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<h2 id="microorganisms">Microorganisms</h2> <h3>Obligate endosymbiotic bacteria</h3> <p>The genome of <i><a href="/facts/Nasuia_deltocephalinicola/Hkl7SXNs">Nasuia deltocephalinicola</a></i>, a <a href="/facts/Symbiosis/MrBArRGa">symbiont</a> of the European pest leafhopper, <i><a href="/facts/Macrosteles/9p9plkP2">Macrosteles quadripunctulatus</a></i>, consists of a <a href="/facts/Circular_bacterial_chromosome/n84vQTwe">circular chromosome</a> of 112,031 base pairs.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:1" href="#fn:1"><sup>1</sup></a> </p><p>The genome of <i><a href="/facts/Nanoarchaeum_equitans/ewUPFb5A">Nanoarchaeum equitans</a></i> is 491 Kbp nucleotides long.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:2" href="#fn:2"><sup>2</sup></a> </p> <h3><i>Pelagibacter ubique</i></h3> <p><i><a href="/facts/Pelagibacter_ubique/aIs0ssQX">Pelagibacter ubique</a></i> is one of the smallest known free-living bacteria, with a length of 370 to 890 nm (0.00037 to 0.00089 mm) and an average cell diameter of 120 to 200 nm (0.00012 to 0.00020 mm). They also have the smallest free-living bacterium genome: 1.3 <a href="/facts/Mega_base_pairs/xmPpPQ9W">Mbp</a>, 1354 protein genes, 35 RNA genes. They are one of the most common and smallest organisms in the ocean, with their total weight exceeding that of all fish in the sea.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:3" href="#fn:3"><sup>3</sup></a> </p> <h3><i>Mycoplasma genitalium</i></h3> <p><i><a href="/facts/Mycoplasma_genitalium/DkncfS9T">Mycoplasma genitalium</a></i>, a <a href="/facts/Parasitism/HWPcgky7">parasitic</a> <a href="/facts/Bacterium/wC8xSCsU">bacterium</a> which lives in the <a href="/facts/Primate/Hl8RNE2X">primate</a> bladder, waste disposal organs, genital, and respiratory tracts, is thought to be the smallest known organism capable of independent <a href="/facts/Cell_growth/wbArMaJU">growth</a> and <a href="/facts/Reproduction/nNu0F5Dy">reproduction</a>. With a size of approximately 200 to 300 <a href="/facts/Nanometer/a98sjHyu">nm</a>, <i>M. genitalium</i> is an <a href="/facts/Ultramicrobacteria/GUK5dJ5k">ultramicrobacterium</a>, smaller than other small bacteria, including <a href="/facts/Rickettsia/87baaTxT">rickettsia</a> and <a href="/facts/Chlamydia_(bacterium)/zbm60vHX">chlamydia</a>. However, the vast majority of bacterial strains have not been studied, and the marine ultramicrobacterium <i>Sphingomonas</i> sp. strain RB2256 is reported to have passed through a 220 nm (0.00022 mm) <a href="/facts/Ultrafiltration/8YXnNeM3">ultrafilter</a>. A complicating factor is nutrient-downsized bacteria, bacteria that become much smaller due to a lack of available <a href="/facts/Nutrient/34bn4skK">nutrients</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:4" href="#fn:4"><sup>4</sup></a> </p> <h3><i>Nanoarchaeum</i></h3> <p><i><a href="/facts/Nanoarchaeum_equitans/ewUPFb5A">Nanoarchaeum equitans</a></i> is a species of <a href="/facts/Microbe/pysJYcE2">microbe</a> 200 to 500 nm (0.00020 to 0.00050 mm) in diameter. It was discovered in 2002 in a <a href="/facts/Hydrothermal_vent/0xPqNUkY">hydrothermal vent</a> off the coast of <a href="/facts/Iceland/E4KGYs2j">Iceland</a> by <a href="/facts/Karl_Stetter/0lrCF0K2">Karl Stetter</a>. A <a href="/facts/Thermophile/HGuP161d">thermophile</a> that grows in near-boiling temperatures, <i>Nanoarchaeum</i> appears to be an obligatory <a href="/facts/Symbiosis/MrBArRGa">symbiont</a> on the <a href="/facts/Archaea/Adxh0aHw">archaeon</a> <i><a href="/facts/Ignicoccus/BC74oUXW">Ignicoccus</a></i>; it must be in contact with the host organism to survive. <i><a href="/facts/Guinness_World_Records/Az88wVWk">Guinness World Records</a></i> recognizes <i>Nanoarchaeum equitans</i> as the smallest living organism.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:5" href="#fn:5"><sup>5</sup></a> </p> <h3>Single-celled Eukaryotes (protists)</h3> <p><a href="/facts/Prasinophyte/PfoEHVC4">Prasinophyte</a> <a href="/facts/Alga/U1ftVKU3">algae</a> of the genus <i><a href="/facts/Ostreococcus/eoDwGjtX">Ostreococcus</a></i> are the smallest free-living <a href="/facts/Eukaryote/SkwyPLMA">eukaryote</a>. The single cell of an <i>Ostreococcus</i> measures 800 nm (0.00080 mm) across.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:6" href="#fn:6"><sup>6</sup></a> </p> <h4>Heliozoa</h4> <p>The <i>Erebor</i> lineage of <i><a href="/facts/Microheliella_maris/avSTjCTU">Microheliella maris</a></i> is the smallest known heliozoan with an average cell body diameter of 2.56 μm.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:7" href="#fn:7"><sup>7</sup></a> </p> <h4>Diatoms</h4> <p>The smallest <a href="/facts/Diatom/x2oEcP1P">diatoms</a> with diameters as small as 1.9 μm can be found in the genera <i><a href="/facts/Mediolabrus/oAtFjW0b">Mediolabrus</a></i> and <i>Minidiscus.