Have you ever looked at your dog or cat, and thought that they were very smart? You may be right but do you know how smart? Research has shown that many animals in nature are smarter than we thought, and have incredible abilities in reasoning, logic, deduction, memory and more. You’ll be surprised and shocked at some of the things these animals can do. You may think a horse or an otter is smart, but what a squid? Read on and see these 25 smartest animals on earth.

1. Sea Lions

Sea lions are often seen at aquariums performing tricks, and it’s not surprise, because sea lions are some of the most intelligent mammals around. Scientists have found that their brains weigh more than 1.5 pounds, and in 2016, scientists even mapped the sea lion brain. Sea lions’ intelligence even helds the U.S. Naval Service, as sea lions have been trained to find sea mines, swimmers, and even test objects during dives. Sea lions have amazing logical thinking capabilities, and sea lions like Rio, who lives at the University of California Santa Cruz, have passed reasoning tests.

 

2. Sheep

For years sheep were thought of dumb animals, but scientists have discovered that assumption is wrong. Scientists studying sheep’s intelligence at the University of Cambridge found that sheep have intelligence levels that may be similar to humans. Not only can sheep adapt to a new situation easily, but they also have the ability to map their location in their head. Some sheep have been known to even respond to their name, or recognize when you’re talking to them, scientists have found. Sheep can recognize faces, react to a variety of facial expressions, and even use memory to navigate their way around.

 

3. Pigs

If you’ve ever wondered why anyone could keep a pig for a pet, here’s why: they’re really intelligent. It seems that Charlotte’s Web wasn’t too far off, as pigs have the same mental capacity as a three-year old human child. A 2015 study called “Thinking Pigs; examined the complex mental processes of the pig and even found that pigs who taught to anticipate an event could teach others in the pen to do the same. The study also looked at the emotional intelligence of pigs, and found that pigs can have positive and negative responses to incidents.

 

4. Elephants

 Elephants continue to be one of the most fascinating animals on the planet. These beasts may be large, but their brains are big too; in fact, they have the biggest brains of any other animal that lives on land. The complexity of the elephant brain mimics that of the human brain with as many neurons, but elephants also have great emotional intelligence as well.  Elephants can recognize when another elephant is sick or upset, and will aid the animal. The animals can learn and even recognize themselves in mirrors, and have their own form of communication by seismic waves. Not only that, but they also bury their dead, which only one other creature does: humans.

 

5. Pigeons

 

They may seem bothersome but pigeons are very intelligent. Pigeons have been used as messengers for their ability to geolocate, especially in times of war, however, they were also used as aerial photographers in the 1900’s.  One of the most interesting uses for pigeons has been as lifesavers by navy researchers. The scientists were able to train pigeons to identify life jackets by color — red or yellow — and then spot survivors who need rescuing. Known as Project Sea Hunt, the study was unfortunately ended due to budget cuts, but it showed how smart pigeons really were.

 

6. Squid

Squids, like other Cephalopods, are similar to humans, and some even believe that humans were descended from these invertebrates. While that’s still be studied, squids are similar to us in other ways. Our brain cells have the same composition, and have been used by scientists to study the human brain’s functions. Squids have been shown to be able to solve puzzles, use tools and recently, scientists have learned that squids can edit their RNA to make proteins.

 

7. Cats

Cats are agile, quick on their feet, and smart. Felines have incredible memory-retaining skills, which explains why the news is full of stories about cats returning home after being lost for years. Cats may not like it, but they can be trained to perform tricks, and scientists believe that they hone their abilities over time. Scientists have found that even though dogs have a higher social IQ, the cats can solve cognitive problems and can even train us to do things for them; any cat owner can attest to the fact that cats know exactly how to get us to do what they want.

 

8. African Gray Parrots

The University of Vienna did a study on the intelligence of African Gray parrots and found that they can make correct inferences on the location of food with deduction and elimination after audio and visual cus, a task that a human three-year-old child can do. The birds abstract reasoning is impressive, as is their vocabulary; some parrots have been known to have over 800 words and under their tense. African Gray parrots are incredible mimics and are able to replicate doorbells, doors, beeps, alarms and other sounds.

 

9. Squirrels

Squirrels get a bad rap as dumb animals, but they’re actually quite smart. The squirrel is able to plan ahead for the winter, and recall exactly where it buried a nut several months earlier. Squirrels can even fake burying their nuts to draw attention away from their real hiding spots. Another sign of squirrel intelligence is their tails: they use it as a way to communicate with other squirrels if they’re in distress and can run in erratic patterns to outsmart predators.

