Proud Rediscovery of the Barbados Threadsnake
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — For nearly 20 years, scientists feared the world’s smallest snake, the Barbados threadsnake, might be lost forever. However, a recent discovery in a small forest in Barbados has reignited hope for this unique creature.
On a bright morning, Connor Blades, a project officer with the local Ministry of Environment, lifted a rock and found the elusive snake. “After a year of searching, the odds began to feel disheartening,” he shared.
The Barbados threadsnake is so small it can easily fit on a coin, making it difficult to spot. Once he secured the snake in a jar with soil, Blades examined it under a microscope at the University of the West Indies. “It was challenging to identify,” he recalled, needing a video and a still image to finally confirm his find.
With distinct pale yellow lines and side-placed eyes, the snake bears resemblance to other species, complicating its identification. But the effort paid off. On Wednesday, the Re:wild conservation group, working closely with local authorities, celebrated the snake’s rediscovery.
Justin Springer, a program officer with Re:wild, emphasized the importance of this finding. “Rediscovering such a unique species reminds us of what we still have left and the crucial role it plays in our ecosystem,” he said.
This species has been observed only a few times since being first documented in 1889. Previously considered “lost to science,” it joins a list of many endemic species that face peril in the Caribbean.
The Barbados threadsnake is blind, burrows underground, and eats termites and ants. When fully grown, it reaches about four inches (10 centimeters) in length. “They’re very cryptic,” Blades pointed out, noting that extensive surveys sometimes go without spotting them.
On March 20, while examining a specific tree in central Barbados, Blades and his team made the significant find. As they searched beneath rocks, excitement filled the air, knowing this discovery was a rare highlight amidst ongoing environmental challenges.
S. Blair Hedges, the original identifier of the species, recounted his earlier struggles to confirm its existence. “I turned over countless rocks and spent days searching,” he recalled. His research established the threadsnake as the world’s smallest snake in 2008.
Despite the previous lack of sightings, the rediscovery of the Barbados threadsnake offers hope. It could catalyze efforts to preserve wildlife habitats in Barbados, which has faced considerable loss of its endemic species over time.
“I believe this rediscovery will spark more interest in conservation efforts,” Hedges added. “Barbados uniquely faces a challenge in the Caribbean — it has the least original forest area.”
The renewed attention on the Barbados threadsnake may not just save a species but also inspire broader actions to protect the island’s delicate ecosystem.