</i><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:8" href="#fn:8"><sup>8</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:9" href="#fn:9"><sup>9</sup></a> <i><a href="/facts/Mediolabrus_comicus/dhKLzpDm">Mediolabrus comicus</a></i> is the smallest known marine diatom.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:10" href="#fn:10"><sup>10</sup></a> </p> <h3>Viruses</h3> <p>Some <a href="/facts/Biologist/yJJGXyKR">biologists</a> consider <a href="/facts/Virus/mf88Bcbl">viruses</a> to be non-living because they lack a <a href="/facts/Cell_(biology)/bLM9UQvy">cellular</a> structure and cannot <a href="/facts/Metabolism/WxDrm8k5">metabolize</a> by themselves, requiring a host cell to replicate and synthesize new products. Some hold that, because viruses do have <a href="/facts/Genetic_material/2tTgcI0v">genetic material</a> and can employ the metabolism of their host, they can be considered organisms. Also, an emerging concept that is gaining traction among some virologists is that of the <i>virocell</i>, in which the actual <a href="/facts/Phenotype/vxWXKGLj">phenotype</a> of a virus is the infected cell, and the virus particle (or <i>virion</i>) is merely a reproductive or dispersal stage, much like pollen or a spore.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:11" href="#fn:11"><sup>11</sup></a> </p><p>The smallest viruses in terms of genome size are single-stranded DNA (<a href="/facts/SsDNA_virus/sAHrgFsv">ssDNA</a>) viruses. Perhaps the most famous is the <a href="/facts/Bacteriophage/L2Ll0T3q">bacteriophage</a> <a href="/facts/Phi-X174/P84nV47b">Phi-X174</a> with a genome size of 5,386 <a href="/facts/Nucleotide/pQKEwlJI">nucleotides</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:12" href="#fn:12"><sup>12</sup></a> However, some ssDNA viruses can be even smaller. For example, <a href="/facts/Porcine_circovirus/uqSMP4Ek">Porcine circovirus</a> type 1 has a genome of 1,759 nucleotides<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:13" href="#fn:13"><sup>13</sup></a> and a <a href="/facts/Capsid/hm7V6Ewm">capsid</a> diameter of 17 nm (1.7×10−5 mm).<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:14" href="#fn:14"><sup>14</sup></a> As a whole, the viral family <a href="/facts/Geminiviridae/zuDHVj87">geminiviridae</a> is about 30 nm (3.0×10−5 mm) in length. However, the two capsids making up the virus are fused; divided, the capsids would be 15 nm (1.5×10−5 mm) in length. Other environmentally characterized ssDNA viruses such as CRESS DNA viruses, among others, can have genomes that are considerably less than 2,000 nucleotides.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:15" href="#fn:15"><sup>15</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:16" href="#fn:16"><sup>16</sup></a> </p><p>The smallest <a href="/facts/RNA_virus/qwXPeATD">RNA virus</a> in terms of <a href="/facts/Genome/tjhWET4V">genome</a> size is phage BZ13 strain T72 at 3,393 nucleotides length.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:17" href="#fn:17"><sup>17</sup></a> Viruses using both DNA and RNA in their replication (<a href="/facts/Retrovirus/GWAx3C3o">retroviruses</a>) range in size from 7,040 to 12,195 nucleotides.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:18" href="#fn:18"><sup>18</sup></a> The smallest double-stranded <a href="/facts/DNA_virus/sAHrgFsv">DNA viruses</a> are the <a href="/facts/Hepadnaviridae/tt1dog2b">hepadnaviruses</a> such as <a href="/facts/Hepatitis_B/qqPTEY3p">hepatitis B</a>, at 3.2 kb and 42 nm (4.2×10−5 mm); <a href="/facts/Parvovirus/n9yUQEYL">parvoviruses</a> have smaller capsids, at 18–26 nm (1.8×10−5–2.6×10−5 mm), but larger genomes, at 5 kb. It is important to consider other self-replicating genetic elements, such as <a href="/facts/Obelisk_(viroid)/PQtrGMHL">obelisks</a>, <a href="/facts/Ribozymes/yvcl3ygp">ribozymes</a>, <a href="/facts/Satellite_(biology)/obJFbcsB">satelliviruses</a> and <a href="/facts/Viroid/hgJsXtyD">viroids</a>. </p> <h2 id="animals-animalia">Animals (Animalia)</h2> <p>Several species of <a href="/facts/Myxozoa/wf0XuoNk">Myxozoa</a> (obligately parasitic <a href="/facts/Cnidarian/d0HRc6w0">cnidarians</a>) never grow larger than 20 μm (0.020 mm).<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:19" href="#fn:19"><sup>19</sup></a> One of the smallest species (<i>Myxobolus shekel</i>) is no more than 8.5 μm (0.0085 mm) when fully grown, making it the smallest known animal.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:20" href="#fn:20"><sup>20</sup></a> </p> <h3>Molluscs (Mollusca)</h3> <h4>Bivalvia</h4> <p>The shell of the nut clam <i><a href="/facts/Condylonucula_maya/gsGcbb5E">Condylonucula maya</a></i> grows 0.54 mm (0.021 in) long.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:21" href="#fn:21"><sup>21</sup></a> </p> <h4>Gastropods (Gastropoda)</h4> <p>The smallest water <a href="/facts/Snail/y94YHrPw">snail</a> (of all snails) is <i><a href="/facts/Ammonicera/cmQ7Lpck">Ammonicera minortalis</a></i> in North America, originally described from Cuba. It measures 0.32 to 0.46 mm (0.013 to 0.018 in).