 

10. Dolphins

There’s a reason you see so many dolphins at the aquariums around the world and that’s because dolphins are very intelligent so they’re easy to train. Research has shown that dolphins can recognize themselves in mirrors, and can even associate a part of their anatomy with that of a human, i.e. wave a flipper when a human waves their arm. Dolphins can solve problems and even follow directions like in a recipe.

 

11. Falcons

Falcons are considered one of the most easily-trained birds and have been helping humans for centuries. These birds can be used to hunt, and can obey commands, even to retrieve prey for their handler. One aspect of the falcon’s intelligence comes from their amazing memory, which lets them return to their handler after completing a task. Long ago, these birds were used just like pigeons to carry messages.

 

12. Horses

Horses have been part of our lives for centuries, and we’re still discovering how intelligent they really are. Equines can not only learn to do tasks, but can read body language, pick up signals, and respond to commands. They have amazing sensory perception, and are able to attribute certain sounds to pleasant or negative experiences. Horses have the ability to communicate with humans through their actions, wiggling their ears or making soft noises to express emotion. A 2017 study at Kobe University found that horses can adjust their behavior to influence humans to do an action, such as retrieve a food that has been hidden.

 

13. Spiders

They’re considered creepy and crawly, but spiders are intelligent too. Scientists have found that jumping spiders, for instance, have the ability to think ahead and plan detours if needed when searching out prey. These same spiders can likely visualize a prey’s hiding spot and make adjustments to their hunting process. When it comes to brain mass, some spiders have brains that extend through their legs, and there’s even more to study about their smarts, so who knows what the researchers will discover next?

 

14. Owls

Owls have long been a figure of intelligence, starting with the adage “old wise owl.” It seems like the saying is really true, as owls are some of the smartest birds in nature. Owl intelligence shows in their hunting skills as they possess extraordinary abilities to detect and hone in on their prey, and navigate their surroundings. Some bird fans hate the fact that owls can’t be trained to perform tasks, but that’s yet to be proven thoroughly, as you can see trained owls in some bird shows.

 

15. Rats

Long used as test subjects for a variety of topics, rats have been one of the science world’s favorite smart animals. Rats can pick up training fairly quickly, and are just as intelligent as dogs with great problem-solving skills. Countless studies have shown that rats can navigate mazes, react to responses, learn tricks, and more. Rats’ emotional intelligence is high too, as they can recognize distress among their fellow rats and they have a wide range of communication signals including audio, visual, and even touch.

 

16. Dogs

It’s a given that dogs would land on the list, because we’ve been training dogs for years to do tricks and perform tasks. Researchers have found that dogs have the intelligence level of a two-year-old child, and can understand over 200 gestures and words. Some dog breeds are naturally smarter than others, but overall, dogs are intelligent. Not only can dogs show reason and logical thinking, but they can even deceive humans which means they can think of a desired thing and then deduce what they have to do to get it. Memory, scent, recognition, emotional intelligence are just a few parts of the smarts of a dog. Smart dog breeds include Border Collie, Labrador Retrievers, Poodles, German Shepherds and Beagles.

 

17. Crows

Crows can actually be eerily smart, and since they’re used often in horror movies, this fact can be unsettling. These birds are able to recognize your face and can conspire with one another to do a task; they do this by communicating to each other with sound. Not only that, but crows also can use tools, solve problems, and even plan events, such as hiding their food — their great memory allows them to recall what they did with the food easily.

 

18. Chimpanzees

Chimpanzees have been called human’s closest relatives, and they certainly have the smarts for that claim. The scientific world is full of studies where chimps were able to do tasks, use tools, recognize objects, play with items, learn words, and communicate. One chimp, Nastasha, left scientists startled over her intelligence. She was able to manipulate situations, play pranks, use sign language and even pretend to be busy to alleviate boredom. Natasha is referred to as a “chimp genius” in the scientific community, and is a wonder to many.

 

19. Octopus

Months ago, the news heard the story of Inky, an enterprising octopus who escaped from his cage, slipped through a gap, and slithered to freedom in a drain that led to the ocean. It sounded like a subplot from the movie Finding Dory but it was real. An Australian study found that octopi can hoard shells to construct a fort, and use other objects as tools. Like the squids, octopi have huge brains, and we’re still discovering all that they’re capable of, but what we’ve discovered is fascinating. Scientists have uncovered that octopi have “brains” in their tentacles which allows them to use them in all kinds of ways. Studies show that octopi can work their way through mazes and do problem solving.

 

20. Otters

Otters are cute and playful, but they’re also very smart, actually one of the smartest species around. First, otters have the ability to use tools, as they have been known to carry a rock to break open mollusks, and they can even tell when the clams they want to eat are carrying a poisonous material. Scientists are finding that otter intelligence can match that of dolphins, and that they can be taught tricks like stacking cups. One clever otter at a zoo has even mastered how to use a vending machine, which could prove troublesome for his weight and the keepers.

