Planet Earth has numerous animals scattered across the continents. All these animal species come in different shapes and sizes adapted to the places they are living in. There are many animal species in the world known for their cuteness depending on their personality and behavior. Here is the list of 31 cutest animals in the world,
Cutest Animals In The World
1. Sea Otter
Sea Otter is one of the cutest animals in the world because of their small and round face along with a natural tendency to float on its back. These animal species float on the water together by holding their hands together and they can live their entire life without leaving the water.
As of now, 13 different species of sea otters are known to humans that belong including the Mustelidae family. The sea otter is the largest member of the weasel family, however, it is the smallest marine mammal in North America. The diet of Sea Otter includes sea urchins, crabs, mussels, and clams and they eat 25 percent of their body weight in food every day just to keep themselves warm.
Also Read: A List Of 15+ Cutest Snakes In The World
Image Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Headquarters
2. American Pika
American Pikas scientifically known as Ochotona princeps is a small cute mammals mostly seen in the mountains of western North America. It is closely related to the rabbits but they are equivalent to the size of large hamsters. It is also known as mouse hare and rock rabbit. The dietary habits are herbivorous in nature and feed on alpine grasses, sedges, thistles, fireweed, cushion plants, and lichens. American pikas bark when they are threatened and even warn other animal species about the danger. The avarage lifespan of American pikas is upto 7yeras in the wild.
Also Read: A List Of 15+ Cutest Monkeys In The World
Image Source: Wikimedia
3. Quoll
Quolls are cute animals that belong to the group of carnivorous marsupials. As of now, 6 species of quolls are known to humans that come in different sizes and colors depending on the habitat. Quolls can reach upto 14 to 29.5 inches in length and the avarage wieght is between 3 to 15.4 pounds.
Talking about its appearance, the skin coat is thick and comes in different colors such as grey, brown, or black in color. They have a pointed snout and pink nose along with powerful jaw equipped with sharp teeth. Quoll has a short lifespan where they can survive 2 to 5 years in the wild depending on the species.
4. Capybara
Capybaras are one of the amazing land and water animals that are closely related to beavers and are categorized into large rodents mostly seen in the regions of Central and South America. The animal species loves to thrive in regions of swampy areas, near lakes, ponds, and rivers. It can reach upto a length of 4 feet and the average wieght is 140 pounds. It is also listed as one of the animals with small ears in the world.
The dietary habits of one of the forest animals from South America are herbivores in nature where they mostly eat plants, however, it is also seen eating fruits and barks of the tree. The natual predators are Jaguars, anacondas, caimans and harpy eagles. The avarage lifespan of the Capybara is between 8-10 years in the wild and up to 12 years in captivity.
5. Patagonian Mara
Patagonian Mara is a large desert rodent seen in the arid steppes of Argentina. It looks like a crossbreed of a rabbit and a guinea pig and shares the same family of Caviidae. It can grow upto the size of 24 to 32 inches (61-81cm) long and its avarage wieght is between 18 to 20lb (8-9kg). It is one of the cutest animals in the world.
The diet of Patagonian mara includes grasses, fruits, and leaves. The natural predators are felids, grisons, foxes, and raptor birds. The avarage lifespan in the wild is unknown and it is 14 years in captivity. The world’s fastest rodents can attain a top speed of between 25-37mph (40-60kmph).
6. Honduran white bat
The Honduran white bat is one of the cutest bat species seen in the regions of Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and the western parts of Panama. It is also known as the Caribbean white tent-making bat and can grow upto size between 4 to 5 cm in length. The avarage wieght of a Honduran white bat is between 5 to 6 grams (0.18–0.21 oz). The natural predators of bat species are snakes, possums, and owls.
They used to create nests with the help of Heliconia plant leaves by cutting them into V-shaped ‘tents’ with the help of their teeth. These small tents are enough to sleep between 1 and 15 bats to shelter and sleep. The avarage lifespan of the Honduran white bat is between 15 to 20 years in the wild.
Image Source: Wikimedia
7. Flapjack Octopus
Flapjack Octopus is one of the cutest animals in the world by its appearance and its foundation of many child toys and soft toys in the world. The small red octopuses are known for their adorable appearance because they can even unfold in the form of red parachutes.
