6 Tiny Fur Ball Mammals

Although they’re small in size, these little mammals actually have an edge, especially when it comes to surviving. Their petite figures helps them stay under the radar of predators easily, burrowing into small crevices or running up to flimsy branches to escape. And they’re also really cute.

Below are a few tiny mammals and a little info about them.

Etruscan Shrew

Shrews are known to be small, but the Etruscan shrew will have to take the prize for the smallest of them all. In fact, they’re recorded as the smallest mammal on earth by mass. They weigh in at 2 grams on an average and grow to 4 centimeters in length. However, for something so small, its appetite is huge. It usually eats twice its own weight in a day.

Jerboas

For its size, this little mammal can really jump high. Although they’re more related to mice than kangaroos, their legs are similar to the kangaroos, which lets them leap far distances. Their ability to hop quickly is a big help since they live in the vast, hot desert.  Pygmy jerboas are the smallest amongst the species. In fact they’re the smallest rodents on earth.

Bumblebee Bat

Also known as Kitti's hog-nosed bat, they are the smallest bats in the world. They also have the smallest skulls amongst all mammals. These bats are so small that you might even confuse them with an actually bumblebee when they fly near you. Sadly, their delicate size makes them helpless, especially to human activities. They’re now tagged as vulnerable in the IUCN.

Mouse Lemurs

Recorded as the smallest primate on earth, they measure at about 27 centimeters from the tip of their heads to the tip of their tail. The smallest specie of the Mouse Lemurs is the Madame Berthe's mouse lemur, which on an average weighs in at 30 grams and grows to around 10 centimeters.

Least Weasel

A very active little guy, the least weasel is considered as the tiniest true carnivore on earth. It’s the smallest amongst the species under the Carnivora order, weighing at about 50 grams. Although they’re small, they are a bit aggressive. These guys are great hunters and scurry around for small rodents to eat.

Pygmy Possum

They mature with a length of around 5to 10 centimeters and weigh in at a little over 10 grams. These tiny marsupials are native to New Guinea and Australia. They spend most of their time in the canopy, hanging upside down on trees. Because they’re so small and hard to find, a new specie was discovered in 2005.