 

21. Racoons

If you’ve ever had to pick up your trash can after a late-night raid by a racoon, you know exactly how intelligent raccoons can be. Racoons can quickly learn how to open a trash can or its lid, open a door, and do other tasks to get to food. Scientists think racoon intelligence is why the animal population has flourished despite humans continually threatening their habitat  — they think we may be making the racoon smarter, because they’re adapting to their changing situations.

 

22. Parrots

It’s time to maybe rethink that term “bird brain.” Not just African Gray parrots are smart, but parrots overall are pretty intelligent. Researchers have found that their intelligence as at the rate of a 5-year-old child, which is pretty impressive. Parrots can be taught to ride mini bikes, whistle tunes, answer questions, find hidden treats and more. That’s not all, because parrots also have great flight navigation ability, the ability to use tools, mimic sounds, and do problem solving. Parrots can display object permanence as well, which is a skill that a human child doesn’t learn until they’re at least 2 years or older.

 

23. Orangutan

Another member of the primate family that’s smart is the orangutan. Like the chimp, they can use tools, and they can learn how to use tools, such as the way to saw wood. They’re able to communicate in sign language, and they pass knowledge down to their offspring quickly.

Is this any wonder, however? Orangutans share over 90% of our — human — genetic material. Scientists say that the patient nature of the orangutan — unlike that of their cousin, the ape — lets them have incredible problem solving abilities. One research group at Camp Leakey even observed the animals displaying self-grooming skills similar to humans with actions like washing with soap, washing clothes, bathing, and even brushing their teeth, all through just watching and observing. It’s more than just mimicry, it’s actually applying a skill learned that observation, and that’s the reason that we still have way more to study about primate behavior and intelligence.

 

24. Ants

Okay, so ants are technically insects, but they’re still smart creatures. We all know that ants can build anthills, and they do that by working together which shows coordination and planning abilities. What’s more though is that ants have a great ability to work through their traffic, make decisions and do other impressive things. One Amazonian ant species has been found to actually reproduce through cloning sometimes, and was identified as all-female.

You might have heard of Kopi Luwak– the coffee that is blended from defecated coffee beans by Asian civet cat, or the current trend of enriching food flavor by adding placenta in it. If these sound disgusting to you, then you might have a hard time warming up to the idea of cockroach milk.

Cockroach milk might be the craziest thing you’ll hear this year, but it does not make it anything less than possible. It turns out the Pacific Beetle Cockroaches feed their babies with a formula that’s rich in sugar, fat, and protein. This formula then forms into protein crystals in the stomach of baby cockroaches.

Watch video here

While it’s called cockroach milk, it not exactly similar to the kind of milk we’re used to drinking. The liquid that is harvested from the cockroaches can actually be considered a complete food; it has the essential amino acids, lipids, protein, and sugar. Hence, it has 3x the energy given by buffalo milk and 4x the energy given by cow’s milk.

How in the world do you get milk from a cockroach?

The process is complicated, and it mainly involves extracting crystals from the gut of cockroach embryos. Scientists are still studying about how to make the process faster so that they can mass produce the milk.

So is cockroach milk disgusting? Definitely, yes. Is it healthy? Even more so. While they still have not found a way to mass produce it, you might want to take this time as an opportunity to fully prepare yourself for its release in the market.

Sleep is essential to get enough rest and recharge after everyday activities. However, these animals on the list don’t seem to have a regular sleeping pattern and don’t mind at all if they only get a couple of hours of sleep a day. It won’t stop them from doing what needs to be done in order to survive. So, do you know which of the world’s animals barely get any sleep? Read on to find out.

12. Ostrich

A quirky habit that an ostrich has is slumbering and staying alert at the same time without ever shutting either of its eyes. When they feel the need to take a nap, they bring their head down for up to 15 minutes at a time. In the course of a day, the average ostrich gets about 6 hours of sleep.

11. Walrus

These amazing animals can go without dropping an eyelid for up to 84 hours straight. Their busy schedule focuses on exploring the oceans in order to look for sources of food. Once they give in to sleep, they can slumber for up to 19 hours.

10. Goat

These animals remain alert most of the time. Even at the slightest movement, goats will awaken from the deepest of sleep. Because of this, they only give in to sleep for around 5-6 hours.

9. Elephant

During the day, these majestic giants are able to take 15 minute naps while standing. When they’re tired from their daily activities, elephants fall into a deep sleep for 4-6 hours during nighttime.

