[3] Tupaia minor is distributed in peninsular Thailand, peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra, the Lingga Archipelago (Indonesia), Borneo, offshore islands of Laut (Indonesia), and Banggi and Balambangan (Malaysia).

[4] The pygmy treeshrew's upper body hair is banded light and dark, giving a speckled olive-brown appearance.

The tail is long and thin, and its upper side is darker than the body.

[5] They spend most of their time on the ground and in low bushes, nesting in tree roots and fallen timber.

T. minor moves in a semiplantigrade posture which allows it to keep its centre of gravity close to the tree.