© Getty Images

Dwarf mongoose -

Native to several African countries including Angola and Zambia, the dwarf mongoose is Africa's smallest carnivore. The small animals live in large groups, and measure up to 26 cm (10.2 in) when fully grown.

© Shutterstock

Pygmy falcon -

The smallest raptor on the African continent, the pygmy falcon typically measures around 20 cm (7.8 in) in length. Native to eastern and southern Africa, they're small-but-mighty birds of prey, eating reptiles, insects, and even small birds.

© Shutterstock

Shetland pony -

These adorably-small ponies take their name from the Scottish Shetland Isles where they originated. The ponies, which typically measure around 102 cm (40.1 in) in height, are well-adapted to their harsh climate. These sturdy creatures served as working animals before finding popularity as children's pets.

© Shutterstock

Western dwarf coati -

Sometimes known as the western mountain coati, this cute coati is a high-altitude animal. It wanders the cloud forests of the Colombian and Ecuadorian Andes, and, at around 30 cm (11.8 in) excluding its tail, is half the size of other coati breeds.

© Shutterstock

Pygmy rattlesnake -

Less cuddly than many of its petite peers, the pygmy rattlesnake is native to the southeastern United States. At an average length of 30-61 cm (12-24 in), they're a lot smaller than your typical rattlesnake, and are reclusive creatures—although some people do keep them as pets!

© Shutterstock

Pygmy slow loris -

These big-eyed beauties are forest-dwelling primates found in Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, and China. Adults grow to a maximum of around 23 cm (9 in), and feast on fruits and tree sap as well as insects. They might look sweet, but watch out: they have a toxic bite!

© Shutterstock

Pygmy leaf chameleon -

One of the smallest lizard-types on the planet, this charismatic chameleon measures a maximum of 3.4 cm (1.3 in). Sometimes known as the Nosy Be pygmy leaf chameleon, the creature is native to Nosy Be, an island off the coast of Madagascar.

© Shutterstock

African pygmy kingfisher -

This small-but-beautiful bird measures around 12 cm (4.7 in) in length, and is found south of the African Sahara. The brightly-plumed birds nest in sandy burrows, and are known to eat geckos and lizards as long as themselves!

© Shutterstock

Pygmy shrew -

These fast-moving animals measure a maximum 6 cm (2.3 in) in length without their tail. Native to northern Eurasia, the petite pygmy shrew has a super-fast metabolism, and needs to eat around every two hours.

© Shutterstock

Pygmy cormorant -

Around half the size of a great cormorant, the pygmy cormorant stands at a maximum of 55 cm (21.6 in). Native to southeastern Europe and southwestern Asia, the birds are rare beauties.

© Shutterstock

Pygmy rabbit -

Native to the United States, these mini-bunnies are the smallest members of the leporid (rabbits and hares) family. They grow no larger than 29.5 cm (11.6 in), and are also notable for their smaller-than-average ears.

© Shutterstock

Pygmy blue whale -

Whales are hardly known for their petite stature, but the pygmy blue whale is several meters smaller than others in its family. At around 24 m (78.7 ft), it's still a big beast, but 'true' blue whales can grow up to 33 m (108 ft).

© Shutterstock

Pygmy nuthatch -

This tiny songbird is the teeniest of an already-small type of bird. Found singing sweetly in the pine forests of western North America, they typically measure just 10 cm (3.93 in).

© Shutterstock

Mini pig -

Sometimes known as teacup pigs or pygmy pigs, these undeniably-cute animals are the source of some controversy. Mini pig is a label given to several breeds of domestic pig, selectively bred to be small in size. But many cute-looking piglets grow to be much larger in size than their owners expected!

© Shutterstock

African pygmy hedgehog -

Another little cutie that has recently become a popular pet choice, the African pygmy hedgehog has softer spikes than its larger relatives. Growing no larger than around 30 cm (11.8 in), their natural habitat is Central Africa.

© Shutterstock

Fennec fox -

Measuring just 20 cm (7.8 in) in height on average, the fennec fox is the smallest canine on the planet. With enormous bat-like ears, it looks like something from a cartoon, but in real life these carnivorous mini foxes roam the deserts of Northern Africa and Asia.

© Shutterstock

Pygmy hippo -

Native to the forests and swamps of West Africa, the herbivorous pygmy hippopotamus is extremely rare—it's thought that fewer than 2,500 exist in the wild. Adult pygmy hippos are half as tall as a common hippopotamus, at around 100 cm (39.3 in).

© Shutterstock

American pygmy goat -

Of African origin, the cute-as-a-button American pygmy goat was imported to the United States in the 1930s, and today is a popular pet. The friendly creatures measure up to 50 cm (19.6 in) on average.

© Shutterstock

Dexter cows -

The smallest European cattle breed, Dexter cows are half the size of many other species. Reaching up to 107 cm (42.1 in) in height, the compact cows originated in Ireland before being exported to England and the US.

© Shutterstock

Eurasian pygmy owl -

The smallest owl in Europe, the Eurasian pygmy owl is a cartoonishly-cute bird that's almost sparrow-like in size. Found in northern and central Europe, the birds grow to a maximum of 19 cm (7.4 in) in height.

© Shutterstock

Ferruginous pygmy owl -

Arguably even cuter, the tiny ferruginous pygmy owl is typically around 15 cm (5.9 in). The big-eyed bird is one of the most common owl species in Central and South America, and is sometimes spotted in southern Texas as well as South Central Arizona.

© Shutterstock

Dwarf donkey -

The miniature donkey, or dwarf donkey, is a type of Mediterranean donkey specially-bred to be smaller than your average donkey. In fact, they can be around half the size. In the US, a donkey has to measure no more than 91.5 cm (36 in) to class as a mini.

© Shutterstock

Pygmy possum -

These mini-marsupials have eyes that could melt the hardest of hearts! Native to Australia, Papua New Guinea, and Indonesia, the tree-dwelling critters can measure as little as 5 cm (1.9 in) when fully grown.

© Shutterstock

Pygmy tarsier -

Once thought to be extinct, these tiny tarsiers made big news in 2008 when researchers found some alive and well in Indonesia for the first time in 80 years. At just over 10 cm (3.9 in), they do a good job of disappearing into the undergrowth.

© Shutterstock

Pygmy cupwing -

Looking like a brown, furry tennis ball, the pygmy cupwing is often found hopping through the undergrowth of southern and eastern Asia. Growing no larger than 9 cm (3.5 in), it's also known as the pygmy wren-babbler.

© Shutterstock

Cuvier's dwarf caiman -

You might not want to cuddle one, but the South American caiman is still a pretty cute critter (as a baby, at least!). First discovered in 1807 by French zoologist Georges Cuvier, it's the smallest of the typically-large animals in the crocodilian family, measuring around 1.4 m (4.5 ft).

© Shutterstock

Pygmy marmoset -

The smallest monkey in the world, the pygmy marmoset is found in the rainforests of the western Amazon Basin in South America. At around 15 cm (5.9 in), it's one of the tiniest primates on the planet.

© Shutterstock

Pygmy mouse lemur -

Sometimes known as Peters' mouse lemur, this perfectly-petite primate grows no larger than 13 cm (5.1 in). The elusive creature largely slipped off the radar for many years, until being rediscovered in Madagascar in 1993.

© Shutterstock

African pygmy mouse -

What's smaller than a tiny mouse? A pygmy mouse, of course! The African pygmy mouse is one of the smallest rodents on the planet, with adults sometimes measuring less than 3 cm (1.1 in) without the tail. The cute critters are widespread in sub-Saharan Africa.

Sources: (Ranker) (Treehugger)

© Shutterstock