She stands at just 24.07 inches and weighs only 40 kilograms, but these measurements have helped this cow in southern India earn the title of "World's Shortest Living Cow."
Meet Manikyam, the cow named by Guinness World Records as the world's shortest. She lives in a small village, where she is a local celebrity, and took part in a photoshoot for the record book. Adorned with flowers around her neck and a gaggle of onlookers, it definitely seems as if she's reached star status!
She even posed next to a full-size adult cow — and the size difference is, in fact, quite astounding. Manikyam appears to be the same size as a large dog.
She is a member of the Vechur breed of dwarf cattle, which averages about 90 centimeters in height. At 61.1 centimeters, she's well below average. But what caused her to be so small?
Local veterinarian Dr. E. M. Muhammed says that humidity plays a huge role in determining a dwarf cow's height. This part of the world is one of the most humid, and the cattle are very small here. But when members of the same breed are taken to different parts of the country, the cows just keep getting bigger!
But no matter what her size, we're sure Manikyam would be absolutely adorable!
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