THE FT TOP 25 ANIMALS – 15. The World’s Smallest Monkey

There is some debate as to which small monkey this actually is:

the pygmy marmoset? (caution very small indeed)

or the tarsier, voted the official world’s cutest animal in 1997 despite brazenly overdoing the big eye ‘thing’ in my rarefied view.

(Further candidates welcomed.)

Why should the WSM hold such appeal? We like monkeys because they are smart and do things which are a bit human. We like small animals because they are dainty and sweet. Hence whatever species it belongs to the world’s smallest monkey has a huge Thumbelina-style appeal. We live now in an enlightened age when nobody would be allowed to teach the WSM heartbreaking tricks with dolls furniture. THANK GOODNESS FOR THAT.