Can You Identify Some of the World's Smallest Animals from an Image?

By: Jacqueline Samaroo
Estimated Completion Time
4 min
Can You Identify Some of the World's Smallest Animals from an Image?
Image: Youtube

About This Quiz

They are small and unassuming. Often, they navigate the world while hidden in plain sight. Although small, they make a huge impact on ecosystems. They keep the insect population in check, help pollinate flowers, spread seeds and recycle valuable nutrients back into the soil. In the fight for survival of the fittest, these tiny spirits found a niche where the big boys couldn't play ball, and that has helped them survive and thrive.

These small wonders are fascinating creatures. For instance, the Jeboas are desert rodents that travel by hopping. These tiny rodents have been observed to reach speeds of 24 kilometers per hour (15 mph) in high stress situations. Or the Paedophryne Amanuenis, a species of colorful frogs that can be found in Papua New Guinea. Not only is it the smallest frog but it is also the world's smallest vertebrate, measuring only 0.3 inches in length. And let's not forget the bee hummingbird, notable for being extremely beautiful. It is also formally recognized as being the smallest bird in the world.

Now it's time for you to identify some of the world's smallest animals from an image. You can do it because ... it's a small world after all. Take the quiz now!

African Pygmy Mouse
WikiCommons by AleXXw
Can you identify this small animal?
African Pygmy Mouse
With adults only growing to be anywhere between 1.2 inches and 2.1 inches long, the African pygmy mouse is widely considered to be one of the smallest rodents in the world. They are fairly common in most of sub-Saharan Africa and are also sometimes found as pets in other areas of the world.
Leopard Gecko
Black-Footed Cat
Paedophryne Amauensis

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Bumblebee Bat
Youtube
Can you identify this small animal?
Pygmy Rabbit
Box Turtle
Bumblebee Bat
The bumblebee bat is the name given to a species of small bats that are also sometimes referred to as the “Kitti's hog-nosed bat." The bumblebee bat is actually the smallest species of bat in the world and also, disputably, the smallest mammal in the world.
Pygmy Possum

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Diamond Back Terrapins
WikiCommons by Jamie Drake
Can you identify this small animal?
Jerboa
Chinese Hamster
Crimson Chat
Diamondback Terrapin
Diamondback terrapins are a species of fairly small turtles that can be primarily found in the United States and Bermuda. While males have been observed to grow only to an approximate size of 5 inches, females have been observed to grow significantly larger, averaging around 7.5 inches.

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Madame Berthe's Mouse Lemur
Youtube
Can you identify this small animal?
Long-Tailed Planigale
Common Ferret
Madame Berthe's Mouse Lemur
Madame Berthe's mouse lemur (often simply shortened to Berthe's mouse lemur) is not only the smallest mouse lemur in the world but also the smallest primate in the world. This tiny primate was discovered fairly recently – in 1992 – in Madagascar.
Golden Hamster

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Least Weasel
n/a
Can you identify this small animal?
Pygmy Marmoset
Least Weasel
Simply known as a “weasel” in the United Kingdom, the least weasel is the smallest member of the weasel family. Although the least weasel is native to North America, Eurasia, and North Africa, it has also been introduced to several other places around the world, including Argentina, Australia, and Bermuda.
Treeshrew
Volcano Rabbit

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Rusty-Spotted Cat
Youtube
Can you identify this small animal?
Tropical Parula
Reeves’ Turtles
Musk Turtles
Rusty-Spotted Cat
The rusty-spotted cat holds the title of being the smallest wild cat in all of Asia. In addition, the rusty-spotted cat also competes with the black-footed cat for the title of the smallest wild cat in the world. This cat can be found in South Asia in places like Sri Lanka, India, and even ​in parts of Nepal.

