The BBC reports that there are about 8.7 million kinds of animals on Earth. Sadly, some of them might disappear before we can learn more about them. Experts say it would take more than a millennium to name them all. Some of the most intriguing creatures are those that are incredibly small. In this article, we'll take a look at the smallest animal in the world, a tiny marvel that is sure to capture your imagination.

What is the smallest animal in the world?

The smallest animal in the world is a matter of debate, as different criteria can lead to different answers. For example, some animals may be smaller by mass, while others may be smaller by length.

However, one of the most commonly cited candidates for the smallest animal in the world is the Etruscan shrew (Suncus etruscus), also known as the white-toothed pygmy shrew. This tiny mammal weighs only about 2 grams and measures about 4 centimeters in length. It has a very high metabolism and needs to eat constantly to survive. It feeds on insects and other small invertebrates, using its sensitive whiskers and nose to locate them. The Etruscan shrew lives in various habitats across Europe, Asia, and Africa, where it faces threats from predators, habitat loss, and human activity.

(Image: reddit.com)

Did you know that some animals that lived long ago were even smaller than the smallest living animal today? The Etruscan shrew is the tiniest animal alive, but it is bigger than the Batodonoides vanhouteni, a prehistoric mammal that only left behind fossils. Scientists estimate that the Batodonoides vanhouteni weighed between 0.93 to 1.82 grams, which is less than a paper clip! If you take into account extinct species, though, even this tiny animal can be beaten.

What is the smallest aquatic animal in the world?

Did you know that the ocean is full of tiny creatures called zooplankton? They come in many shapes and sizes, from microscopic protozoa to jellyfish and crustaceans. Some of them are so small that you need a microscope to see them!

One of the smallest zooplankton is the Irukandji jellyfish. It is only 0.06 cubic inches in size. But don't let its size fool you. This jellyfish is one of the most venomous animals in the world! The jellyfish's venom contains a potent cocktail of toxins that can cause a range of symptoms, including severe pain, vomiting, and even heart failure.

What is the smallest bug in the world?

The world's tiniest insect is a wasp called Dicopomorpha echmepterygis or fairyfly. This amazing creature is only 0.005 inches long, which is smaller than some single-celled organisms! They are so small that they are virtually invisible to the naked eye, and can only be seen under a microscope. But not all fairyflies are the same. Female fairyflies tend to be larger than males, with some species of females measuring up to twice the size of males. Males of many fairyfly species have wings and are able to fly, while females are typically wingless. 

Dragon Fly Wing and Fairy Fly

What is the smallest mammal animal in the world?

The smallest mammal in the world is the Kitti's hog-nosed bat, or Craseonycteris thonglongyai. It is also known as the Bumblebee Bat because of its tiny size. It measures only 1.1-1.3 inches (2.8-3.3 centimeters) from head to tail. This amazing bat lives in limestone caves in Thailand and Burma, where it is endangered by habitat loss and human disturbance. 

What is the smallest reptile in the world?

Did you know that some chameleons and lizards are so tiny that they can fit on your fingertip? One of them is the Brookesia micra chameleon, which is only found in Madagascar. It measures just over an inch (2.5 centimeters) in length and has a brownish color that helps it blend in with the leaf litter. 

Another one is the Virgin Islands dwarf sphaero, or Sphaerodactylus ariasae, which lives in the Caribbean. It is even smaller, at 0.6 inches (1.5 centimeters) long, and has a distinctive black and white pattern on its back. This little lizard is thought to be the world's smallest reptile, but it is also very rare and endangered. It only lives in a small area of the Jaragua National Park in the Dominican Republic.

 Brookesia micra chameleon

Watch more: The 15 smallest animals in the world