Differences are what make the world such an interesting place, and you can't get more different in the animal kingdom than the blue whale and the bumblebee bat. You might know a lot about the blue whale, such as it being the largest mammal in the history of the planet, but the bumblebee bat is probably a bit of a mystery. Here's a start: As the smallest mammal on Earth, the itty bitty bat is approximately 50 million times lighter than the blue whale.
Also known as Kitti's hog-nosed bat, the bumblebee bat is found only in limestone caves in southwest Thailand. The tiny creature is less than 1.3 inches (33 mm) long and it weighs no more than .07 ounces (2 grams). The blue whale, on the other hand, boasts an average length of 80 feet (24 m) and weighs approximately 220,000 pounds (100,000 kg), though they can vary significantly in size based on gender and region.
For the record, the smallest non-flying mammal is the Etruscan shrew, which can be found in Southern Europe, Asia, and North Africa. Although it is typically slightly longer than the bumblebee bat, it weighs roughly the same amount.
Even more amazing animals:
- Unless preyed upon, the immortal jellyfish is virtually the only creature than never dies, reverting regularly to an earlier stage and continuing to live.
- The world's fastest animal is the peregrine falcon, which can dive at a speed of 200 mph (322 km/h).
- The tallest animal on Earth is the giraffe, which can reach 18 feet (5.5 m) in height; baby giraffes begin life at 6 feet (1.8 m) tall.