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Mouse Lemur
WikiCommons by Bernard DUPONT
Can you identify this small animal?
Jaragua Dwarf Gecko
Mouse Lemur
Mouse lemurs are solely native to the island nation of Madagascar. They are known for having a very varied omnivorous diet, ranging from small vertebrates and small arthropods, to plant matter (like flowers, fruits, and nectar). These tiny primates are also notable for being primarily nocturnal.
Virgin Islands Dwarf Sphaero
American Shrew Moles

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Brown Gerygone
Youtube
Can you identify this small animal?
Brown Gerygone
The brown gerygone is a tiny bird that is native to Australia (specifically eastern Australia). It should be noted that this bird was formerly known as the brown warbler, and it is still sometimes referred to as such. The brown gerygone is only approximately 4 inches in length.
Eastern Cottontail
Roborovski Hamster
Fennec Fox

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Golden Headed Cisticola
WikiCommons by Jim Bendon
Can you identify this small animal?
Guinea Pig
Golden-Headed Cisticola
The golden-headed cisticola is a species of warbler that is found in a relatively wide variety of areas, such as Australia and India. In some places, the golden-headed cisticola is also referred to as the bright-headed cisticola. It is primarily found around wetlands.
American Goldfinch
Mud Turtles

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Tropical Parula
WikiCommons by Dario Sanches
Can you identify this small animal?
Etruscan Shrew
Crimson Chat
Bee Hummingbird
Tropical Parula
The tropical parula is a species of warbler that can be found throughout numerous countries in the Americas. It can notably be found in Mexico, Trinidad and Tobago, Argentina, and Texas in the United States. Like many birds, the females are noticeably duller than their male counterparts.

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Roosmalens' Dwarf Marmoset
Youtube
Can you identify this small animal?
Red-Billed Streamertail
Roosmalens' Dwarf Marmoset
The Roosmalens' dwarf marmoset is a relatively rare primate, since it has a small population distribution – only being native to a small area of the Amazon rainforest. On average, adult Roosmalens' dwarf marmosets only grow to a length of 15 inches – this includes their tail, which can account for up to 9 of those inches.
Eastern Cottontail
Black-Footed Ferret

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Musk Turtles
WikiCommons by Greg Schechter
Can you identify this small animal?
Musk Turtles
Musk turtle is a name that is given to several species of turtles, However, the one that is most commonly referred to by this name is the eastern musk turtle (also known as the common musk turtle). This turtle is native to several areas of the eastern United States and also southeastern Canada.
New England Cottontail
Campbell's Dwarf Hamster
Box Turtle

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Jerboas
WikiCommons by Cliff
Can you identify this small animal?
Fennec Fox
Pardalote
Jerboa
Jerboas are desert dwelling rodents that are notable for the fact they travel by hopping. These tiny rodents have been observed to reach speeds of up to 24 kilometers per hour in high stress situations. They can primarily be found in Northern Africa, as well as parts of Asia.
Goldcrest

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American Shrew Moles
Youtube
Can you identify this small animal?
Guinea Pig
American Shrew Moles
The American shrew mole is noteworthy for being categorized as the smallest species of mole. Other names for the American shrew mole include the Least Shrew mole and the Gibb’s shrew mole. The “shrew” part of its name comes from the fact it has fur – a defining trait of shrews.
Jaragua Dwarf Gecko
Pygmy Possum

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Volcano Rabbit
Youtube
Can you identify this small animal?
Treeshrew
Spotted Turtles
Volcano Rabbit
The volcano rabbit is distinctive for being the second smallest rabbit in the world – only being larger than the aptly named pygmy rabbit. The volcano rabbit is native to the mountains of Mexico, where it is also known as zacatuche or teporingo.
Chinese Hamster

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Paedophryne Amauensis
Youtube
Can you identify this small animal?
House Mouse
Long-Tailed Planigale
Campbell's Dwarf Hamster
Paedophryne Amauensis
The paedophryne amauensis is a species of colorful frogs that can be found in Papua New Guinea. These tiny frogs are a recent find, being discovered in 2009 and formally designated in early 2012. Not only is it the smallest frog but it is also the world’s smallest vertebrate, measuring only 0.3 inches in length.

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Bee Hummingbird
WikiCommons by Charlesjsharp
Can you identify this small animal?
Roborovski Hamster
Etruscan Shrew
Bee Hummingbird
Not only is the bee hummingbird notable for being extremely beautiful, it is also formally recognized as being the smallest bird in the world. The bee hummingbird also goes by several other names, the most common of which are Helena hummingbird and zunzuncito.
Long-Tailed Chinchilla

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Campbell's Dwarf Hamster
Youtube
Can you identify this small animal?
Campbell's Dwarf Hamster
The Campbell's dwarf hamster is a species of hamster that can be found in arid habitats in Asia such as areas of China, Russia, Mongolia, and Kazakhstan. It is actually a close relative of the Djungarian hamster. However, the Campbell’s dwarf hamster has larger ears and darker fur.
Bananaquit
Mud Turtles
Golden Hamster

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Pygmy Possum
WikiCommons by Phil Spark
Can you identify this small animal?
African Pygmy Mouse
American Goldfinch
Golden-Headed Cisticola
Pygmy Possum
Possums are small marsupials – a family that includes larger relatives like kangaroos and koalas – that can be found in Australia, Indonesia, and Papua New Guinea. Pygmy possums are largely nocturnal and also categorized as omnivores based on their varied diet.