<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:22" href="#fn:22"><sup>22</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:23" href="#fn:23"><sup>23</sup></a> </p><p>The smallest land snail is <i><a href="/facts/Acmella_nana/95IjbmH8">Acmella nana</a></i>. Discovered in <a href="/facts/Borneo/1aIGfyvV">Borneo</a>, and described in November 2015, it measures 0.7 mm (0.028 in).<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:24" href="#fn:24"><sup>24</sup></a> The previous record was that of <i><a href="/facts/Angustopila_dominikae/7sxfGM08">Angustopila dominikae</a></i> from China, which was reported in September 2015. This snail measures 0.86 mm (0.034 in).<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:25" href="#fn:25"><sup>25</sup></a> </p> <h4>Cephalopods (Cephalopoda)</h4> <p class="note">Further information: <a href="/facts/Cephalopod_size/KCenBx2Q">Cephalopod size</a></p> <p><i><a href="/facts/Maximites/C6PdfpUo">Maximites</a></i> was the smallest known <a href="/facts/Ammonoidea/cRCH9GVd">ammonoid</a>. Adult specimens reached only 10 mm (0.39 in) in shell diameter.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:26" href="#fn:26"><sup>26</sup></a> </p> <h3>Arthropods (Arthropoda)</h3> <p>The smallest arthropods are <a href="/facts/Mite/M52qFjlE">mites</a> <i><a href="/facts/Cochlodispus_minimus/yNnTvshk">Cochlodispus minimus</a></i> of the family Microdispidae. The body length of the smallest measured individual was 79 μm (0.079 mm).<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:27" href="#fn:27"><sup>27</sup></a> </p> <h4>Crustaceans (Crustacea)</h4> <p>The smallest <a href="/facts/Crustacean/PBobIVJP">crustaceans</a> belong to the class <a href="/facts/Tantulocarida/nc2lBGSY">Tantulocarida</a>. The single smallest species may be <i><a href="/facts/Tantulocarida/nc2lBGSY">Tantulacus dieteri</a></i>, with a total body length of only 85 micrometres (0.0033 in).<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:28" href="#fn:28"><sup>28</sup></a> Another candidate is <i><a href="/facts/Stygotantulus_stocki/HRs992uk">Stygotantulus stocki</a></i>, with a length of 94 micrometres (0.0037 in).<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:29" href="#fn:29"><sup>29</sup></a> </p> <h4>Arachnids (Arachnida)</h4> <ul><li>There is a debate about which <a href="/facts/Spider/aqpU7eg3">spider</a> is smallest. According to <i>Guinness World Records</i>, "Two contenders are from the <a href="/facts/Symphytognathidae/0g9Czt1o">Symphytognathidae</a> genus <i><a href="/facts/Patu_(spider)/e9b4xbDp">Patu</a></i>: males of <i><a href="/facts/Patu_digua/fvHcI3pH">Patu digua</a></i> described in Colombia had a body length of 0.37 millimetres (0.015 inches), while the Samoan moss spider (<a href="/facts/Patu_marplesi/9lPQJqT7"><i>P. marplesi</i></a>) could be as small as 0.4 millimetres (0.016 inches) long."<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:30" href="#fn:30"><sup>30</sup></a> Other possible smallest spider species are the Frade cave spider known as <i>Anapistula ataecina,</i> and the dwarf orb weaver (<i>Anapistula caecula</i>), the females of which are 0.43 mm (0.017 in) and 0.48 mm (0.019 in) respectively.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:31" href="#fn:31"><sup>31</sup></a> Males of both species are potentially smaller than the females, but no male <i>Anapistula ataecina or Anapistula caecula</i> have been measured yet.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:32" href="#fn:32"><sup>32</sup></a></li> <li><i><a href="/facts/Cochlodispus_minimus/yNnTvshk">Cochlodispus minimus</a></i> is the smallest mite. An adult individual measured with a body length of 79 μm (0.079 mm).<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:33" href="#fn:33"><sup>33</sup></a> However, PBS claims "The tiniest mite on record is 82 microns long" but does not name a species.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:34" href="#fn:34"><sup>34</sup></a></li></ul> <h4>Insects (Insecta)</h4> <ul><li>Adult males of the parasitic <a href="/facts/Wasp/B3MSj66k">wasp</a> <i><a href="/facts/Dicopomorpha_echmepterygis/FchNudd8">Dicopomorpha echmepterygis</a></i> can be as small as 139 μm (0.139 mm) long, smaller than some species of protozoa (single-cell creatures); females are 40% larger.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:35" href="#fn:35"><sup>35</sup></a> <i><a href="/facts/Megaphragma/hum1LtxB">Megaphragma caribea</a></i> from <a href="/facts/Guadeloupe/vwgVTYPm">Guadeloupe</a>, measuring 170 μm (0.17 mm) long, is another contender for smallest known insect in the world.