[Animals] What is the smallest animal in the world? The answer is not so simple, but there is a winner

[-J3SUS-]

A microscopic "bear"
The smallest animal in the world is the tardigrade. We have already talked about it in a previous article, sometimes also called the "water bear." Its po[CENSORED]r name is not for nothing, and despite the differences that separate them, this microscopic animal looks like a bear. However, it is difficult to verify this.

 

This is not only the smallest animal in the world today, but also one of the most interesting. On average, tardigrades measure between 0.1 and 1.5 millimetres in length, although some can be even smaller, at just 0.05 millimetres. But don't think that makes them insignificant. This is not only the smallest animal in the world today, but also one of the most interesting.

 

The tardigrade certainly has no inferiority complex. This tiny creature is known for its resistance and its ability to survive in extreme environments and temperatures (high pressures, radiation... They can even roam around in space). On Earth, despite their small size, they are complex and resistant animals present in many natural environments, both aquatic and terrestrial (they live in soil, moss, lakes and even oceans). As if that were not enough, they also have the ability to enter cryptobiosis, a state in which they reduce their metabolism to a minimum level for more than 20 years, after which time they rehydrate and resume their activity. On the other hand, the smallest mammal in the world found to date would be the batodontoid, a type of insectivorous animal fossil found in North America.

 

https://www.elconfidencial.com/alma-corazon-vida/2023-06-11/animal-mas-pequeno-del-mundo_3658689/