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Mud Turtles
WikiCommons by Amdubois
Can you identify this small animal?
Mud Turtles
Also known as Kinosternon, the mud turtle is a relatively small aquatic turtle that shares some similarities with its larger relative, the musk turtle. The mud turtle can be found throughout the Americas, in parts of South America, Mexico, the United States, and Central America.
Jaragua Dwarf Gecko
Pygmy Rabbit
Tropical Parula

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Long-Tailed Planigale
WikiCommons by Alan
Can you identify this small animal?
House Mouse
Red-Billed Streamertail
Etruscan Shrew
Long-Tailed Planigale
The long-tailed planigale is an Australian marsupial that also goes by the names northern planigale and Ingram's planigale. The long-tailed planigale is notable for holding the title of being not only one of the smallest animals in the world but also the absolute smallest marsupial in the world.

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Fennec fox - desert
Shutterstock
Can you identify this small animal?
Weebill
Fennec Fox
The fennec fox is a relatively small fox that can be found throughout North Africa, primarily in the Sahara. The most notable feature of the fennec fox is its prominently large ears.These ears help it to survive in the hot climate as a means of dissipating heat.
Leopard Gecko
Long-Tailed Chinchilla

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Chinese Hamster
WikiCommons by Alexeames
Can you identify this small animal?
Pygmy Marmoset
Spotted Turtles
Treeshrew
Chinese Hamster
As the name suggests, the Chinese hamster is a species of hamster that can primarily be found China (and certain parts of Mongolia as well). This small rodent makes its home is particularly arid environments, being particularly plentiful in the deserts of northern China.

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New England Cottontail
WikiCommons by Silly rabbit
Can you identify this small animal?
Eastern Cottontail
New England Cottontail
The New England cottontail is a vulnerable species of rabbit that can primarily be found in New England and the surrounding areas. The New England cottontail is also referred to by several other names, including: wood rabbit, gray rabbit, wood hare, and brush rabbit.
Brown Gerygone
Pardalote

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Virgin Islands Dwarf Sphaero
WikiCommons by D. Sikes
Can you identify this small animal?
Virgin Islands Dwarf Sphaero
Land surrounded by water
Golden Hamster
Bananaquit
Tropical Parula

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Guinea Pig
WikiCommons by CaptainJae
Can you identify this small animal?
Pygmy Rabbit
Rusty-Spotted Cat
Guinea Pig
The guinea pig (more specifically the domestic guinea pig) is a species of rodent well known for being primarily kept as pets. The name “guinea pig” is by no means an accurate descriptor for this animal, since they are not from Guinea and they are not in the same family as pigs.
Roosmalens' Dwarf Marmoset

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Eastern Cottontail
WikiCommons by Ltshears
Can you identify this small animal?
Mouse Lemur
Volcano Rabbit
Eastern Cottontail
The eastern cottontail is a species of rabbit that makes its home in meadows and lightly forested areas. The eastern cottontail is the most common rabbit in North America and also has one of the widest population distributions. It can be found in the United States, Canada, South America, Mexico, and many other locations.
Weebill

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Common Ferret
WikiCommons by Alfredo Gutiérrez
Can you identify this small animal?
Madame Berthe's Mouse Lemur
Common Ferret
The common ferret (oftentimes referred to as simply a “ferret”) is a close relative of the European polecat, being its domesticated variant. Ferrets are usually seen with fur that can be white, brown, black, or a mixture of these colors.
House Mouse
Long-Tailed Planigale

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Pygmy Marmoset
Shutterstock
Can you identify this small animal?
Pygmy Marmoset
The pygmy marmoset is a primate that is only native to the western Amazon Basin and the rainforests that lie within. The pygmy marmoset is notable for being the second smallest primate in the world, coming in second to the Madame Berthe's mouse lemur.
Paedophryne Amauensis
Chinese Hamster
Box Turtle