8. Sheep

Fluffy as they may seem, sheep only get around 4-5 hours of sleep a day. This makes us wonder, how do they spend the rest of their time while we try to get some sleep by counting sheep at night?

7. Cow

Their sleeping pattern can be classified as intermittent short naps during the day and at least an hour of deep sleep, making it a total of 4 hours a day. Cows can stay alert even during night time if they sense danger.

6. Donkey

Since donkeys are often used for transport, they move around a lot and get through the day by sleeping a total of just 3 hours. They are light sleepers, so don’t expect them to fall into REM sleep.

5. Roe Deer

These animals only get about 3 hours of sleep a day. This is because roe deer stay alert most of the time to gather food and explore their surroundings.

4. Horse

These animals have the amazing ability to take naps while standing on their legs. These 15 minute naps are taken during the course of the day. Since they can’t stand on all four legs the entire time, horses take time to rest by going into a deep sleep on the ground. Horses get a total of 2 and a half hours of sleep.

3. Giraffe

Have you ever noticed that it’s rare to see a picture of a giraffe sleeping? That’s because throughout the day, they only get around 2 hours of sleep. Giraffes only take five-minute naps at a time and all of these short-lived naps add up. Imagine the endurance of their feet that keep them standing!

2. Dolphin & Killer Whale

Female dolphins and mother killer whales take parenting seriously because their offspring don’t sleep at all for the first 30 days. This may sound crazy but these little swimmers are full of energy and love exploring their environment.

1. Shark

At the top of the list, this mysterious creature hibernates or goes into idle mode as it drifts into a light sleep. The main reason sharks don’t fall into a deep sleep is because when sharks breathe, water passes through their gills and this requires the body to work.

Nothing can beat the strongest animals in the world. Even the strongest people hardly stand a chance against these robust beasts. Do you know which animals have made it to the list of being the world’s strongest?

10. Eagle

The eagle is a magnificent creature because of its stature. To feed its large appetite, an eagle can easily take down a deer or a monkey using its sharpened talons. Its incredible vision allows it to spot a tasty meal from a long distance.

Powerful muscles in the head and neck make it easy to tear flesh from its victims using its large curved beak. Once an eagle has made its kill, it will carry the food using its talons even if it is really heavy.

9. Anaconda

The anaconda can grow as long as 29 feet and weigh as heavy as 550 pounds. It mostly preys on birds, capybaras, deer, jaguars, turtles and wild pigs. First, it locks onto its victims with a set of rear-facing teeth. With amazing strength, it squeezes the life out of the prey until it suffocates. Its stretchable jaws allow the anaconda to swallow any prey whole.

8. Grizzly Bear

Grizzlies can stand as tall as 6.5 feet. They can strike powerfully using just the strength of their arms and their front claws. These sharp claws can shred just about any prey into pieces. Their diet includes birds, bison, black bears, caribou, deer, elk, fish, moose and sheep. When defending their territory, grizzly bears normally don’t initiate attacks but bare their sharp teeth and claws accompanied by roars and growls.

7. Ox

Well-known for their strength, oxen help humans in agriculture by plowing fields and pulling carts and wagons. Farmers use them in a pair or a team to carry extreme loads, sometimes heavier than the oxen’s combined weight. Oxen generally have long lives and don’t get tired easily.

6. Tiger

Tigers naturally have muscular bodies that surprisingly adapt as well in the water as they do on land. They use their sharp claws and pointed teeth to capture their prey. They are also so good at swimming that they can bring their victim along with them.

They can hunt anything from antelopes, bears and buffalo to deer and monkeys. They can even take down robust animals like elephants and rhinoceros. Amazingly, tigers can carry things that are twice their weight and can climb up trees with their prized possession.

5. Gorilla

Gorillas are naturally very big animals, measuring up to 6 feet in height matched with an 8.5 feet arm span and weighing between 500-600 pounds.When it comes to upper body strength, it is believed that an adult gorilla is six times stronger than the average male adult.

4. African Elephant

African Elephants can grow as tall as 13 feet (shoulder height) and weigh as heavy as 13,000 pounds. Because the trunk has around 100,000 muscles, it is considered to be the strongest part of the body. The trunk can be used to gather hefty food, but it can also be used to bring deadly blows to a foe.

3. Leafcutter Ant

Despite their size, leafcutter ants have the ability to carry and transport items that are 50 times heavier than their body weight!

2. Rhinoceros Beetle

The Hercules Beetle, a type of Rhinoceros beetle, can lift weights amounting to 850 times its own body weight.

1. Dung Beetle

The dung beetle, particularly the Onthophagus Taurus, can pull 1,141 times its own body weight – and therefore tops the list as the strongest animal on the planet.

