World’s Smallest Snake Rediscovered in Barbados After Nearly 20 Years

A snake so tiny it could be mistaken for a worm has been rediscovered in Barbados, nearly two decades after scientists feared it had vanished.

The Barbados threadsnake (Tetracheilostoma carlae), the world’s smallest known snake species, was spotted in March during an ecological survey conducted by the Barbados Ministry of the Environment and National Beautification in collaboration with global conservation group Re:wild.

Measuring just 8 to 10 centimeters (about three to four inches) long, the elusive reptile was found hidden under a rock in central Barbados. “Barbados threadsnakes are blind and very secretive,” said Connor Blades, a project officer with the Ministry. “They’re also quite rare — with only a few confirmed sightings since 1889.”

Blades and Justin Springer of Re:wild had spent over a year searching before making the groundbreaking discovery. “You’re so used to not seeing it that when you finally do, it’s hard to believe,” Springer said.

The snake, found beside an earthworm, was briefly taken to the University of the West Indies for microscopic examination. Experts needed to confirm it was the native threadsnake and not the similar-looking, invasive Brahminy blind snake.

Identified by its orange dorsal stripes, side-positioned eyes, and distinctive snout scale, the Barbados threadsnake is not just rare but critically vulnerable. With only two percent of the island’s original forest cover remaining due to centuries of agriculture, its habitat is rapidly shrinking.

Unlike the invasive Brahminy blind snake, which reproduces asexually and can multiply rapidly, the native threadsnake reproduces sexually and lays just one egg at a time, making its survival more precarious.

Springer described the find as a crucial reminder of the island’s ecological richness. “The rediscovery of the threadsnake is a call to action,” he said. “Barbados’ forests are unique and must be preserved — not just for this snake, but for all the island’s wildlife and natural heritage.”