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Time of India
12 hours ago
- Science
- Time of India
Discover 10 smallest animals in the world that can fit in your palm
When we think of wildlife, towering elephants or roaring lions often steal the spotlight. But nature's most astonishing creatures aren't always large on the other hand, some are small enough to rest in your palm. Despite their size, these animals are perfectly adapted to their environments, showcasing extraordinary features and survival strategies. From a hummingbird no bigger than a bee to a frog the size of a fingernail, each of these tiny beings plays a vital role in the ecosystem. Despite their small stature, these creatures have crucial roles to play in their respective ecosystems—pollinating flowers, regulating insect populations, and acting as environmental health indicators. Their small sizes remind us that evolution is not always a size game, but about adaptability and specialization. In an age filled with giants, these small animals are a great reminder of life's diversity, strength, and magic. Here's a look at 10 of the world's smallest animals that you can hold in your palm—and what makes each one a fascinating example of evolution on a miniature scale. List of tiny creatures smaller than your hand Animal Name Length Weight Bee Hummingbird 5–6 cm Under 2 grams Paedocypris 8 mm Not specified Mouse Lemur Size of a walnut Around 30 grams Pygmy Marmoset 13 cm (body only) Around 100 grams Western Pygmy Possum Spoon-sized Around 10 grams Speckled Padloper Tortoise 8–10 cm Not specified Pygmy Seahorse Just over 2 cm Not specified Etruscan Shrew Very small Around 1.8 grams Tom Thumb Frog (Mini Mum) Fingernail-sized Not specified Pygmy Jerboa 4 cm Less than 4 grams Incredible palm-sized creatures Bee Hummingbird Source: Reddit Just 5–6 cm long and weighing under 2 grams, the bee hummingbird is the world's smallest bird—and one of the most brilliant. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch CFD với công nghệ và tốc độ tốt hơn IC Markets Đăng ký Undo It is found in Cuba and can beat its wings as much as 80 times every second, making a buzzing sound like a bee. Despite the fact that it is tiny in size, its contribution towards pollination is enormous. The bird is a nectar feeder and plays a vital role in reproduction in flowering plants. Its very rapid metabolism requires constant nourishment, which it subsists on with its speedy and agile flight. Paedocypris Source: Facebook The Paedocypris fish, which lives in the peat swamps of Indonesia, is only 8 mm long. It is one of the world's smallest vertebrates ever recorded. Its body is close to being transparent, and it has no fully developed skull—a form adapted to its acidic, low-oxygen environment. In spite of appearing like a larva rather than a mature fish, it can swim, eat, and reproduce just like an ordinary fish. Such radical adaptations enable it to live in water that is too extreme for all other aquatic life. Mouse Lemur Source: Reddit The Madagascar mouse lemur can appear to be a mouse with big eyes, but it's really a small primate. It weighs merely 30 grams and is approximately the size of a walnut. It's a mature mammal with remarkable nocturnal capabilities. Its huge eyes enable it to vision in the dark, and a good sense of smell enables it to locate insects and fruits. Despite its small size, it possesses many traits similar to bigger primates, providing scientists with knowledge about early primate evolution—of which humans are part. Pygmy Marmoset Source: Reddit The pygmy marmoset, which inhabits the rainforests of the Amazon, is frequently referred to as the "finger monkey" for good reason—it's so small it can grasp the tip of a human finger. It weighs just 100 grams and reaches a length of around 13 cm (not including its tail).It clings to trees using its pointed claws and feeds on tree sap, which it taps by gnawing on bark. Surprisingly, it's very social, squeaking and whistling to each other in family groups. Western Pygmy Possum Source: Australian Geographic This spoon-shaped marsupial found in Australia is a nectar-eating specialist. The animal weighs approximately 10 grams and is active primarily during the night. Being small in size, it can crawl quickly through vegetation, consuming nectar, pollen, and small insects. Western pygmy possum has an unexpectedly large role in pollination and is ideally suited to arid conditions, frequently going for long stretches of time without sipping water straight. Speckled Padloper Tortoise Source: Reddit The speckled padloper tortoise grows only 8–10 cm in length, making it the smallest species of tortoise in the entire world. Found on rocky ground in South Africa, its speckled shell allows it to camouflage itself, safeguarding it from predators. Its small size