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The ostracod, aka ostracode or seed shrimps, are small crustaceans that are usually only 0.0079 inch, but can be up to 1.3 inches. They have a bivalve-like valve, aka “shell”, made of chitin, and many times calcium carbonate. They can be found among zooplankton in ocean waters and fresh water […]

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This article was originally published on Critter Science.

The black-chinned hummingbird has a broad range of habitats from Canada, Mexico, and the United States. These hummingbirds are migratory and travel great distances to overwinter in the south. Some of the threats they face are habitat loss and destruction at the hands of residential and commercial developments; accidental poisoning; […]

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This article was originally published on Critter Science.

The little red kaluta is a tiny marsupial endemic to northwestern Australia. These critters are the only member of their genus, Dasykaluta. They prefer a dry grassland habitat. Due to no major natural or man-made threats, these creatures are abundant and thus listed as Least Concern by the IUCN. Their […]

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This article was originally published on Critter Science.

The pygmy seahorse hails from southern reaches of tropical Japan, throughout the Philippines, Indonesia, east to Palau, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Fiji, Vanuatu, and the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, to name a few locales. They prefer reef habitats with plenty of fan corals, gorgonian corals, or sea grass […]

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This article was originally published on Critter Science.

The Costa’s hummingbird hails from southwestern United States and migrates to western Mexico during the winter months. They prefer arid, brush-filled deserts and gardens. These are among the smaller of the hummingbird species known. Yet, not the smallest. That title goes to the bee hummingbird. Costa’s hummingbirds number an estimated […]

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This article was originally published on Critter Science.

The ruby-throated hummingbird is a common sight in southern Canada and the eastern half of the United States, during the summer months. During the winter, these little birds migrate as far south as Mexico and Central America. With an overall population of around 36,000,000 and increasing, these little critters are […]

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This article was originally published on Critter Science.

The whitehead’s pygmy squirrel, aka the tufted pygmy squirrel, can be found on the islands of Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei. They prefer highland montane forests with plenty of trees. These diminutive rodents can be spotted at elevations of up to 9,843 feet. With a stable and abundant population, these pygmy […]

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This article was originally published on Critter Science.

Found in oceans, lakes, ponds, rivers, and streams the world over, zooplankton are tiny, living creatures that are a type of plankton. There are literally hundreds of thousands of creatures that can be called zooplankton. Even newly hatched jellyfish fall into this category. They are typically found on the surface […]

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This article was originally published on Critter Science.

Say hello to the world’s smallest known antelope, the royal antelope. Swedish zoologist, and historian Carl Linnaeus first described these tiny critters in 1758. With hind legs that are twice as long as their forelegs, these diminutive creatures have been called “king of the hares” by the local tribal people. […]

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This article was originally published on Critter Science.

The leaf chameleon, aka stump-tailed chameleon or pygmy chameleon, can be found (if you look hard enough) in the rainforests of eastern Madagascar. They can also be found on the island of Nosy Boraha. These tiny critters can be found from sea level to altitudes of up to 4,100 feet. […]

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