Snakes are probably the most feared animals in the world, and there’s no judgment in that because snakes are pretty scary. A hissing sound in the woods could be the end of you, you’d think. Ultimately, you’d give in to panic as it slithers in front of you. We wouldn’t fear snakes that much if they did not have predatory qualities. Some bind people to death with their bodies while some spew deadly venom – enough to kill a group of people. Around 25% of the snakes’ total population is classified as venomous. So now, we are bringing you a list of the 10 most venomous snakes in the world.

10. Tiger Snake

Tiger snakes are native to Australia and Tasmania, and spew serious neurotoxic venom. A person bitten by a Tiger snake may die within 30 minutes, but if treated immediately, the average time expands to 6-24 hours. Tiger snakes are only aggressive when they feel a direct threat such as being cornered, but if encountered without attacking them, they just slither away.

9. Acanthophis or Death Adders

The Acanthophis, also known as the Death Adder, is common in New Guinea, Australia and other countries in that region. The word “Acanthophis” has Ancient Greek roots and translates to “spine” in English. Death Adders are known for the spine in their tail. They have a short yet robust build and scaly heads which seem to be shaped like triangles. With a single bite, they can shoot around 40-100 mg of highly poisonous venom.

8. Saw Scaled Vipers

Common in almost all parts of the world, the Saw Scaled Viper is the most dangerous type of viper. Their diet consists of insects, birds, small mammals and even fellow snakes. So yeah, there is such a thing as snake cannibalism! They are known to produce a warm sizzling sound, resembling that of a hot plate when sprinkled with water. This occurrence is called “stridulation”.

7. Northern Philippine Cobra

This species of Cobra spew the deadliest venom out of all the Cobra species. They can spit their venom for up to 3 meters and if you think that’s crazy, you should also know that their venom can cause paralysis and even death within 30 minutes. As soon as they detect a threat, a hood immediately appears. Sometimes, large rats can fatally injure the Philippine cobra. These rats attack by biting and scratching.

6. Rattlesnakes

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Rattlesnakes are one of the most common species of snakes in North and South America. In fact, it is reported that a huge number of snakebite injuries are caused by these snakes. Rattlesnakes are distinguished by the rattle-like part at the end of their tails.

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The venom they spew causes degeneration of organs, severe blood clotting, difficulty in breathing, and even paralysis.  It is known that juvenile snakes are more dangerous than the adult ones because they have less control over their venom.

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5. Black Mamba

The Black Mamba takes its name from the charcoal black color of its mouth’s interior. It is commonly found in Africa. It is the longest and one of the fastest moving species of venomous snake in the whole world. The Black Mamba’s venom can cause a victim to collapse within a maximum time of 45 minutes. Unless cornered, it usually just moves away from humans when encountered.

4. Taipan Snake

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Taipan snakes belong to the elapid family of the genus, Oxyuranus. They are known to be fast, large and greatly venomous. Because of these qualities, they are considered to be some of the deadliest snakes known to man.

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They are common in Australasia and their diet consists of rats and other small mammals. The effects of its deadly venom include severe blood clotting and paralysis of the person’s nervous system. The victim may die within an hour if not treated immediately.

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3. Malayan/Blue Krait

The Malayan, also referred to as the Blue Krait, is to date the most lethal out of its species. 50% of Blue Krait snake bites are critical even with antivenin treatment. They can hunt more efficiently in the dark. Although these creatures can fatally injure their prey or victim, they usually just slither away from a fight.

2. Eastern Brown Snake

Just a tiny amount of venom is enough to put the Eastern Brown Snake’s victim to death. Even the small ones can aggressively strike and kill a grown man. They are very aggressive creatures, known to chase their attackers and strike them repeatedly. If you happen to encounter an Eastern Brown snake, it is best for you to stand very still as they can only sense through movement.

1. Belcher’s Sea Snake

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The Belcher’s Sea Snake is the most venomous snake in the whole world. Just a few milligrams of its venom are enough to put 1000 people to death. Their victims are mainly fishermen. These atrocious creatures are found in the waters of Southeast Asia and Northern Australia.

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This daring woman and a husband travelled to South Pacific to discover the most dangerous animals in the world. She definitely took a lot of risk to have this incredible moment captured with a snake that is 10 times more venomous than the rattlesnake!

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Sharks are one of the scariest creatures that everyone fears when dipping their feet into the vast blue ocean. Thanks to their portrayal in movies, sharks have gained a reputation for being the most ferocious characters of the sea because of their razor sharp teeth. Before you decide to hate and fear these creatures, make sure you are equipped with the facts first. You might want to take a bite out of this before a shark takes a bite out of you.

