05/08/2008 In Nature by argikon

Evolutionary biologists from Penn State have recently identified the world’s smallest snake.  The 3.9 inch specimen, that’s small enough to fit on a quarter, was found under a rock on the island of Barbados.  The spaghetti noodle sized Barbados threadsnake (or Leptotyphlops carlae), is believed to be as small as nature would allow, for if it were any smaller, its young would have nothing to eat.  The snake primarily consumes the tiny larvae of termites and ants.

Females of this species produce just one slender egg. In contrast to larger species that may lay up to 100 eggs in a single clutch, with each egg measuring just a fraction of the mother’s body, this snake produces a single hatchling that’s half its mother’s size.

The species is believed to be in grave danger as it’s habitat on Barbados is being replaced by human development.