Itty bitty fur balls
Though small size may seem like a meager trait, in the biological world it can come with some big advantages.
Small mammals can occupy ecological niches which are inaccessible to larger animals, and their petite frames make it easier to hide undetected, burrow into minor crevices or climb upon the flimsiest of branches.
They're also incredibly cute, like this baby pygmy marmoset (pictured). Here's our list of some of the world's smallest mammals.
Etruscan shrew
There are a number of tiny shrews, but this pipsqueak takes the cake as the smallest. In fact, the Etruscan shrew is the smallest mammal in the world by mass. On average it weighs less than 2 grams, and has a body length of about 4 centimeters.
For such a tiny animal, however, it has a huge appetite — it typically eats about twice its own body weight every day!
Jerboas
For their size, these minuscule mammals sure can jump. Jerboas have kangaroo-like legs which allow them to leap distances far exceeding their body lengths, an adaptation that helps them move quickly over the vast, arid deserts that they call home.
This ability is a great example of convergent evolution. Although jerboas may resemble miniature kangaroos, they aren't actually related to them. In fact, they are rodents.
The smallest species is the pygmy jerboa, which also happens to be the smallest rodent in the world.
Bumblebee bat
The bumblebee bat, also known as Kitti's hog-nosed bat, is the world's smallest bat and the smallest mammal in the world based on skull size.
Weighing in at just around 2 grams, it's so small that you might actually confuse one for a bumblebee if it went buzzing by your ear in the night.
Unfortunately, its delicate size is also indicative of its biological status. The IUCN lists the animal as vulnerable, and a few roosting populations are at risk of extinction due primarily to human activity.
Mouse lemurs
These adorable creatures are the world's smallest primates, measuring in at around 27 centimeters in length including their tails.
The smallest species is the Madame Berthe's mouse lemur, which measures at just about 10 centimeters and weighs only about 30 grams, meaning it could easily fit into the palm of a hand. (Check out these pictures and videos of lurking mouse lemurs!).
Least weasel
This finicky, wise little weasel is the smallest species of the Carnivora order, making it the tiniest true carnivore in the world.
Weighing in at under 50 grams, It might be hard to imagine something so small being such a clever hunter, but the lesser weasel is the worst nightmare of any small rodent it encounters.
They are also known for having a "small person complex," often exhibiting a much bigger, more ferocious personality than their small size might suggest.
Pygmy possum
Ranging in length between 5 and 10 centimeters and often weighing in at barely over 10 grams, these mini marsupials are found hanging upside down in trees in Australia and New Guinea.
They are so small and so difficult to spot that a new species of pygmy possum was just discovered as recently as 2007.
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