The World's Smallest Animal: The Etruscan Shrew

The title of smallest known animal goes to the Etruscan shrew (Suncus etruscus), a tiny mammal found in parts of Italy, Sicily, and Sardinia. Vital stats:

• Weight: 1.8–2.5 grams (0.06–0.09 oz)
• Body length: 3.5–4.8 cm (1.4–1.9 in)
• Tail: ~2.5 cm (1 in)

It shares the "smallest vertebrate" distinction with the Paedocypris fish of Southeast Asia. With a heart rate up to 1,500 bpm and a metabolism requiring it to eat 1.5–2 times its body weight daily, the Etruscan shrew lives life in the fast lane—literally.