The Barbados threadsnake (Tetracheilostoma carlae) is the smallest known snake species in the world. It was first identified as a separate species in 2008 by S. Blair Hedges, a herpetologist from Pennsylvania State University. He named this snake in honor of his wife, Carla Ann Hass, a herpetologist who was also part of the discovery team.
The average total length (including tail) of an adult Barbados threadsnake is approximately 10 cm (3.94 inches), with the largest specimen found to date measuring 10.4 cm (4.09 inches) in total length. The snake is said by Hedges to be "about as wide as a spaghetti noodle."
Barbados threadsnakes are found on the Caribbean island of Barbados. They inhabit tropical dry forests.
Barbados threadsnakes are solitary fossorial creatures adapted to burrowing. They are nocturnal and during the day usually hide under rocks. Due to their diet preferences, they are often found near ant and termite nests. The pheromones these snakes produce protect them from attack by termites.
Barbados threadsnakes are carnivores and their diets consist mostly of termite or ant larvae.
Barbados threadsnakes are oviparous meaning they lay eggs to reproduce. Females lay only one large egg at a time and the emerging offspring is about half the length of the mother.
Habitat loss is the main threat to the Barbados threadsnake. Essentially, Barbados has no original forest remaining and based on the small population number of this species and its distribution apparently being restricted to eastern Barbados, the continued survival of these tiny snakes is a concern.
The IUCN Red List and other sources don’t provide the number of the Barbados threadsnake total population size. Currently, this species is classified as Critically Endangered (CR) on the IUCN Red List.
