The world"s smallest snake was found for the first time in 20 years

Sensation in Barbados: the world's smallest snake, previously thought extinct, has been discovered. This is reported by CBS News.

The amazing discovery was made by Barbados Ministry of Environment employee Connor Blades during a forest expedition. While part of the team was searching for the snake, other researchers were studying a tree rare for the island. The tiny reptile was found under a rock, after which Blades immediately delivered it to the laboratory for detailed research.

According to Blades, the Barbados threadsnake (Tetracheilostoma carlae) can easily be mistaken for a brahminy blindsnake - a snake that outwardly resembles an earthworm. However, the specialist was fortunate enough to find the extremely rare Barbados snake. This is the first encounter with this species in the last two decades - scientists previously observed it in 2005.

Representatives of the Tetracheilostoma carlae species are completely devoid of vision. These miniature creatures spend their lives creating underground passages, hunting termites and ants. A peculiarity of their reproduction is laying only one egg at a time. Adult Barbados snakes reach only 10 centimeters in length, making them the smallest snakes on the planet.