</li> <li><a href="/facts/Beetle/hv33fxsL">Beetles</a> of the tribe <a href="/facts/Ptiliinae/IpvfnkEu">Nanosellini</a> are all less than 1 mm (0.039 in) long; the smallest confirmed specimen is of <i><a href="/facts/Scydosella_musawasensis/tACFYyEd">Scydosella musawasensis</a></i> at 325 μm (0.325 mm) long; a few other nanosellines are reportedly smaller, in historical literature, but none of these records have been confirmed using accurate modern tools. These are among the tiniest non-parasitic insects.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:36" href="#fn:36"><sup>36</sup></a></li></ul> <ul><li>The <a href="/facts/Western_pygmy_blue/NWKeEL80">western pygmy blue</a> (<i>Brephidium exilis</i>) is one of the smallest <a href="/facts/Butterflies/qlSgwlRx">butterflies</a> in the world, with a wingspan of about 1 cm (0.39 in).<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:37" href="#fn:37"><sup>37</sup></a></li></ul> <h3>Echinoderms (Echinodermata)</h3> <p>The smallest <a href="/facts/Sea_cucumber/1ruJ7ePx">sea cucumber</a>, and also the smallest <a href="/facts/Echinoderm/j2rd8qwt">echinoderm</a>, is <i>Psammothuria ganapati</i>, a <a href="/facts/Synaptidae/trg1s822">synaptid</a> that lives between sand grains on the coast of India. Its maximum length is 4 mm (0.16 in).<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:38" href="#fn:38"><sup>38</sup></a> <a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:39" href="#fn:39"><sup>39</sup></a> </p> <h4>Sea urchins</h4> <p>The smallest <a href="/facts/Sea_urchin/RQrB6XTH">sea urchin</a>, <i>Echinocyamus scaber</i>, has a <a href="/facts/Test_(biology)/aSQreAnR">test</a> 6 mm (0.24 in) across.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:40" href="#fn:40"><sup>40</sup></a> </p> <h4>Starfish</h4> <p><i><a href="/facts/Patiriella_parvivipara/hSIjMBT2">Patiriella parvivipara</a></i> is the smallest <a href="/facts/Starfish/6JWBux0o">starfish</a>, at 5 mm (0.20 in) across.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:41" href="#fn:41"><sup>41</sup></a> </p> <h3>Fish</h3> <p class="note">Main article: <a href="/facts/List_of_smallest_fish/LaM4Cb1v">List of smallest fish</a></p> <ul><li>One of the smallest <a href="/facts/Vertebrates/tT54FSTT">vertebrates</a> and the smallest fish based on the minimum size at maturity is <i><a href="/facts/Paedocypris_progenetica/KdtkPxpy">Paedocypris progenetica</a></i> from <a href="/facts/Indonesia/vQnWU3IW">Indonesia</a>, with mature females measuring as little as 7.9 mm (0.31 in) in <a href="/facts/Standard_length/eFsVjjTu">standard length</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:42" href="#fn:42"><sup>42</sup></a> This fish, a member of the <a href="/facts/Cyprinidae/jVQrgNht">carp family</a>, has a translucent body and a head unprotected by a skeleton.</li> <li>One of the smallest fish based on the minimum size at maturity is <i><a href="/facts/Schindleria_brevipinguis/5T0lf1eg">Schindleria brevipinguis</a></i> from Australia, their females reach 7 mm (0.28 in) and males 6.5 mm (0.26 in).<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:43" href="#fn:43"><sup>43</sup></a> Males of <i>S. brevipinguis</i> have an average <a href="/facts/Standard_length/eFsVjjTu">standard length</a> of 7.7 mm (0.30 in); a gravid female was 8.4 mm (0.33 in).<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:44" href="#fn:44"><sup>44</sup></a> This fish, a member of the <a href="/facts/Gobiidae/DVTzCgGI">goby family</a>, differs from similar members of the group in having its first <a href="/facts/Anal_fin/kS10PMPf">anal fin</a> ray further forward, under <a href="/facts/Dorsal_fin/zAPuxI1G">dorsal fin</a> 4.</li> <li>Male individuals of the <a href="/facts/Anglerfish/oTpyBSjS">anglerfish</a> species <i><a href="/facts/Photocorynus_spiniceps/eWRHLcpx">Photocorynus spiniceps</a></i> have been documented to be 6.2–7.3 mm (0.24–0.29 in) at maturity, and thus claimed to be a smaller species. However, these survive only by <a href="/facts/Chimera_(genetics)/xs4NDyLP">sexual parasitism</a> and the female individuals reach the significantly larger size of 50.5 mm (1.99 in).<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:45" href="#fn:45"><sup>45</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:46" href="#fn:46"><sup>46</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:47" href="#fn:47"><sup>47</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:48" href="#fn:48"><sup>48</sup></a></li></ul> <h3>Amphibians (Amphibia)</h3> <h4>Frogs and toads (Anura)</h4> <p>The smallest <a href="/facts/Vertebrate/tT54FSTT">vertebrate</a> (and smallest amphibian) known is <i><a href="/facts/Brachycephalus_pulex/YGughkhQ">Brachycephalus pulex</a></i>, a Brazilian flea toad, with a minimum adult <a href="/facts/Snout%25E2%2580%2593vent_length/zMkKrjm4">snout–vent length</a> of 6.45 millimetres (0.254 in).<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:49" href="#fn:49"><sup>49</sup></a> <i><a href="/facts/Brachycephalus_dacnis/5Casab9k">Brachycephalus dacnis</a></i> is similarly tiny, with a minimum adult length of 6.95 millimetres (0.274 in).