Flapjack Octopus mostly preys on small fish, crustaceans, plankton, and worms. It is mostly seen in the waters of California, Japan, the Pacific Ocean, and the sea of Okhotsk. It can grow upto a length of 7.9 in (20 cm) in length and the avarage wieght is between 0.05 to 0.06 lb (25-30 g). The animal species used t communicate with the help of arms and body language. The avarage lifespan of the Flapjack Octopus is not yet known but it is estimated in between 1.4 years and 2.6 years in the wild.
Image Source: Bill Abbott
8. Fennec Fox
The Fennec Fox is one of the big eared animals and a tiny face that makes them one of teh cutest animals in the world. It can grow upto 35 to 40 cm (14 to 16 in.) long along with a tail length of 20 cm (8 in) and the total hieght at the shoulders is around 20 cm (8 in). It is also listed as one of the amazing animals that start with F.
The dietary habits of these cutest animals are mostly carnivorous in nature and feed on animals such as insects, snails, lizards, rodents, birds, and eggs, however, sometimes they feed on plant matter as well such as fruits and berries. The avarage lifespan of the fennec fox is between 10 to 12 years in the wild. They are mostly seen in the regions of sandy deserts and semi-deserts of northern Africa.
Also Read: 16 Different Types of Foxes In The World
9. Klipspringer
Klipspringer is one of the smallest antelope species seen in the regions of East Africa and South Africa. The antelope species loved to feed on fruits, flowers, and young plants. The natural predators of Klipspringer are the ones that can ambush and follow them on the rocky slides such as leopards, and caracals. The black eagles also attack them from the air. It is also known as Afrikaans because they are amazing rock jumpers and the skin coat is thick with coarse fur that cushions and insulates its body. The avarage lifespan of Klipspringer is upto 15 years in the wild.
10. Numbat
The numbat is one of the animals with small eyes and rare marsupials that do not have a pouch. The animal with stripe is seen in the region of southern parts of Australia. It can grow upto a length between 13 and 18 inches. The avarage wieght of Numbat is between 9.9 and 19 ounces.
Talking about their appearance, they have red-brown fur along with white stripes on their back. They also have a pointed head and sticky tongue that is naturally designed to feed on termites, however, they also feed on eats ants and other insects. The average lifespan of a numbat is between 4 to 8 years in captivity.
11. Japanese weasel
The Japanese weasel scientifically known as Mustela Itatsi is a cute mammal that belongs to the family Mustelidae. They are seen in the regions of Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu in Japan. The adult male Japanese weasel can reach upto a length of 35 centimeters (14 inches) and the tail length is up to 17 centimeters (6.7 inches). Females Japanese weasels are smaller than males. Japanese weasel primarily feeds on mice, frogs, reptiles, insects, and crayfish, however, they also feed on berries, seeds, and fruits when they are very hungry.
Image Source: Wikimedia
12. Margay
Margay is a cute small mammal and one of the popular animals with spots that belongs to the family of cats. They are mostly seen in the regions of Mexico, and Central and South America and prefer to thrive in rainforests, deciduous and evergreen forests. The behavior habits are shyness and they avoid people on a usual basis.
The small cat species can grow upto 18.2 to 31 inches in length and the average weight is between 9 to 20 pounds. The length of the cat species is primarily used for balancing. It used to feed on small mammals such as squirrels, opossums, small monkeys, sloths, porcupines, tree frogs, lizards, and birds. The avarage lifespan of margay cat species is 10 years in the wild and up to 20 years in captivity.
Image Source: Wikimedia
13. Red Panda
The Red Panda is one of the most fluffy animals in the world and the closest relative of the giant panda seen in the regions of Nepal, India, Bhutan, China, Laos, and Myanmar. The bear-like creature can reach upto 20 to 26 inches in length and the average weight is between 7 to 14 pounds. The tail of the animal species is 12 to 20 inches long. It is also known as “Fire Fox” because of the size and red color of the fur.
The coloration of the panda species helps to provide them with camouflage in the mountain forest regions. This is a solitary creature and only gathers with red pandas only during the mating season. The avarage lifespan of a red panda is between 7 to 8 years in the wild and up to 14 years in captivity.
14. Elephant Shrew
The Elephant Shrew is one of the cutest mammals and one of the animals with big noses that belong to the group of animals known as sengis. The animal species is very closely related to the aardvarks, elephants, moles, and tenrecs. As of now, 19 species of elephant shrews are known to humans and can be seen all over Africa.
