Tiny “World’s Fled Snake” Returns for Spectacular Comeback

Barbados Threadsnake Resurfaces in Central Island Forest

Discovery During Ministry Environmental Survey

• Barbados Ministry of the Environment and national beautification group Re:wild conducted ecological check in March.
• Team led by Connor Blades, Ministry officer, unearths tiny blind snake beneath a rock.
• Only a handful of sightings recorded since 1889, highlighting the species’ rarity.

What Makes the Threadsnake So Small?

The Barbados threadsnake (Tetracheilostoma carlae) reaches just 3–4 inches (8–10 cm), almost fitting on a US quarter. Its world‑small stature sets it apart.

• Distinct orange stripes span its back.
• Eye placement on the sides of its head offers a subtle profile.
• A single scale on the snout helps identify the species.

Challenges and Verification Process

After a year of careful searching, Blades and Justin Springer of Re:wild turned up a rock trapped under a tree root. The team found the snake alongside an earthworm.

• Miniature specimen was transported to the University of West Indies.
• Scientists squinted under microscopes to confirm it is not the invasive Brahminy blind snake.
• After validation, the threadsnake was released back into its forest home.

Why the Threadsnake’s Return Matters

Only 2% of Caribbean island primary forest remains untouched, the rest cleared for agriculture for 400 years since colonial colonization. The threadsnake’s vulnerability is amplified by its reproductive strategy:

• Females lay a single egg, sexual reproduction required.
• In contrast, Brahminy blind snakes can produce fertile eggs without mating.

Call to Protect Barbadian Forests

Springer stresses the necessity of safeguarding forests:

“This threadsnake’s rediscovery urges us all — Barbadians — to cherish and protect forests,” Springer says. “It isn’t just about the threadsnake but for plants, animals, and our heritage as well.”