<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:50" href="#fn:50"><sup>50</sup></a> Other very small frogs include: </p> <ul><li><i><a href="/facts/Paedophryne_amauensis/8WhNq6h4">Paedophryne amauensis</a></i> from Papua New Guinea, ranging in length from 7.0–8.0 mm (0.28–0.31 in), and 7.7 mm (0.30 in) on average.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:51" href="#fn:51"><sup>51</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:52" href="#fn:52"><sup>52</sup></a></li> <li><i><a href="/facts/Brachycephalus_didactylus/TyUGAo85">Brachycephalus didactylus</a></i> from Brazil (reported as 9.6–9.8 mm (0.38–0.39 in))</li> <li>several species of <i><a href="/facts/Eleutherodactylus/XFwVTsET">Eleutherodactylus</a></i> such as <i><a href="/facts/Eleutherodactylus_iberia/bolSt7WL">E. iberia</a></i> (around 10 mm (0.39 in)) and <i><a href="/facts/Eleutherodactylus_limbatus/A4hukoB1">E. limbatus</a></i> (8.5–12 mm (0.33–0.47 in)) and <i><a href="/facts/Eleutherodactylus_orientalis/rSKwFHlb">Eleutherodactylus orientalis</a></i> (12.5 mm (0.49 in)) from Cuba,</li> <li>Gardiner's Frog <i><a href="/facts/Sechellophryne_gardineri/GoJgdlJl">Sechellophryne gardineri</a></i> from the Seychelles (up to 11 mm (0.43 in)),</li> <li>several species of <i><a href="/facts/Stumpffia/4fc0IrkR">Stumpffia</a></i> such as <i><a href="/facts/Stumpffia_tridactyla/rbPBLrwE">S. tridactyla</a></i> (8.6–12 mm (0.34–0.47 in)) and <i><a href="/facts/Stumpffia_pygmaea/QYsqhg6f">S. pygmaea</a></i> (males 10–12.5 mm (0.39–0.49 in); females: 11 mm (0.43 in)) and <i><a href="/facts/Wakea_madinika/EAWr58uY">Wakea madinika</a></i> (males: 11–13 mm (0.43–0.51 in); females: 15–16 mm (0.59–0.63 in)) from Madagascar.</li></ul> <p>The two species <i><a href="/facts/Microhyla_borneensis/gCvPUF7z">Microhyla borneensis</a></i> (males: 10.6–13 mm (0.42–0.51 in); females: 16–19 mm (0.63–0.75 in))<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:53" href="#fn:53"><sup>53</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:54" href="#fn:54"><sup>54</sup></a> and <i><a href="/facts/Arthroleptella_rugosa/yGQS7rGk">Arthroleptella rugosa</a></i> (males: 11.9–14.1 mm (0.47–0.56 in); females: 15.5 mm (0.61 in)) were once the smallest known frogs from the <a href="/facts/Old_World/jt02swyQ">Old World</a>. In general these extremely small frogs occur in tropical forest and montane environments. There is relatively little data on size variation among individuals, growth from metamorphosis to adulthood or size variation among populations in these species. Additional studies and the discovery of further minute frog species are likely to change the rank order of this list. </p> <h4>Salamanders, newts and allies (Urodela)</h4> <p>The average snout-to-<a href="/facts/Cloaca/e5rv15PI">vent</a> length (<a href="/facts/Snout%25E2%2580%2593vent_length/zMkKrjm4">SVL</a>) of several specimens of the salamander <i><a href="/facts/Thorius_arboreus/rm1FRn54">Thorius arboreus</a></i> was 17 mm (0.67 in).<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:55" href="#fn:55"><sup>55</sup></a> </p> <h3>Sauropsids (Sauropsida)</h3> <h4>Lizards and snakes (Squamata)</h4> <ul><li>The miniature chameleon <i><a href="/facts/Brookesia_nana/n4ckw2wJ">Brookesia nana</a></i>, with a snout-vent length of 13.5 mm (0.53 in), may represent the smallest known lizard and smallest reptile.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:56" href="#fn:56"><sup>56</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:57" href="#fn:57"><sup>57</sup></a></li> <li>The <a href="/facts/Sphaerodactylus_ariasae/0Mr1FVcx">dwarf gecko</a> (<i>Sphaerodactylus ariasae</i>) is also one of the smallest known <a href="/facts/Reptile/04n1uKf1">reptile</a> species, with a snout-vent length of 16 millimetres (0.63 in).<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:58" href="#fn:58"><sup>58</sup></a> <i>S. ariasae</i> was first described in 2001 by the biologists <a href="/facts/Blair_Hedges/nGYSPVDR">Blair Hedges</a> and Richard Thomas. This dwarf gecko lives in <a href="/facts/Jaragua_National_Park/vKcrEdgQ">Jaragua National Park</a> in the <a href="/facts/Dominican_Republic/u36V3Nsb">Dominican Republic</a> and on <a href="/facts/Beata_Island/l17Ptqn3">Beata Island</a> (<i>Isla Beata</i>), off the southern coast of the <a href="/facts/Dominican_Republic/u36V3Nsb">Dominican Republic</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:59" href="#fn:59"><sup>59</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:60" href="#fn:60"><sup>60</sup></a> A few <i><a href="/facts/Brookesia/kDQAkMyK">Brookesia</a></i> chameleons from <a href="/facts/Madagascar/ez12IAcY">Madagascar</a> are equally small, with a reported snout-vent length of 15–18 mm (0.59–0.71 in) for male dwarf chameleons (<i><a href="/facts/Brookesia_minima/PI9lQoXj">B. minima</a></i>), 14–19 mm (0.55–0.75 in) for male Mount d'Ambre leaf chameleons (<i><a href="/facts/Brookesia_tuberculata/5z8gWBrp">B. tuberculata</a></i>)<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:61" href="#fn:61"><sup>61</sup></a> and 15–16 mm (0.59–0.63 in) for male <i><a href="/facts/Brookesia_micra/aIowWkur">B. micra</a></i>,<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:62" href="#fn:62"><sup>62</sup></a> though females are larger.