The small mammal species can reach a length of between 4 to 12 inches and an average weight of between 2 to 18 ounces. They can jump upto 3 feet into the air and hence they are also known as “jumping shrews”. The avarage lifespan of Elephant Shrew is between 2 to 4 years in the wild.
Image Source: Wikimedia
15. Meerkat
Meerkat is one of the cutest little creatures that belong to the mongoose family and prefers to thrive in the arid and semi-arid areas of South Africa. The natural predators of the animal species are eagles, hawks, and falcons, however, they are not endangered.
They are small in size and can reach upto 12 inches in height and weigh up to 2 pounds. Meerkats used to live in groups such as “mobs” and they consist of 2 to 3 families of meerkats. These are one of the social and cutest animals and they like to play with or groom each other. The avarage lifespan of meerkats is around 10 years in the wild and up to 13 years in captivity.
16. Quokka
Quokka is a cute mammal species native to the Australian continent. They are similar to the small type of Wallaby and it is marsupial of the macropod family. The dietary habits are herbivorous in nature and they are most active during the night. It is one of the cutest animals in the world.
Quokkas are marsupials that can reach a length of 21 inches along with tail lengths of upto 12 inches long. The quokka species was first described by a European who is Dutch captain Willem de Vlamingh in the year 1696. The average lifespan of a Quokka is 10 years in the wild. The baby quokka is known as joeys and they do need a lot of water to survive.
17. Japanese Weasle
Japanese weasel scientifically known as Mustela itatsi is a carnivorous mammal that belongs to the family Mustelidae. The animal species that is very closely related to the Mustela species is the Siberian weasel. Japanese Weasle can grow between lengths of upto 14 inches along with tail lengths up to 6.7 inches. The avarage lifespan of Japanese Weasle is upto 8 years in the wild. The average wieght of a Japanese weasel is upto 14.10 ounces. The animal species are cathemeral which means it is active during the day and night both.
Image Source: Wikimedia
18. Pygmy Marmoset
Pygmy Marmosets also known as finger monkeys are mostly seen in the regions of the western Amazon. Pygmy Marmoset is one of the smallest monkey species that can grow upto 15cm (6in) long and its average weight is upto 112g (4oz). It primarily feeds on tree sap and insects. The natural predators of Pygmy Marmosets are birds, cats, snakes, and humans. The monkey species has developed a to turn its head all the way in the opposite direction. It is also listed as one of the animals with small eyes in the world.
Image Source: Wikimedia
19. Harbor Seals
Harbor Seals are definitely one of the cutest animals in the world mostly seen in the regions of Alaska, New England/Mid-Atlantic, Southeast, and West Coast. It can grow between a length of 5 to 6 feet and the average weight is upto 24 pounds (birth) to 180 to 285 pounds (adult). The avarage lifespan of Harbor Seals is between 25 to 30 years.
Image Source: Wikipedia
20. Chevrotain
Chevrotain also known as mouse deer is neither a species of mouse nor deer instead belongs to the family of hoofed animals. The small nocturnal mammal found in Southeast Asia’s forests. They are shy in nature and also elusive animals that science knows very little about them. The dietary habits are herbivores and they feed on leaves, fruits, and insects. The natural predators are tigers, leopards, snakes, and birds of prey.
Image Source: Wikimedia
21. Hedgehog
Hedgehog is one of the animals that live in forests and belongs to the family Erinaceidae. As of now, 17 species of hedgehog are known to humans that are native to Europe, Asia, and Africa. The animal species can grow between 6 to 8 inches in length and the average weight is between 0.5 to 1.25 pounds of weight. The nocturnal animal is active during the night and sleeps during the day. The garage lifespan of the hedgehog is between 4 to 7 years in the wild.
22. Axolotl
Axolotl is one of the fish with legs, which is a paedomorphic salamander closely related to the tiger salamander. These species are active at any time of the day and lead a solitary lifestyle. These types of freshwater animals are native only to the freshwater of Lake Xochimilco and Lake Chalco in the Valley of Mexico; however, Lake Chalco no longer exists and has been drained as a flood control measure. Axolotl is a carnivore and feeds on mollusks, worms, insects, other arthropods, and small fish.
