After vanishing for nearly 20 years, the world's smallest snake has been rediscovered under a rock in Barbados, measuring just 4.1 inches long and as thin as spaghetti.

Govind Tekale

The Barbados threadsnake can curl up comfortably on a quarter coin, making it nearly impossible to spot without careful searching by trained eyes.

Photo Source: Courtesy of Professor Blair Hedges

Connor Blades, project officer with the Barbados Ministry of Environment, found the elusive reptile during an ecological survey on March 20, 2025.

Photo Source: Mato Grosso (Animalia)

This rediscovery marks only the fifth confirmed sighting of the species in 135 years of records, with previous documentation in 1889, 1918, 1966, 1997, and 2005.

Photo Source: Courtesy of Professor Blair Hedges

Microscopic examination was required to distinguish the threadsnake from the invasive Brahminy blind snake, confirming its identity through pale orange dorsal stripes and distinctive head scales.

Photo Source: Courtesy of Professor Blair Hedges

The snake evolved special adaptations, including chemical secretions that prevent termites from attacking while it feeds on their eggs and larvae within their nests.

Photo Source: Mato Grosso (Animalia)

Currently listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List, the threadsnake faces severe habitat challenges with 98% of Barbados' primary forests cleared since European colonization.

Photo Source: Courtesy of Professor Blair Hedges

Female threadsnakes produce only a single, relatively large egg at a time, with offspring hatching at about half the adult length, creating biological challenges for population growth.

Photo Source: Velatrix (CC 1.0)

The rediscovery offers renewed hope for conservation of this ancient Leptotyphlopidae family member, whose lineage dates back to the Jurassic period with origins on the supercontinent Gondwana.

Photo Source: Courtesy of Professor Blair Hedges