Insanely cute miniature animals from around the world

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American pygmy goat -

Of African origin, the cute-as-a-button American pygmy goat was imported to the United States in the 1930s, and today is a popular pet. The friendly creatures measure up to 50 cm (19.6 in) on average.

 

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Dexter cows -

The smallest European cattle breed, Dexter cows are half the size of many other species. Reaching up to 107 cm (42.1 in) in height, the compact cows originated in Ireland before being exported to England and the US.

 

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Eurasian pygmy owl -

The smallest owl in Europe, the Eurasian pygmy owl is a cartoonishly-cute bird that's almost sparrow-like in size. Found in northern and central Europe, the birds grow to a maximum of 19 cm (7.4 in) in height.

 

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Ferruginous pygmy owl -

Arguably even cuter, the tiny ferruginous pygmy owl is typically around 15 cm (5.9 in). The big-eyed bird is one of the most common owl species in Central and South America, and is sometimes spotted in southern Texas as well as South Central Arizona.

 

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Dwarf donkey -

The miniature donkey, or dwarf donkey, is a type of Mediterranean donkey specially-bred to be smaller than your average donkey. In fact, they can be around half the size. In the US, a donkey has to measure no more than 91.5 cm (36 in) to class as a mini.

 

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Pygmy possum -

These mini-marsupials have eyes that could melt the hardest of hearts! Native to Australia, Papua New Guinea, and Indonesia, the tree-dwelling critters can measure as little as 5 cm (1.9 in) when fully grown.

 

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Pygmy tarsier -

Once thought to be extinct, these tiny tarsiers made big news in 2008 when researchers found some alive and well in Indonesia for the first time in 80 years. At just over 10 cm (3.9 in), they do a good job of disappearing into the undergrowth.

 

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Pygmy cupwing -

Looking like a brown, furry tennis ball, the pygmy cupwing is often found hopping through the undergrowth of southern and eastern Asia. Growing no larger than 9 cm (3.5 in), it's also known as the pygmy wren-babbler.

 

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Cuvier's dwarf caiman -

You might not want to cuddle one, but the South American caiman is still a pretty cute critter (as a baby, at least!). First discovered in 1807 by French zoologist Georges Cuvier, it's the smallest of the typically-large animals in the crocodilian family, measuring around 1.4 m (4.5 ft).

 

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Pygmy mouse lemur -

Sometimes known as Peters' mouse lemur, this perfectly-petite primate grows no larger than 13 cm (5.1 in). The elusive creature largely slipped off the radar for many years, until being rediscovered in Madagascar in 1993.

 

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African pygmy mouse -

What's smaller than a tiny mouse? A pygmy mouse, of course! The African pygmy mouse is one of the smallest rodents on the planet, with adults sometimes measuring less than 3 cm (1.1 in) without the tail. The cute critters are widespread in sub-Saharan Africa.