23. Black-Footed Cat
The black-footed cat is the smallest wild cat in Africa and can grow up to 37–43 cm. Its average weight is between 1.5 and 3 kilograms. It is one of the cutest animals and was discovered in the northern Karoo of South Africa and described in 1824. The cat species lives in Namibia, South Africa, marginally into Zimbabwe, and can also be found in extreme southern Angola. The dietary habitat of black-footed cats is carnivore and feeds on mice, small lizards, insects, and birds. The average lifespan of a black-footed cat is between 10 and 12 years in the wild.
24. Sugar Glider
The Sugar Glider is a small arboreal gliding possum that belongs to the family Petauridae. The body length of the sugar glider is up to 24–30 cm, and the avarag weight is between 100 and 160 grams. They have a squirrel-like body along with a prehensile tail, and their coat fur is thick, soft, and usually blue-grey. There is a black stripe from its nose to midway on its back, and the belly, throat, and chest are cream in color. The average lifespan of a sugar glider is between 4 and 14 years in the wild. The primary diet includes pollen, nectar, insects and their larvae, arachnids, and small vertebrates.
25. Raccoon Dog
The raccoon dog is one of the fluffy animals native to eastern Asia, ranging from the eastern corner of Russia to Japan and northern India. These social and cute animals live and hunt in pairs or small family groups. They are active both during the night and day, and they rely on their keen sense of smell because they have very poor vision. The primary diet includes insects, rodents, amphibians, birds, fish, reptiles, mollusks, and carrion, as well as fruits, nuts, and berries.
26. Viscacha
Viscacha is one of the cutest animals in the world and belongs to the family Chinchillidae. The abimal species is native to central and southern Peru and northern Chile and may also be present in the area around Lake Titicaca in Peru and Bolivia. The dietary habit is herbivore and feeds on a variety of plant material, including grasses, roots, and seeds. It prefers to stand at elevations ranging from 300 to 5000 m and is also seen in Bolivia. The body length is up to 300 to 450 mm, and there is a bushy tail nearly as long, which can be curled in a coil.
27. Gecko
Gecko is a type of lizard that belongs to the family Gekkonidae. As of now, 1000 species of geckos are known to humans and can be found all across the world except in the Antarctic. The size of gecko varies, and the smallest species of gecko is dwarf gecko, which reaches ¾ inches in length, and the largest species of gecko is tokay gecko, which can reach up to 14 inches in length. The primary diet of gecko is fruit, flower nectar, insects, and worms. The average lifespan of a gecko is between 8 and 10 years.
28. Mink
Mink is a mammal that belongs to the family of weasels. As of now, two species of mink are known as American and European; however, they differ in size, colour, and type of habitat. The body level of mink is between, and avarage weight is between 16 and 56 ounces. They have webbed feet and a slender body with short legs, a long neck, a rounded head, and small ears. The main predators of mink are birds of prey, lynxes, foxes, coyotes, and humans. The average lifespan of mink is 3–4 years in the wild and 8–10 years in captivity.
29. Koala
Koala is one of the gray animals native to Australia and lives in eucalyptus forests. The northern part of koalas is smaller and has greyish fur, whereas the southern part is larger and has longer, brownish fur. These forest animals have poor eyesight but an excellent sense of smell, which helps them find the type of eucalyptus they like to eat. Koalas produce various sounds that are especially loud during mating season and can even snore and scream. The average lifespan of koalas is 10–14 years in the wild and over 16 years in captivity.
30. Penguin
Penguins are webbed-footed birds found in South America, South Africa, New Zealand, and many Pacific islands. They are one of the easily adaptable bird sizes that can be seen across different zoos and “Sea Worlds” around the world. These water diving birds communicate by producing sounds and also use heads and flippers. The feather of a flightless bird is dense and lubricated with oil. Depending on the specs, the average lifespan of a penguin is between 15 and 20 years. It is also listed as one of the most popular land and water animals in the world.
31. Sloth
Sloth is one of the forest animals from South America and is the slowest mammal on Earth. They are mostly seen across the rainforest canopies of Central and South America. These dumbest animals spent most of their time upside down in the trees, where they ate, slept, mated, and gave birth from this position hanging high among the branches. The diet of sloths mostly consists of leaves, which provide them with energy and nutrition.
These are the list of 31 amazing cutest animals in the world. Kindly share and do post your comments.