10. Attempts to Protect the Environment May Increase Shark Attacks

Due to global warming, more people are spending time in the sea for conservation efforts. In addition to that, major sources of the shark’s food, like sea lions and seals, have migrated to North American shores. It can be deduced that the fewer sea lions and seals are found, the more frequently shark sightings are reported.

9. A Cold-Blooded Serial Killer

What most people don’t know about sharks is that they are selective when it comes to choosing their hunting ground. They study an area and keep close watch without being seen.

They do this to increase their chances of successfully victimizing their prey.

8. The Most Frequent Shark Attacks

Many shark attacks have been reported at New Smyrna Beach, Florida. Each year, this place is frequented by fishermen, surfers and tourists. Take note that there haven’t been any fatalities at this beach.

7. The Kiss of Death

Sharks, after all, are wild creatures and anything that humans consider affectionate could send the wrong signal to them. By nature, humans try to push the boundaries to test the limits of an animal. More often, it doesn’t end up well.

6. Beware of Shallow Waters

Contrary to what people may think, shark attacks are more likely to occur in shallow waters. This is because a few species of sharks normally feed in this area. Others give birth in shallow waters, and humans could be interpreted as a threat to their young.

5. The Great White’s Reputation

A shark incident that involved five people occurred in 1916. It was presumed that there were human remains in a great white shark that was cut open after a shark hunt was ordered. Years later, the great white shark was adapted in the movie Jaws and has carried its reputation to this very day.

4. Male Attraction

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Based on a study, it was concluded that male swimmers were more likely to be attacked by sharks compared to females. It was found that a whopping 84% of these attacks within a span of three decades were male.

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Additional information collected through other studies showed that swimmers are more likely to be attacked if they’re wearing black and white wetsuits, if they’re within shallow waters measuring up to 2 meters, or if it’s a new moon.

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3. Distinction between Seals and Humans

Sharks are naturally curious creatures and if they want to examine something, they observe it and take a bite out of it. Seals are a good source of fat, and sharks spend most of the time looking for them. If a shark has bitten a human, it is likely it won’t finish the meal.

2. Panic in the Red Sea

Whitetip sharks are common within the area and have gained a reputation for attacking distressed or wounded humans. Another cause of these attacks is that there is more competition for food, and sharks have turned more aggressive when locating it.

1. Wrestling with a Shark

This is probably not a good idea and will increase your chances of getting a body part ripped off. If you ever find yourself in this situation, aim for the eyes.

The smaller, the cuter. These animals will surely make you look twice. It’s definitely unbelievable how small they actually are.

 

1. Bee Hummingbird

The Bee Hummingbird is native to the Cuban archipelago. With a length of just 2 inches, this bird earns its spot as the smallest living bird on the planet. Imagine taking a test with this little bird perched on your pencil.

2. Pygmy Marmoset Monkey

The Pygmy Marmoset Monkey is native to South America’s rainforests. It is the smallest monkey in the world, weighing only 100 grams. Due to its large population, it is listed as a species with no risk of decline.

3. Brookesia Micra Chameleon

Look how small this chameleon is! Sadly, it is currently classified as an endangered species due to the destruction of its habitat. Its small form is a result of evolutionary dwarfism. They live in the rich forests of Madagascar.

4. Virgin Islands Dwarf Gecko

The species was discovered during a collecting excursion in the British Virgin Islands. It is almost as small as an American dime. Little is known about the Virgin Islands Dwarf Gecko.

5. Vaquita

“Vaquita” means “little cow” in Spanish. It is a very rare species of porpoise, and the estimated number of living Vaquitas plummeted below 100 in 2014, earning it the title of the most endangered cetacean on the planet.

6. Speckled Padloper Tortoise

The Speckled Padloper is the world’s smallest tortoise. It is Native to South Africa and Southern Namibia. These tortoises measure at 6 cm in height.

7. Pygmy Mouse Lemur

Ok, now this one is a real cutie. The Pygmy Mouse Lemur is the world’s smallest living lemur. They inhabit the deciduous forests of Madagascar.

8. Philippine Tarsier

The Philippine Tarsier, scientifically called “Carlito syrichta”, is very difficult to spot due to its tiny form. Its height is only around 4 inches, making it one of the smallest primates in the world.

9. Monte Iberia Eleuth

The Monte Iberia Eleuth is known to be the smallest frog in the Northern Hemisphere and the third smallest in the whole world.

10. Musky Caiman Crocodile

The average height of the Musky Caiman Crocodile is a mere 4 inches.

11. Vechur Cow

There is a rare species of cow in India that measures only 2 feet in height and 4 feet in length. It is notable for producing abundant amounts of milk with very little food.

