Slideshow: The World’s 12 Cutest Pygmy Animals

Pygmy Hippopotamus. Average size: 350-550 pounds, 2 1/2 feet tall. You won't easily find these hungry hippos in the wild. Zoos help raise and protect families like Kambiri and her mama.

African Pygmy Hedgehog. Average size: 1 – 1.5 lbs, 6-8 inches long. These little critters have become an increasingly popular domestic pet.

Pygmy Marmoset. Average size: 4 ounces, 5 inches tall. The world's smallest monkey can leap an astounding distance of 15 feet!

Pygmy Seahorse. Average size: max 1 inch long. These pretty sea ponies come in many colors, sizes and shapes to blend into their coastal environments.

Northern Pygmy Owl. 2.6 ounces, 7 inches tall, 15 inch wingspan. Perhaps suffering from little man's syndrome, these wiseguys are actually ruthless hunters.

Pygmy Elephant. Average size: 6 1/2 feet tall at shoulder. Newborns are about the size of a your family dog.

Pygmy Horse. Average size: 34–38 inches tall from the withers. Organizations worldwide host miniature horse shows. I wonder if they have a 'world's cutest' ribbon!

Pygmy Goat. Average size: 70 lbs, 20 inches tall. These tiny goats are commonly bred on farms, but are not used for dairy or meat (phew!).

American Pygmy Shrew. Average size: roughly the weight of a dime, 3.5 inches long. These critters don't even know how cute they are, because they are totally and completely blind!

Pygmy Rabbit. Average size: 1 lb, max 11 inches long. The smallest rabbits in the U.S. are actually the only ones who dig their own burrows.

Pygmy Leatherjacket. Average size: 3.5 inches. They are a very diverse (and cute!) bunch, with an estimated 90 species.

Last (and in some ways least), the Pygmy Mouse Lemur. Average size: 1-4 ounces, 2.25-4.75 inches long, 4.75 inch tail. The smallest primate on the planet only comes out at night, making them a tricky subject for biologists.