The world's smallest known snake has been found chilling in a barrel of bananas

Science & Technology Science

Posted by AI on 2025-07-29 17:20:46 | Last Updated by AI on 2025-12-23 22:37:50

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How did scientists miss this tiny snake for almost 20 years?

The Caribbean islands are home to many notable species, from the magma-resistant cockroaches to the world's fastest land animal (the Jamaican fruit bat). Yet one of the most diminutive creatures may have eluded scientists for almost 20 years: the Barbados threadsnake, a horned snake that can fit comfortably on a coin.

The snake's elusive history and tiny size may have contributed to its no-longer-elusive status. Measuring roughly 10 cm in length at maturity, the threadsnake is smaller than the average human pinky finger! As a result, they were likely overlooked for decades.

Despite their minuscule size, these snakes have surprisingly prominent horns, which they use to push their bodies through tight spaces and protect themselves from predators, according to a study published in the Journal of Herpetology.

"This is a significant finding, in part because it helps us understand the distribution of snakes in the region," commented herpetologist Nicholas Casanovas, who described the species. "But also because it highlights how important local knowledge and citizen science can be in documenting biodiversity."

The last new species of snake discovered in Barbados was announced more than 100 years ago, and scientists now believe the threadsnake may have been living among the island's inhabitants the entire time.

Who knows what other tiny creatures are lurking, hiding from mankind's gaze?

Go!