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Spotted Turtles
WikiCommons by Ltshears
Can you identify this small animal?
Musk Turtles
Diamondback Terrapin
Spotted Turtles
The spotted turtle is a relatively small freshwater turtle that can largely be considered to be a semi-aquatic reptile. These turtles can grow to be anywhere between 3 and 5 inches, and they are primarily found in the eastern United States and southern Canada.
Goldcrest

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Jaragua Dwarf Gecko
Youtube
Can you identify this small animal?
Black-Footed Ferret
Jaragua Dwarf Gecko
The Jaragua dwarf gecko (also sometimes simply referred to as the Jaragua sphaero) is a species of lizard that is notable for its small size. This tiny reptile can be primarily found in the Dominican Republic and nearby islands.
New England Cottontail
Mouse Lemur

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Black-Footed Cat
Youtube
Can you identify this small animal?
Leopard Gecko
Bumblebee Bat
Jerboa
Black-Footed Cat
The black-footed cat – also sometimes referred to as the small-spotted cat – is a small wild cat that is native to Southern Africa. This cat is notable for being the smallest cat in Africa. However, it also competes with the rusty-spotted cat for the title of smallest cat in the world.

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Reeve's Turtle
Youtube
Can you identify this small animal?
African Pygmy Mouse
Least Weasel
Reeves’ Turtles
The Reeves’ turtle is a species of turtle that is more commonly referred to as the Chinese three-keeled pond turtle or simply the Chinese pond turtle. As these alternative names suggest, this turtle can be largely found in China. However, it can also be found in Korea, Japan, and Taiwan.
Red-Billed Streamertail

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Box Turtle
shutterstock
Can you identify this small animal?
American Goldfinch
Campbell's Dwarf Hamster
Golden-Headed Cisticola
Box Turtle
In the United States, if someone has a pet turtle then there is a fairly high chance it is a box turtle. There are four species of box turtles in North America and while they share many initial similarities with tortoises, they are a part of the pond turtle family.

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Crimson Chat
WikiCommons by Ron Knight
Can you identify this small animal?
Guinea Pig
Crimson Chat
The crimson chat is a small omnivorous bird that is native to the Australian continent. This red patterned bird goes by several other names in its homeland, including the saltbush canary, the tricolored chat, and the crimson-breasted nun. This tiny bird averages 4.5 inches in length.
Roosmalens' Dwarf Marmoset
Roborovski Hamster

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Black footed ferret
Wiki Commons
Can you identify this small animal?
Bee Hummingbird
Virgin Islands Dwarf Sphaero
Madame Berthe's Mouse Lemur
Black-Footed Ferret
The black-footed ferret is actually one of the most endangered mammals in the United States. They were incorrectly declared extinct in 1979 and then properly designated as “extinct in the wild” in 1987. However, modern breeding programs have helped to slowly reinvigorate the population in the wild.

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Long-Tailed Chinchilla
WikiCommons by Yabopomonofonomopo bay
Can you identify this small animal?
Long-Tailed Chinchilla
The long-tailed chinchilla is often simply referred to as the chinchilla or common chinchilla. However, this rodent also goes by several other names, including the lesser chinchilla, the coastal chinchilla, and the Chilean chinchilla. The long-tailed chinchilla is only native to Chile and is considered to be an endangered animal.
American Shrew Moles
Reeves’ Turtles
Least Weasel

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Bananaquit
WikiCommons by Dominic Sherony
Can you identify this small animal?
Rusty-Spotted Cat
Black-Footed Cat
Bananaquit
Although it may be small in size, the specific scientific classification of the bananaquit is cause for quite a lot of debate among ornithologists from all over the Americas. There are currently more than 41 subspecies of bananaquit with many of the subspecies from the Caribbean being considered for elevation to species.
Mud Turtles

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Weebill
WikiCommons by Patrick_K59
Can you identify this small animal?
Weebill
With a length of 3.1 inches to 3.5 inches, the weebill holds the title of being the smallest bird in Australia. The weebill is primarily an olive-yellow songbird that has a dull grey bill, brown wings, and noticeably pale yellow eyes.
Pygmy Possum
Diamondback Terrapin
Common Ferret

