5 of the Smallest Mammals in the Planet

They might look defenseless and cute, but their size helps these small mammals to survive their environment and live to see another day. From climbing delicate branches like acrobats while hunting to moving fast and dodging predators, these petite animals use their small frames for their advantage.Here are the top 5 smallest mammals on the planet.

Pygmy possum

Although this furry little creature looks more like a chinchilla or a hamster than a kangaroo, they’re actually members of the marsupial family, along with koalas, Tasmanian devils and wombats. They can grow to about 2 to 4 inches and weigh in at 10 to 45 grams. Like larger possum species, they’re nocturnal and spend a lot of time hanging upside-down using their tails. These little possums can be seen in Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and Australia. During colder months, they prepare themselves for hibernation. After gaining all the nutrients that they need and store it in their tails, they roll up into a ball and their metabolism and body temperature reduces.

American shrew mole

Weighing in at about two nickels, or 10 grams, the American shrew mole is one of the lightest mammals on the planet. They grow to about 2 inches long with a tail that reaches about an inch in length. They’re also called Gibb's shrew mole and are mostly seen in the woods in the northwestern areas of the United States and around southwestern British Columbia. The American shrew mole has a long snout that it uses to sniff out food. Its paws are equipped with pointy nails that let it burrow down into the earth and create tunnels.

Pygmy jerboa

The pygmy jerboa became really famous when a video of one went viral on the internet. This tiny animal looks like a mixture of a baby kangaroo and a mouse. Recorded as the smallest rodent in the planet, it only weighs in at 3 grams and grows to about 2 inches. An identifying feature of this animal is its tail which can grow 3 times longer than its body, averaging at 6 inches long. A native to Afghanistan and Pakistan, certain species are also seen in China and Central Asia.

Etruscan shrew

Commonly weighing at 2 grams, these animals reach a length of 1.5 to 2 inches, not including their tails which take up 1/3 of their total body length. At most, they can reach about 2.3 inches in total body length. Although it might be small, this shrew is known for its huge appetite. Eating roughly twice its body weight in a day, it’s constantly munching on something. Its heart also beats at 25 beats a second which makes it seem like the little guy is constantly getting mini heart attacks. Etruscan shrews are common is the grassy fields of North Africa and Southern Europe.

Bumblebee bat

Although there are a number of shrews on the list, the smallest mammal in the planet has to be the bumblebee bat. Weighing at just below2 grams and reaching a length of 1 to 1.3 inches. Recently discovered during the 1970’s this bat is also known as Kitti's hog-nosed bat, named after the zoologist that discovered it and its pig-like snout. These bats live in certain limestone caves in southeast Myanmar and western Thailand.