12. Patu Digua Spider

The Patu Digua is the smallest known spider in the world. It is as tiny as the dot in this text.

13. Denise’s Pygmy Seahorse

These adorable seahorses are about the size of a human fingernail! Would you look at that!

14. Paedophryne Amauensis Frog

The Paedophryne Amauensis Frog is a fourth of the size of a dime. They live on dead leaves in rainforests and were originally discovered in Papua New Guinea.

15. Barbados Threadsnake

The Barbados Threadsnake is the smallest known snake species in the world. It is native to the Caribbean Island. They are approximately 10cm in length.

16. Etruscan Shrew

Look how little that creature is! By mass, it is the smallest known mammal on the planet. An average sized Etruscan shrew only weighs about 1.8 grams.

17. Royal Antelope

The Royal Antelope is the smallest type of antelope in the world. It grows up to just 10 inches high!

18. Paedocypris Fish

Growing to a mere 1/3 of an inch, the Paedocypris fish can be found in Southeast Asia and are known to survive high levels of acidity.

19. Chihuahua

The world’s smallest Chihuahua, according to the Guinness Book of World Records, is Boo-Boo, featured in the photo above. She stands at just under 4 inches in height.

20. Kitti’s Hog-Nosed Bat

This bat is common in Thailand and is about the size of a quarter when fully grown. It is also known as the Bumblebee Bat. It lives in Thailand’s limestone filled caves and is currently classified as an endangered species due to the destruction of its habitat.

If you happen to own a pet, you probably know how crazy these babies are, and also how crazy your lives can get! Whether it’s a dog, a cat, or even a mouse (cuteness factor subject to an individual’s preference), there’s no denying that they play a huge part in our lives. Alright, maybe they make a mess once in a while or constantly crave your attention, but can you imagine life without them? Well, you should brace yourself because these adorable cuties aren’t immortal. Prepare your handkerchiefs as we bring you a tragic life expectancy ranking of our 15 favorite pets! After reading through this list, we bet you’ll want to start making the most of your time with them!

15. Mouse: 2 years

On average, the lifespan of these tiny creatures is only 2 years. Mice that roam in the wild have an even lesser time to live – around three to twelve months as they are exposed to natural threats and heavy predation.

14. Hamster: 3 years

The normal life expectancy of hamsters is up to 3 years. The probability of them needing veterinary attention is 8.1%

13. Gerbil: 3 years

Gerbils last for up to 3 years as well. A staggering 826,000 households have them as pets in the United States alone. Imagine that!

12. Guinea Pig: 6 years

The cute and furry guinea pig has a lifespan of 6 years with a 16.4% probability of needing veterinary assistance.

11. Ferret: 8 years

The ferret lives for up to 8 years, but some owners have reported that they can live up to 10. Around 505,000 American families have them as pets.

10. Common Garter Snake: 8 years

This slimy, slithering, splendid creature, which does not really have the qualities of an ideal pet, has a life expectancy of 8 years, tying with the ferret. The odds of it needing medical care is only 4%. You’d be surprised to know that there are actually around 400,000 households having the Common Garter snake as a pet.

9. Eastern Cottontail Rabbit: 9 years

The Eastern Cottontail is one of the most dominant species of rabbits in the United States, making it a common pet for families in the country. Around 1.9 million households take care of Eastern Cottontail rabbits. It’s sad to know they only have a life expectancy of 9 years.

8. Common Goldfish: 10 years

You’ll be shocked to know that these fragile little orange creatures can last for up to 10 years! That is, when they are given the right amount of attention. It is a bit difficult to remember feeding them, which is probably why they don’t survive their average life span.

7. Mini Pig: 12.5 years

Mini pigs are bred and developed mostly for medical research and as pets, because frankly, pigs are only cute when they’re young. They last for 12.5 years when given the utmost care and provisions. It would be harder to eat bacon when these pink cuties ask for random belly rubs, though.

6. Bearded Dragon: 12.5 years

From adorable pigs, we go to a not so adorable pet. The majestic Bearded Dragon is of the reptile genus and has a life expectancy of 12.5 years, the same as miniature pigs.

5. Dog: 12.8 years

Now, it’s time for our all-time favorite pet. A man’s best friend lives for 12.8 years – if the man is lucky enough. Several people, young and old, have admitted to crying at the loss of a pet dog. Most of us cry just by seeing a dog die in movies and books, and no one’s judging because dogs are the most loyal pets in the world. In fact, it probably would’ve been more appropriate if dogs chose their owners!

4. Cat: 14 years

Another one of our all-time favorites is the cat. These adorable balls of fur constantly crave for our attention, even when we’re in the middle of doing something important. They’re probably reminding us that they only have 14 years to live and every second counts!

