Animals you Didn't Know got that small

Scientists believe that animals got smaller in time due to two factors; one is the competition for resources so that they have more to eat and the other is closely related to that which is the risk of extinction and habitat loss.  

Etruscan Shrew 

They are the world's smallest mammals by mass, weighing in at about 1.8 grams. These small critters eat around 1.5 to 2 times their own body weight per day. They eat small invertebrates, mostly insects that are around their own size. Preferring warmer climates, they live around 10° to 30°N, stretching from North America to Europe and even Malaysia. Although they are classified as Least Concerned and widely spread around the world, they are generally uncommon and, in some countries, endangered.

Bumblebee bat

Competing with the Etruscan shrew for the smallest mammal in the world, they are the smallest by size with body length of 29 to 33 mm (1.1 to 1.3 in). They live in limestone caves in Thailand and Myanmar, where they vary greatly in size and live with around 100 individuals per cave. Although the Myanmar population is not well known in Thailand, they are restricted to one area and may face extinction. That’s why they are considered by the IUCN to be a Nearly Threatened species.

  

Brookesia nana

Also known as nano-chameleons, they are the world's smallest reptile at around 22 mm (0.87 inch) and are found only in montane rainforests in Madagascar. Interesting about them is that they were discovered in 2021, and since then, we don’t know a lot about the species except that they are not arboreal and live on the forest floor, and that they do not change colors as other chameleons do. As mentioned earlier, miniaturists are believed to evolve from habitat loss, so it is likely that they are threatened due to deforestation in Madagascar. 

 

Paedophryne amauensis

Paedophryne amauensis, or its common name, Amau frog, is the world’s smallest amphibian. They are endemic to Papua New Guinea and reach a body length of 7.7 mm (0.30 in). They were also discovered recently (in 2009) and are interesting because their life cycle does not include a tadpole stage, and they hatch directly as "hoppers," a smaller version of their adult stage.

The Bee Hummingbird

The record for the world's smallest bird goes to none other than the famous hummingbird. They are called bee hummingbirds because of their small size, and during their flight, they make a sound resembling that of a bumblebee. They are endemic to the islands of Cuba and feed on the nectar of flowers and bugs found in Cuba. With their small weight of 1.95 g (0.069 oz) and length of 5.5 cm (2+1/8 in), they have a rather long lifespan for such a tiny creature (7–10 years). They can visit up to 1500 flowers every day and are considered Nearly Threatened due to the small range they live in.

Royal Antelope

Last but not least interesting is the royal antelope, which is the world's smallest antelope. They are from West Africa and can reach 25 cm (10 in) at the shoulder and weigh 2.5–3 kg (5.5–6.6 lb.). They prefer areas with fresh growth of plants and shrubs and warm, moist lowland forests. These little creatures are classified as Least Concerned, but sadly, due to hunting and human settlement, they lose parts of their habitat and can be soon threatened.

So that was it! – Now you know all about small animals. I hope you learned a lot regarding the spectacular wildlife on our planet with The Wildlife Echo!