23 cm (9 in), and feast on fruits and tree sap as well as insects. They might look sweet, but watch out: they have a toxic bite!

Lots of innocent looking beasts with toxic bites indeed.

 

[jw5]

Pygmy shrew -

These fast-moving animals measure a maximum 6 cm (2.3 in) in length without their tail. Native to northern Eurasia, the petite pygmy shrew has a super-fast metabolism, and needs to eat around every two hours.

 

[jw5]

Pygmy cormorant -

Around half the size of a great cormorant, the pygmy cormorant stands at a maximum of 55 cm (21.6 in). Native to southeastern Europe and southwestern Asia, the birds are rare beauties.

 

[jw5]

Pygmy rabbit -

Native to the United States, these mini-bunnies are the smallest members of the leporid (rabbits and hares) family. They grow no larger than 29.5 cm (11.6 in), and are also notable for their smaller-than-average ears.

 

[jw5]

Pygmy blue whale -

Whales are hardly known for their petite stature, but the pygmy blue whale is several meters smaller than others in its family. At around 24 m (78.7 ft), it's still a big beast, but 'true' blue whales can grow up to 33 m (108 ft).

 

[jw5]

Pygmy nuthatch -

This tiny songbird is the teeniest of an already-small type of bird. Found singing sweetly in the pine forests of western North America, they typically measure just 10 cm (3.93 in).

 

[jw5]

Mini pig -

Sometimes known as teacup pigs or pygmy pigs, these undeniably-cute animals are the source of some controversy. Mini pig is a label given to several breeds of domestic pig, selectively bred to be small in size. But many cute-looking piglets grow to be much larger in size than their owners expected!

 

[jw5]

African pygmy hedgehog -

Another little cutie that has recently become a popular pet choice, the African pygmy hedgehog has softer spikes than its larger relatives. Growing no larger than around 30 cm (11.8 in), their natural habitat is Central Africa.

 

[jw5]

Fennec fox -

Measuring just 20 cm (7.8 in) in height on average, the fennec fox is the smallest canine on the planet. With enormous bat-like ears, it looks like something from a cartoon, but in real life these carnivorous mini foxes roam the deserts of Northern Africa and Asia.

 

[jw5]

Pygmy hippo -

Native to the forests and swamps of West Africa, the herbivorous pygmy hippopotamus is extremely rare—it's thought that fewer than 2,500 exist in the wild. Adult pygmy hippos are half as tall as a common hippopotamus, at around 100 cm (39.3 in).