</li></ul> <ul><li>One of the smallest known <a href="/facts/Snake/YhA2gcn0">snakes</a> is the recently discovered <a href="/facts/Barbados_threadsnake/RCWSkXpJ">Barbados threadsnake</a> (<i>Leptotyphlops carlae</i>). Adults average about 10 cm (4 in) long, which is only about twice as long as the <a href="/facts/Hatchling/MWTsu0ja">hatchlings</a>. The <a href="/facts/Common_blind_snake/YhpvRhPE">Common blind snake</a> (<i>Indotyphlops braminus</i>) measures 5.1–10.2 cm (2–4 in) long, occasionally up to 15 cm (6 in) long.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:63" href="#fn:63"><sup>63</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:64" href="#fn:64"><sup>64</sup></a></li></ul> <h4>Turtles and tortoises (Testudines)</h4> <p>The smallest <a href="/facts/Turtle/X0ImnxYt">turtle</a> is the <a href="/facts/Speckled_padloper_tortoise/SpNDAHyK">speckled padloper tortoise</a> (<i>Homopus signatus</i>) from <a href="/facts/South_Africa/vvXQpLgq">South Africa</a>. The males measure 6–8 cm (2.4–3.1 in), while females measure up to almost 10 cm (3.9 in).<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:65" href="#fn:65"><sup>65</sup></a> </p> <h3>Archosaurs (Archosauria)<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:66" href="#fn:66"><sup>66</sup></a></h3> <h4>Crocodiles and close relatives (Crocodylomorpha)</h4> <ul><li>The smallest extant <a href="/facts/Crocodilian/G4LbxJs6">crocodilian</a> is the <a href="/facts/Cuvier%2527s_dwarf_caiman/hmbv45Qo">Cuvier's dwarf caiman</a> (<i>Paleosuchus palpebrosus</i>) from northern and central South America. It reaches up to 1.6 m (5.2 ft) in length.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:67" href="#fn:67"><sup>67</sup></a></li> <li>Some extinct <a href="/facts/Crocodylomorph/clPyHg6D">crocodylomorphs</a> were even smaller.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:68" href="#fn:68"><sup>68</sup></a> Fully grown <i><a href="/facts/Bernissartia/IJDnRqGT">Bernissartia</a></i> from the <a href="/facts/Early_Cretaceous/5uWEJGYC">Early Cretaceous</a> reached a bit more than 60 cm (24 in) in length.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:69" href="#fn:69"><sup>69</sup></a></li> <li>The <a href="/facts/Early_Cretaceous/5uWEJGYC">Early Cretaceous</a> terrestrial <a href="/facts/Notosuchia/0ekwEf0y">notosuchian</a> <i><a href="/facts/Malawisuchus/jdjMekpY">Malawisuchus</a></i> was no more than 60 cm (24 in) long.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:70" href="#fn:70"><sup>70</sup></a> Other small notosuchians include <i><a href="/facts/Anatosuchus/FgWBeqhR">Anatosuchus</a></i> at 70 cm (28 in)<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:71" href="#fn:71"><sup>71</sup></a> and herbivorous <i><a href="/facts/Simosuchus/h29m4x0L">Simosuchus</a></i> at 75 cm (30 in).<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:72" href="#fn:72"><sup>72</sup></a></li></ul> <h4>Pterosaurs (Pterosauria)</h4> <p class="note">Further information: <a href="/facts/Pterosaur_size/0IRba5SC">Pterosaur size</a></p> <p><i><a href="/facts/Nemicolopterus/tswhj0Pz">Nemicolopterus</a></i> was the smallest pterosaur, it reached about 25 cm (9.8 in) in wingspan.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:73" href="#fn:73"><sup>73</sup></a> </p> <h4>Non-avian dinosaurs (Dinosauria)</h4> <p class="note">Further information: <a href="/facts/Dinosaur_size/anntYrSp">Dinosaur size</a></p> <p>Sizes of non-avian dinosaurs are commonly labelled with a level of uncertainty, as the available material often (or even usually) is incomplete. The smallest known extinct non-avian <a href="/facts/Dinosaur/JRdMqBnq">dinosaur</a> is <i><a href="/facts/Anchiornis/XjsIebUD">Anchiornis</a></i>, a genus of feathered dinosaur that lived in what is now China during the Late <a href="/facts/Jurassic_Period/o5Cy4KzX">Jurassic Period</a> 160 to 155 million years ago. Adult specimens range from 34 cm (13 in) long, and the weight has been estimated at up to 110 g (3.9 oz).<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:74" href="#fn:74"><sup>74</sup></a> <i><a href="/facts/Parvicursor/A07v96Yp">Parvicursor</a></i> was initially seen as one of the smallest non-avian dinosaurs known from an adult specimen, at 39 cm (15 in) in length, and 162 g (5.7 oz) in weight.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:75" href="#fn:75"><sup>75</sup></a> However, in 2022 its <a href="/facts/Holotype/a8n9vhHa">holotype</a> was concluded to represent a juvenile individual.