The world’s tiniest snake has made a comeback in Barbados, 20 years after it was last spotted. The Barbados threadsnake, once feared to be extinct, was found hidden under a rock in the central part of the island during an ecological survey conducted by the environment ministry and the conservation group Re:wild in March.
This reptile can grow up to 10 centimeters and is as slender as a strand of spaghetti. It had previously appeared on a global list of 4,800 plant, animal, and fungi species believed to have vanished from the scientific record.
Scientists are concerned about the rarity of the snake. According to Connor Blades, a project officer for the environment ministry, “If the threadsnake population is not dense, I am worried about their ability to find mates, especially if their habitat is threatened and deteriorating.”
Justin Springer, the Caribbean program officer at Re:wild, joined Blades in a year-long search for the threadsnake and other native reptiles as part of a conservation project.
Springer playfully remarked to Blades, “I smell a threadsnake,” while turning over a rock ensnared by a tree root. And there it was.
As Springer put it, “When you’re so used to looking for something and don’t see it, you’re shocked when you actually find it.”
Upon rediscovery, both Springer and Blades were overjoyed.
Blades brought the snake to the University of the West Indies for examination under a microscope. The features, including pale orange lines running across its body and a distinct scale on its nose, verified that it was indeed what they were seeking.
First observed in 1889, there have only been a few documented sightings of the Barbados threadsnake.
The threadsnake breeds sexually, and females lay one egg at a time, unlike other reptiles that can produce fertile eggs without mating.
About 98% of the island’s forests have been cleared for agriculture since its colonization over 500 years ago. Therefore, conservationists are worried about the snake’s extinction from habitat loss and the presence of invasive species.
“Revisiting the Barbados threadsnake is also a wake-up call to us Barbadians,” stated Springer. “Our forests are very special and need protection – not just for the threadsnake, but for other species as well. For plants, animals, and our heritage.”
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/jul/24/worlds-smallest-snake-rediscovered-in-barbados-20-years-after-last-sighting