helps it navigate crevices and hide from danger. Unlike many larger tortoises, the padloper is solitary and rarely seen in the wild, making it a conservation priority due to habitat loss and illegal pet trade. Pygmy Seahorse Source: Measuring just more than 2 cm long, the pygmy seahorse is one of the most camouflaged creatures of the ocean. Living on Pacific coral reefs, its camouflage and texture are identical to those of the coral polyps it clings to. It wasn't found until coral was being cut off for aquarium research. Even aquatic biologists tend to overlook them in the wild because they are camouflaged. Their small size and secretive nature protect them from predators in a cutthroat reef setting. Etruscan Shrew Weighing around 1.8 grams, the Etruscan shrew is the smallest mammal by mass. It has a heart rate that can reach 1,500 beats per minute, and a metabolism so fast it must eat every few hours or risk death. This shrew eats insects and larvae and never sits still. Its minute size and voracious energy needs make it an evolutionary anomaly—and a living testament to how far nature will stretch biological limits. Tom Thumb Frog (Mini Mum) Found in Madagascar, this little frog is usually no bigger than the human fingernail—it is therefore nicknamed "Tom Thumb Frog." Though small, it acts just as any frog: croaking, hopping, and catching insects. It's one of a series of miniaturized frogs that have been discovered in the area recently, and they contradict what we thought about size constraints in vertebrates. They live by remaining camouflaged in leaf litter, which is an area where there are very few predators that can find them. Pygmy Jerboa The pygmy jerboa resembles a baby kangaroo, with long hind legs and a very small body. It is found in the deserts of neighbouring countries and measures only 4 cm in length and weighs less than 4 grams. Its long legs enable it to hop effectively over hot desert sand, saving energy and staying out of harm's way. With enormous eyes and ears, it's an animal of the night, dependent on night vision and heightened hearing to survive in its unforgiving environment. Also Read | 92-year-old Chinese grandma stuns netizens with daily routine of 200 push-ups and 100 sit-ups
Indian Express
07-06-2025
- Science
- Indian Express
Did you know some birds are ‘vegetarian'? Here are 5 you can spot in India and what they eat
It can be fascinating to find out that only two to three per cent of the bird species are herbivorous. According to Animal Spot, these 'vegetarian' birds have specialised beaks that let them tear and process plant matter, gut microbes to digest complex carbohydrates – all designed to allow them to feed on plants. Their digestive systems, however, aren't very different from omnivores or carnivores. As per Animal Wised, the tongue adapts to the shape of the beak. In some cases, it is hard and fleshy, as seen in different parrot species. They lack teeth, so it is common for the food to pass directly to the digestive tract once ingested, making it an efficient way to process food in a short time. These birds also happen to lack a gallbladder, a common organ found in vertebrates. Herbivorous birds can be grouped into several categories based on what they eat. Frugivores are fruit-eaters that help plants reproduce by dispersing seeds through their droppings. Granivores feed on grains and seeds, using strong beaks and gizzards to grind their food. Sapsuckers tap into trees to drink sap, gaining essential minerals, sugars, and water. Nectarivores have long, slender beaks designed to sip nectar from flowers, often pollinating them in the process. Finally, folivores consume leaves and have digestive systems similar to grazing animals like cows, allowing them to process fibrous plant material efficiently. Swans: Regal and graceful, swans spend time both on land and water. They graze on grass and feed on aquatic vegetation near lakes and ponds. Parrots: Belonging to the order Psittaciformes, many parrot species are granivores or frugivores. Their strong, curved beaks are ideal for cracking seeds and eating fruit. Geese and ducks: While some geese occasionally eat insects, species like the swan goose (Anser cygnoides) feed almost exclusively on roots, seeds, and aquatic plants. Pigeons and doves: Stocky-bodied with short beaks, most pigeons and doves are granivorous or frugivorous. In urban areas, many have adapted to scavenge human food but naturally prefer seeds and fruit. Hummingbirds: Tiny, fast, and dazzlingly colourful, hummingbirds thrive on nectar. Their fine, needle-like beaks are perfect for reaching deep into flowers to feed. The largest herbivorous bird to exist is the Common Ostrich, the largest bird alive today. And the smallest herbivorous bird happens to be the Bee Hummingbird, the smallest bird in the world.