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:76" href="#fn:76"><sup>76</sup></a> <i><a href="/facts/Epidexipteryx/lzE9Hm3a">Epidexipteryx</a></i> reached 25–30 cm (9.8–11.8 in) in length and 164–220 g (5.8–7.8 oz) in weight.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:77" href="#fn:77"><sup>77</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:78" href="#fn:78"><sup>78</sup></a> </p> <h4>Birds (Aves)</h4> <ul><li>With a mass of approximately 1.95 grams (0.069 oz) and a length of 5.5 centimetres (2.2 inches), the <a href="/facts/Bee_hummingbird/CoxjXjKw">bee hummingbird</a> (<i>Mellisuga helenae</i>) is the smallest known dinosaur as well as the smallest <a href="/facts/Bird/RJF6zwLP">bird</a> species, and the smallest <a href="/facts/Warm-blooded/vw2TsPIP">warm-blooded</a> <a href="/facts/Vertebrate/tT54FSTT">vertebrate</a>. Called the <i>zunzuncito</i> in its native habitat on Cuba, it is lighter than a <a href="/facts/Penny_(Canadian_coin)/w4vW2wpo">Canadian</a> or <a href="/facts/Cent_(United_States_coin)/m4Fpurkn">U.S. penny</a>. It is said that it is "more apt to be mistaken for a <a href="/facts/Bee/HglXpXty">bee</a> than a bird".<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:79" href="#fn:79"><sup>79</sup></a> The bee hummingbird eats half its total <a href="/facts/Body_mass/QWW2LqSw">body mass</a> and drinks eight times its total body mass each day. Its nest is 3 cm (1.2 in) across.</li> <li>The smallest <a href="/facts/Waterfowl/goIz5Ybo">waterfowl</a> is <a href="/facts/Pygmy_goose/KEb7WETV">pygmy goose</a> (<i><a href="/facts/Nettapus/KEb7WETV">Nettapus</a></i>). <a href="/facts/African_pygmy_goose/zgBub7mK">African species</a> reaches the average weight of about 285 grams (10.1 oz) for males and 260 grams (9.2 oz) for females and length of single wing between 142 millimetres (5.6 in) and 165 millimetres (6.5 in).<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:80" href="#fn:80"><sup>80</sup></a> The second smallest waterfowl is the extinct <i><a href="/facts/Mioquerquedula/tpUc2vVr">Mioquerquedula</a></i> from the <a href="/facts/Miocene/cBRRzq4g">Miocene</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:81" href="#fn:81"><sup>81</sup></a></li> <li>The smallest <a href="/facts/Penguin/RPoapfVx">penguin</a> species is the <a href="/facts/Little_penguin/WsbKxsxY">little blue penguin</a> (<i>Eudyptula minor</i>), which stands around 30–33 cm (12–13 in) tall and weighs 1.2–1.3 kg (2.6–2.9 lb).<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:82" href="#fn:82"><sup>82</sup></a></li> <li>The smallest bird of prey is the <a href="/facts/Black-thighed_falconet/lamKo1of">Black-thighed falconet</a> (<i>Microhierax fringillarius</i>), with a <a href="/facts/Wingspan/xsWBF9Qa">wingspan</a> of 27–32 centimetres (11–13 in), roughly the size of a <a href="/facts/Old_World_sparrow/rV81nD64">sparrow</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:83" href="#fn:83"><sup>83</sup></a></li></ul> <h3>Non-mammalian synapsids (Synapsida)</h3> <p>The smallest <a href="/facts/Mesozoic/yYsvXGPa">Mesozoic</a> <a href="/facts/Mammaliaformes/FvX0owYy">mammaliaform</a> was <i><a href="/facts/Hadrocodium/h6xMtwUC">Hadrocodium</a></i> with a skull of 1.5 cm (0.59 in) in length and a body mass of 2 g (0.071 oz).<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:84" href="#fn:84"><sup>84</sup></a> </p> <h3>Mammals (Mammalia)</h3> <h4>Marsupials (Marsupialia)</h4> <p>The smallest <a href="/facts/Marsupialia/zN5s4bMq">marsupial</a> is the <a href="/facts/Long-tailed_planigale/fY2GfrQ5">long-tailed planigale</a> from Australia. It has a body length of 110–130 millimetres (4.3–5.1 in) (including tail) and weighs 4.3 grams (0.15 oz) on average. The <a href="/facts/Pilbara_ningaui/pqGI17LA">Pilbara ningaui</a> is considered to be of similar size and weight.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:85" href="#fn:85"><sup>85</sup></a> </p> <h4>Shrews (Eulipotyphla)</h4> <p>The <a href="/facts/Etruscan_shrew/bLsYbv3l">Etruscan shrew</a> (<i>Suncus etruscus</i>), is the smallest mammal by mass, weighing about 1.8 g (0.063 oz) on average.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:86" href="#fn:86"><sup>86</sup></a> The smallest mammal that ever lived, the shrew-like <i><a href="/facts/Batodonoides_vanhouteni/8HbdYK2w">Batodonoides vanhouteni</a></i>, weighed 1.3 grams (0.046 oz).<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:87" href="#fn:87"><sup>87</sup></a> </p> <h4>Bats (Chiroptera)</h4> <p>The <a href="/facts/Kitti%2527s_hog-nosed_bat/G9V4EDz7">Kitti's hog-nosed bat</a> (<i>Craseonycteris thonglongyai</i>), also known as the bumblebee bat, from <a href="/facts/Thailand/GCUnN4JK">Thailand</a> and <a href="/facts/Myanmar/zcqQH2oE">Myanmar</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:88" href="#fn:88"><sup>88</sup></a> is the smallest <a href="/facts/Mammal/phSwTzBo">mammal</a>, at 29–33 millimetres (1.1–1.3 in) in length and 2 grams (0.071 oz) in weight.