World’s Smallest Snake Rediscovered in Barbados

The Barbados threadsnake, the world's smallest known snake and once feared extinct, has been rediscovered in its native Barbados after nearly 20 years without a confirmed sighting. Measuring about 10 centimeters and able to fit on a coin, the blind, burrowing reptile is believed to feed mainly on termites, making it extremely elusive. The snake was found during a conservation survey by Connor Blades and the Ministry of Environment in partnership with Re:wild. Its rediscovery highlights the remaining biodiversity of Barbados amid extensive habitat loss and underscores the critical conservation status of endemic species. The Barbados threadsnake has only been documented a handful of times since 1889 and remains critically endangered. This finding offers hope for the survival of other species considered lost to science and stresses the importance of continued ecosystem preservation.