Meet some of the smallest animal species on the planet

Discover 30 of the world's smallest creatures - The animal kingdom is known for being home to many large and intimidating species. But it's also full of surprisingly small mammals and insects that are equally captivating. Showcased here are creatures that not only represent the smallest of their species, but are some of the tiniest in the world.

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Brookesia micra - This is the smallest chameleon species in the world, measuring just 30 millimeters in length. The tiny creature is found on an islet off the coast of Madagascar.

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Pygmy seahorse - This minuscule seahorse is the smallest of its kind, and has an average length of just 14 millimeters.

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Dwarf lizard - Slick, dainty and minute, this aptly named species measures only 18 millimeters from nose to tail, and calls the British Virgin Islands home.

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Blue penguin - Characterized by their diminutive stature, these comical looking animals inhabit the coasts of South Australia, Tasmania and New Zealand. This is the smallest penguin in the world, standing around 30-33 centimeters in height and weighing approximately 1.5 kg.

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Tamaulipas pygmy owl - One of the smallest owls found on the planet, this species is native to Mexico. Adults birds stand no taller than 13 centimeters.

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Sumatran rhinoceros - Solitary and, sadly, nearly extinct, this is the smallest species of rhino in the world, and while still a large mammal, stands 112-145 cm at the shoulder.

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Roborovski hamster - This dinky rodent is native to Russia, Kazakhstan and northern China and grows to just three centimeters in length.

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Ouessant - A breed of domestic sheep also known as dwarf sheep, this species stands less than 50 centimeters in height - one of the smallest breeds in the world.

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Bee hummingbird - The smallest bird in the world is this colorful character. The pocket-size creature measures just 5.7 centimeters and is endemic to Cuba, where it's known as the "Colibri-abelha-cubano".

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Paedophryne amauensis - Paedophryne amauensis is a species of frogs found in Papua New Guinea, and is considered the world's smallest known vertebrate, just 7.7 millimeters in length - smaller than a dime coin!

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Dwarf rabbit - This species native to the USA, the American Netherland dwarf rabbit, and is among the smallest bunnies on the planet. A herbivore, its natural habitat is the forest.

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Royal antelope - Recognized as the smallest antelope on the planet, this slight animal is prevalent in countries like Ivory Coast, Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia. A forest dweller, it stands a mere 25 centimeters and weighs just 3 kilograms.

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The dwarf lanternshark - This imaginatively named species inhabits the deep waters off Colombia and Venezuela, and is the the smallest shark yet discovered: it only reaches a maximum 20 centimeters in length.

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Borneo pygmy elephant - Around 30 per cent smaller than the biggest jumbos, this playful and highly intelligent creature melts your heart with its cute looks and over-sized ears. Native to the Indonesian island of Borneo, adult males stand four meters tall.

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Pygmy gerbil - Measuring a toy-like 10 centimeters, this delicate rodent is found in the deserts of Mongolia, China and also in North Africa. It is one of the smallest mammals in the world.

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Barbados threadsnake - Native to the Caribbean island, this wire-like creature is considered the smallest snake species in the world. Even at full stretch, it's length is only 10 centimeters.

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Irukandji jellyfish - What this organism lacks in size it makes up for in the power of its venom. Almost microscopic, this deadly ocean-dweller measures just 5 millimeters across but can kill a human being with one sting if not treated immediately.

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Bumblebee bat - Also known as Kitti's hog-nosed bat, this diminutive resident of Thailand is the smallest known bat, and possibly the world's smallest mammal. It's just 3 centimeters in length.

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Etruscan shrew - This is considered to be the world's smallest known mammal by mass, with a body size of between 35 and 53 millimeters. The species is found in southern climes and North Africa.

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Octopus Wolfi - This octopus species is the the world's tiniest and is found in the vastness of the Indian and Pacific oceans.

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Cape speckled padloper tortoise - A resident of South Africa, this undersized creature is the smallest turtle in the world, managing only 10 centimeters in length.

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Paedocypris Progenetica - The world's smallest known fish is just 10.3 millimeters long and is native to Indonesia.

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Pea crab - New Zealand is where you need to travel to spot this little critter, no bigger than the size of your finger tip.

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Pygmy sloth - Also known as the dwarf sloth, this impossibly cuddly creature can easily curl up in the palm of your hand. It lives on the coastal regions of Panama.

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Pygmy marmoset - Found in the rainforests of the western Amazon basin, this is the smallest monkey and one of the tiniest primates in the world. It only measures 15 centimeters at its tallest.

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Fennec fox - The smallest of the world's foxes, this huge-eared animal is also nicknamed the "desert fox" after its North African desert and mountain habitat. In fact its ears, at 15 cm long, are almost as long as its body, which measures 20 centimeters.

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Pygmy anteater - At just 45 centimeters long, this is the smallest anteater on Earth. Also known as the silky anteater, It lives in the forests of Central and South America.

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Pink fairy armadillo - Also known as pichiciego, this tiny animal has a rather delicate name for a creature known for its bony armor shell. It's the smallest of the armadillo species, varying in size from 84 to 117 millimeters in length. It's found in Argentina.

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Vechur cattle - The rare bovine is the smallest breed of cattle in the world, standing only a meter and a half in height.

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Salamander - A new species of salamander discovered in Mexico is believed to be the world's tiniest. The teensy amphibian is smaller than a matchstick, just 2 centimeters in length.

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