3. Horse: 18 years

There are around 2.1 million families in America who own horses. The life expectancy of these animals is up to 18 years when they’re properly taken care of. You can say they are somewhat high maintenance, as they have a 60% chance of needing veterinary assistance.

2. Parrot: 22. 7 years

These birds have an average lifespan of up to 22.7 years. They may bug you with the shrill noise they make from time to time, but it sure is fun owning a potential live audio recorder.

1. Tortoise: 75 years

The winner in this list is the tortoise, living for up to 75 years. It is the ideal pet for someone who likes to save the tears for another lifetime. They’ll be with the family from generation to generation!

Most of the birds we typically see have average size. We do know there are large birds, but we probably do not know exactly how crazily immense they could get. This top 10 list of the largest birds  could certainly leave everyone in awe.

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10. King Penguins

King Penguins made it to the list of the top 10 largest living birds in the world. They’re about 3 feet tall and weigh around 40 pounds. Males are generally taller and weigh more than the females. Their unique colors make them the brightest of all the species of penguin.

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King Penguins have the longest breeding cycle among all birds. They have 14 to 16 months to fledge a single chick. Both parents take turns for up to 22 days of incubating, protecting and keeping the egg warm. The parents feed digested fish to their young for the first 16 months.

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9. Great Bustard

The Great Bustard is known as one of the heaviest flying birds alive today. It’s found across Africa, Asia, China and Europe, where there is farmland and temperate grassland. It can grow 75 to 105 cm tall.  It’s mostly defenseless against predators when feeding, nesting and roosting. If a young Great Bustard survives its first year, it usually lives for another 15-20 years.

8. Lesser Rhea

The Lesser Rhea is 92-100 cm tall and weighs 15-25kg. It belongs to the flightless birds species known as ratites. It can’t fly because it lacks the breast bones which connect the muscles required for flying. Its breeding season is July to August. The female Lesser Rhea separates into smaller groups while the male becomes territorial.

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7. Dwarf Cassowary

Contrary to its name, the Dwarf Cassowary boasts an immense size of 24.5 cm. It is mostly found in the forests of Papua New Guinea. It is also known to be a secretive bird, and it is more likely to be heard than seen due to its behavior.

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It moves warily in the jungle and runs for cover if disturbed. It can also swim rivers and defend itself with its powerful clawed feet. It feeds on fleshy fruits.

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6. Greater Rhea

Greater Rhea is the largest bird on the American continent. It measures 5.1 in × 3.5 in. and weighs 600 g. It can be found in the open pampas and sparse woodlands of Argentina and Brazil. It uses its long and powerful legs to outrun danger. Its wings are used for balance and for changing direction. The plumage of Greater Rhea is greyish-brown with darker patches on the neck and upper back.

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5. Emperor Penguin

Emperor Penguins are said to be warriors of nature and are considered the most beautiful of all penguins. It is very hard to distinguish the male and the female as they are very similar in physical size. An adult emperor penguin could be as tall as 1.1 – 1.3 m.

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Emperor Penguins know how to manipulate their bodies in order to adapt to the environment. They can breathe with a low level of oxygen. They have solid bones, and they can slow down their metabolism.

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4. Emu

The Emu is the second largest member of the ratite group that is found in Australia. Measured from the bill to the tail, its length can be from 139 cm to 164 cm. It can weigh from 18 to 60 kg. It is found in savannas woodland.

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It has a long neck, a short and sharp beak, small ears, and long feet with three toes. It has two eyelids, one for blinking and one to keep out the dust. Female emus are generally larger than the males.

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3. Northern Cassowary

The Northern Cassowary is also known as the Single. Compared to other cassowaries, it is shy and solitary. It’s an omnivore; it eats mainly fruits and small animals.

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During the breeding season, same as other Cassowaries, the polygamous females lay three to five eggs in the nest made by the male. Then they leave the nest and eggs to find another mate. The males are in charge of incubating and are responsible for raising the chicks for nine months.

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2. Southern Cassowary

The Southern Cassowary is the second largest bird in the world. It has a tall brown helmet at the top of its head. The Southern Cassowary can grow to about 2 meters high. Females are generally heavier than the males. They weigh up to 76 kg while the males weigh up to 55kg.

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1. Ostrich

Ostriches take the number 1 spot as the largest living bird in the world. Measured in length, they can reach up to 2.1 – 2.8 m. They’re found in African savannas and desert lands. Males have a bold black and white color while the females are light brown in hue.

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An interesting fact about ostriches is that they are the only birds that have two toes on each foot.  Their wingspan is about 2 meters. Ostriches also have the largest eyes among all land animals, measuring at about 5cm.

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