Such a small snake that it could be confused with a worm has been seen in Barbados, almost two decades after it was thought to be “lost” to science.
Barbados Threadsnke (Tetracheilostoma Carlae) was discovered, hiding under a cliff in Central Barbados during an ecological study in March by the Barbados Ministry of the Environment and the Conservation Group Re: Wild.
“Barbados threatsnakes are blind snakes, so they are very cryptic,” said Connor Blades, a project officer with the Ministry of Environment in Barbados, who helped find in a statement.
“They are also quite rare, it seems. There have only been a handful of confirmed observations since 1889, so there aren’t many people who have ever seen it, unfortunately.”
Measurement of only three to four inches long (eight to 10 centimeters) when fully cultivated – small enough to almost look after an American quarter coin – Barbados Threadsnke is the world’s smallest snake species.
It is characterized by orange stripes along the back, the eyes of the sides of its head and a small scale of its sneaky.
“When you’re so used to looking for things and you can’t see them, you’re shocked when you actually find it,” said Justin jumps from Re: Wild, who found the discovery with knives.
“You can’t believe it. That’s how I felt. You won’t get your hopes too high.”
The breakthrough came after more than a year’s search when the couple turned rocks caught under a tree red.
The small snake found with a earthworm was taken to the University of West Indies for careful examination under a microscope. It looks closely Brahminy Blind Snake, an invasive species, so the finding had to be validated before it was returned to the forest.
Only 2% of the Caribbean Ø’s primary forest remains intact, with the rest cleared for agriculture since the beginning of the colonial era 400 years ago.
Barbados Threatsnake remains particularly vulnerable as it reproduces sexually and females only lay a clutch on an egg. Female brahminy blind hoses, on the other hand, can produce fertile eggs without mating.
“Threatsnakes rediscovery is also a call to all of us as Barbadians that forests in Barbados are very special and need protection,” said Springer. “Not only for threadsnke, but also for other species. For plants, animals and our heritage.”