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Pardalote
WikiCommons by Patrick_K59
Can you identify this small animal?
Bumblebee Bat
Brown Gerygone
Pardalote
Pardalotes, also referred to as peep-wrens, are a family of very small, brightly colored birds that are only native to Australia. The pardalote family is made up of only one genus that has four species under it. They are omnivores, feeding primarily on insects and sap.
Fennec Fox

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House Mouse
WikiCommons by W.A. Djatmiko
Can you identify this small animal?
Crimson Chat
House Mouse
The house mouse is quite possibly the most common rodent in the world with a population distribution that covers every continent in the world. The house mouse is notable for being one of the few wild animals that primarily lives in such close association with humans.
Virgin Islands Dwarf Sphaero
American Shrew Moles

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Leopard Gecko
shutterstock
Can you identify this small animal?
Diamondback Terrapin
Pygmy Marmoset
Paedophryne Amauensis
Leopard Gecko
The leopard gecko is a ground dwelling lizard that is primarily found in the highlands of Asia (Afghanistan, northern parts of India, etc.). Leopard geckos are notable for having movable eyelids, a trait that is absent from most geckos. However, they are also incapable of climbing up smooth surfaces.

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Roborovski Hamster
WikiCommons by Dalius Baranauskas
Can you identify this small animal?
Weebill
Reeves’ Turtles
Roborovski Hamster
More commonly referred to as the desert hamster, or even simply Robo, the Roborovski hamster is a desert-dwelling hamster that is found in Asia. Roborovski hamsters are extremely active and fast, having been recorded to run the average equivalent of four human marathons each night.
Roosmalens' Dwarf Marmoset

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Golden Hamster
WikiCommons by Dennis Blöte
Can you identify this small animal?
Bee Hummingbird
Common Ferret
Brown Gerygone
Golden Hamster
Once thought to be a fairly common animal throughout their habitats in Turkey and Syria, the golden hamster has slowly become a vulnerable species. However, captive breeding programs are trying to increase their population, since they are often valued as pets and research animals.

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Goldcrest
Shutterstock
Can you identify this small animal?
Jerboa
Goldcrest
The goldcrest is a tiny yellow and green bird that has a population distribution that spans large expanses of Europe and considerable portions of Asia. Studies of European folklore have found that the goldcrest was possibly referred to as the “king of the birds."
Long-Tailed Chinchilla
Least Weasel

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American Goldfinch
Wiki commons
Can you identify this small animal?
American Goldfinch
The American goldfinch is a bright yellow migratory bird that that can be found throughout large sections of North America with population distribution in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, varying depending on the seasons. It is the state bird of New Jersey, Iowa, and Washington.
Volcano Rabbit
Madame Berthe's Mouse Lemur
Black-Footed Cat

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Pygmy Rabbit
WikiCommons
Can you identify this small animal?
Goldcrest
Pygmy Rabbit
The pygmy rabbit is a North American species of rabbit that, at its highest estimates, can barely grow to be a foot long (measurement for females, since males are significantly smaller). The pygmy rabbit is notable for being one of the only two rabbits in North America that actually digs its own burrow.
Pardalote
Mouse Lemur

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Etruscan Shrew
WikiCommons by Stella Nutella
Can you identify this small animal?
Etruscan Shrew
The Etruscan shrew is also aptly referred to as the Etruscan pygmy shrew, and sometimes as the white-toothed pygmy shrew. The Etruscan shrew is notable for being the smallest mammal in the world when it comes to overall mass – weighing only 1.8 grams (0.063 oz.).
Bananaquit
Golden-Headed Cisticola
African Pygmy Mouse

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Treeshrew
WikiCommons by Stavenn
Can you identify this small animal?
Rusty-Spotted Cat
Treeshrew
Treeshrews – also known as banxringss – are small mammals that are only native to Southeast Asia. Although they may look like shrews or even rodents, treeshrews are actually very closely related to primates. In fact, this similarity to primates and their small size have allowed them to be used as primate alternatives in some scientific studies.
New England Cottontail
Black-Footed Ferret

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Red-Billed Streamertail
WikiCommons by DickDaniels
Can you identify this small animal?
Spotted Turtles
Bumblebee Bat
Red-Billed Streamertail
The red-billed streamertail is a beautiful member of the hummingbird family. It is native to Jamaica, where it is also sometimes referred to as the doctor bird, the scissor-tail, or the scissor tail hummingbird. Its​ abundance in Jamaica has earned it the title of national bird.
Musk Turtles

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