A snake no larger than a shoelace and long thought to be missing has been rediscovered in the forests of central Barbados, reviving hopes for the survival of one of the world’s rarest reptiles.

The Barbados threadsnake (Tetracheilostoma carlae), the smallest known species of snake on the planet, was found by chance during an ecological survey in March this year, according to a joint statement issued by the Barbados Ministry of Environment and conservation organisation Re:wild.

The species, blind and measuring a mere 10 centimetres at full length, had not been recorded in almost two decades and had only been officially spotted a handful of times since its initial description in 1889.

Connor Blades, a project officer with the Ministry of Environment, and Justin Springer of Re:wild were carrying out a biodiversity assessment when they unearthed the elusive reptile beneath a rock lodged in tree roots.

“Barbados threadsnakes are blind snakes, so they’re very cryptic,” said Blades in the statement. “They’re also quite rare. Very few people have ever seen one.”

The snake was carefully collected for further examination at the University of the West Indies, where experts worked to confirm it was not the Brahminy blind snake — a similar-looking but invasive species. The identification was confirmed under a microscope before the snake was returned to the wild.

Described by researchers as “no thicker than a spaghetti strand,” the Barbados threadsnake has orange stripes running along its back and a small, distinct scale on its snout. Its minuscule size makes it vulnerable to habitat loss and mistaken identity.

“It was surreal,” said Springer, who made the discovery alongside Blades. “You spend so long looking and you just don’t expect it anymore. Then there it is — this tiny living thing — and it takes a moment to believe it’s real.”

The find is particularly significant given the severe deforestation that has gripped Barbados since colonial times. Today, less than two percent of the island’s original forest cover remains, placing additional stress on native species.

Unlike its invasive cousin, the Brahminy blind snake, which reproduces without mating and can lay multiple eggs, the Barbados threadsnake lays only a single egg per clutch. This reproductive limitation further imperils its long-term survival.

Springer said the discovery should serve as a wake-up call to protect what remains of Barbados’s natural environment. “The threadsnake’s rediscovery is a reminder that our forests, though fragmented, still harbour secrets. They are vital not just for animals, but for our culture and future.”

Conservationists hope the rediscovery will spark renewed interest in the island’s remaining wilderness and spur efforts to safeguard habitats for native flora and fauna — many of which may still be waiting to be found.