What the smallest mammal on Earth looks like (9 photos + 1 video)

The pig-nosed bat is the smallest among 1200 species relatives, and also - perhaps the smallest mammal in the world. This a crumb the size of half a finger weighs only 2 grams!





There are over 1,200 species of bats in the world - but the most small ones can only be found in the caves of Thailand and Myanmar. it pig-nosed bat (Craseonycteris thonglongyai), discovered in 1973 Thai biologist Kitty Thonglongya. These miniature mice live only 44 limestone caves in Western Thailand, and five caves in Myanmar.



The weight of an adult individual does not exceed 2 grams, and their body length is only 29-33 mm. The wingspan of the pig-nosed mouse is 170 mm. Unfortunately, excessive attention to this rare bat has begun to degrade its environment habitats and reduce populations. For example, from many caves with mice in Thailand has made a "tourist attraction", where hundreds come tourists.



"Tourism is good when people care about the environment animal habitats, and do not destroy it. However, in most cases caves are being remodeled for the entertainment of tourists, thereby limiting freedom of bats and degrading their habitat," said a Thai bat expert Pipat Soisuk.



The population of pig-nosed mice is very small - only 500 individuals. They are nocturnal hunters who live in small colonies of 10 to 100 individuals and feed on various insects. Usually these mice leave their caves for hunting only for 30 minutes in the evening and 20 minutes at dawn.







Well, it's lovely