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:89" href="#fn:89"><sup>89</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:90" href="#fn:90"><sup>90</sup></a> </p> <h4>Carnivorans (Carnivora)</h4> <p>The smallest member of the order <a href="/facts/Carnivora/4wWDW8RY">Carnivora</a> is the <a href="/facts/Least_weasel/CI5bFfaX">least weasel</a> (<i>Mustela nivalis</i>), with an average body length of 114–260 mm (4.5–10.2 in). It weighs between 29.5–250 g (1.04–8.82 oz) with females being lighter.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:91" href="#fn:91"><sup>91</sup></a> </p> <h4>Rodents (Rodentia)</h4> <p>The smallest known member of the <a href="/facts/Rodent/mT4m8QJq">rodent</a> order is the <a href="/facts/Baluchistan_pygmy_jerboa/M4ttWIHF">Baluchistan pygmy jerboa</a>, with an average body length of 3.8 cm (1.5 in).<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:92" href="#fn:92"><sup>92</sup></a> </p> <h4>Primates (Primates)</h4> <p>The smallest member of the <a href="/facts/Primate/Hl8RNE2X">primate</a> <a href="/facts/Order_(biology)/GKLJvIpt">order</a> is <a href="/facts/Madame_Berthe%2527s_mouse_lemur/Fj3o2r1W">Madame Berthe's mouse lemur</a> (<i>Microcebus berthae</i>), found in <a href="/facts/Madagascar/ez12IAcY">Madagascar</a>,<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:93" href="#fn:93"><sup>93</sup></a> with an average body length of 9.2 cm (3.6 in). </p> <h4>Cetaceans (Cetacea)</h4> <p>The smallest <a href="/facts/Cetacea/rtC33h63">cetacean</a>, which is also (as of 2006) the most endangered, is the <a href="/facts/Vaquita/d2lcdkJn">vaquita</a>, a species of porpoise. Male vaquitas grow to an average of around 135 cm (53 in); the females are slightly longer, averaging about 141 cm (56 in) in length.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:94" href="#fn:94"><sup>94</sup></a> </p> <h2 id="embryophytes-embryophyta">Embryophytes (Embryophyta)</h2> <h3>Gymnosperms (Gymnospermae)</h3> <p><i><a href="/facts/Zamia_pygmaea/1JrXAHtu">Zamia pygmaea</a></i> is a <a href="/facts/Cycad/Kc2JDExr">cycad</a> found in Cuba, and the smallest known <a href="/facts/Gymnosperm/lzcpfbUK">gymnosperm</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:95" href="#fn:95"><sup>95</sup></a> It grows to a height of 25 cm (10 in).<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:96" href="#fn:96"><sup>96</sup></a> </p> <h3>Angiosperms (Angiospermae)</h3> <p><a href="/facts/Duckweed/CnCc3S5Y">Duckweeds</a> of the genus <i><a href="/facts/Wolffia/wHprfrAA">Wolffia</a></i> are the smallest <a href="/facts/Angiosperm/E5eGYIvY">angiosperms</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:97" href="#fn:97"><sup>97</sup></a> Fully grown, they measure 300 by 600 μm (0.30 by 0.60 mm) and reach a mass of just 150 <a href="/facts/Microgram/aAHxytph">μg</a>. </p> <h4>Dicotyledons</h4> <p>The smallest known <a href="/facts/Dicotyledon/yat51Ncq">dicotyledon</a> plant is the <a href="/facts/Himalayan_dwarf_mistletoe/gHUJBBrL">Himalayan dwarf mistletoe</a> (<i>Arceuthobium minutissimum</i>). Shoots grow up to 5 mm (0.20 in) in height.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:98" href="#fn:98"><sup>98</sup></a> </p> <h2 id="other">Other</h2> <h3>Nanobes</h3> <p><a href="/facts/Nanobe/DMsUXCeh">Nanobes</a> are thought by some scientists to be the smallest known organisms,<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:99" href="#fn:99"><sup>99</sup></a> about one tenth the size of the smallest known bacteria. Nanobes, tiny filamental structures first found in some <a href="/facts/Rock_(geology)/FXCJkmop">rocks</a> and <a href="/facts/Sediments/zsIH1A6U">sediments</a>, were first described in 1996 by Philippa Uwins of the <a href="/facts/University_of_Queensland/Umrq4nJ7">University of Queensland</a>, but it is unclear what they are, and if they are alive.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:100" href="#fn:100"><sup>100</sup></a> </p> <h2 id="see-also">See also</h2> <ul><li><a href="/facts/Largest_organisms/F3HjLlq7">Largest organisms</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Largest_prehistoric_organisms/7yH1pCUk">Largest prehistoric organisms</a></li></ul> <h2 id="notes">Notes</h2> <h2 id="other-references">Other references</h2> <ul><li>Heptner, V. G.; Sludskii, A. A. (2002). <a href="https://archive.org/details/mammalsofsov212001gept"><i>Mammals of the Soviet Union. Vol. II, part 1b, Carnivores (Mustelidae and Procyonidae)</i></a>. Washington, D.C. : Smithsonian Institution Libraries and National Science Foundation. <a href="/facts/ISBN_(identifier)/15AdSPa9">ISBN</a> 90-04-08876-8.</li> <li>Brownell, Robert L.; Findley, Lloyd T.; Vidal, Omar; Robles, Alejandro; et al. (1987). 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