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USA Today
5 days ago
- Science
- USA Today
World's smallest snake rediscovered 20 years since last sighting
"I think the discovery is just the tip of the iceberg," Justin Springer, Re:wild Caribbean program officer, said. "It's kind of a renewed hope that exists and now we can continue to search for it." The world's smallest snake has reemerged from hiding after nearly two decades. The Barbados threadsnake, which measures 3-4 inches long, was "lost" to science for about 20 years, as researchers had not made a verified sighting of the reptile since 2006. But during an ecological survey in March, the snake was found in central Barbados, carefully tucked under a rainforest rock. "I was making a joke and in my head I said, 'I smell a threadsnake,'" Justin Springer, a program officer at the biodiversity nonprofit Re:wild, said in a news release about the finding. "I just had a feeling, but I couldn't be sure because we turned over a lot of rocks before that and we saw nothing." During the survey, conducted by Re:wild and the Barbados Ministry of the Environment and National Beautification, Connor Blades, a project officer for the ministry, flipped over a rock that was trapped under a tree. To much surprise, under the rock was an earthworm and a tiny snake, according to the news release. Blades took the snake back to the University of the West Indies to examine it, where he discovered that the reptile was a Barbados threadsnake. He then returned the snake to the forest. The Barbados Ministry of the Environment and National Beautification had been searching for the threadsnake, and several other native reptiles, for more than a year as part of a project focused on conserving local reptiles, Blades told USA TODAY. The threadsnake happened to be part of a "double discovery" for the team that day, he said. In addition to searching for the threadsnake, the team was looking for a jack-in-the-box tree, a broadleaf evergreen known for growing in one single location on Barbados, Blades added. The team discovered the tree shortly before the threadsnake. An effort to rediscover 'lost' species The Barbados threadsnake had previously been included in Re:wild's Search for Lost Species, a list of more than 4,300 plants, animals and fungi that have not been officially sighted or documented in at least 10 years. Since launching the program in 2017, Re:wild, in conjunction with other wildlife organizations, has rediscovered at least 15 species, including the Omiltemi cottontail rabbit, De Winton's Golden Mole and Wallace's Giant Bee. As of July 24, the list on the Re:wild website did not include the Barbados threadsnake. Why is the Barbados threadsnake so rare? Several factors may contribute to the rarity of the Barbados threadsnake. The snake reproduces sexually, and females only lay one egg at a time. "If they're small and they can't find other treadsnakes because they don't travel very far, then they aren't mating and they're not replacing themselves in populations and the population is dwindling," Blades said. Additionally, threadsnakes' natural habitat is under attack, with 98% of Barbados' primary forest having been cleared for agriculture, specifically sugar cane, over hundreds of years since colonization, according to Re:wild. When asked why he returned the threadsnake to the forest after examination, Blades said there wasn't a need to keep it, as threadsnakes must be killed to determine their sex and age. "I didn't want to take the easy way to just kill it and not have to go back. I mean, it's the only one that we've seen in 20 years. I felt uneasy preserving it, to be honest." Blair Hedges was the last one to officially spot a Barbados threadsnake, back in 2006. In total, only a handful of sightings have been confirmed, dating back to 1889, according to the news release. What's next? Scientists still know very little about the Barbados threadsnake, Blades said, but now that there's knowledge they are still around, scientists can enact more holistic conservation efforts to consider them. "I think the discovery is just the tip of the iceberg," Springer told USA TODAY. "It's kind of a renewed hope that exists and now we can continue to search for it." Greta Cross is a national trending reporter at USA TODAY. Story idea? Email her at gcross@
Yahoo
02-03-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Experts celebrate rediscovery of rare species 120 years after it went missing: 'I was completely amazed'
After 120 years, scientists in Mexico have rediscovered a type of rabbit long thought extinct. The Omiltemi cottontail rabbit was finally spotted on camera in the conifer forests of Mexico's Sierra Madre del Sur. The five-year mission to find the elusive Omiltemi rabbit was led by ecologist José Alberto Almazán-Catalán. Locals had claimed for years that they regularly hunted Omiltemi rabbits, but scientists could never seem to find them. But with the information from the locals, the scientists set up a series of cameras that eventually started capturing footage of the rabbits. And Almazán-Catalán was thrilled. "I was completely amazed and very happy to have had the opportunity to see one." Should the government be paying people to hunt invasive species? Definitely Depends on the animal No way Just let people do it for free Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. The effort was done in conjunction with Re:wild as part of a global initiative to locate and protect animals and plants that have not been seen for 10 years or longer. The goal of the effort is to protect and restore our planet, and it has been successful. The Omiltemi rabbit marks the 13th species Re:wild has rediscovered. But the work is not over. Now that the species has been rediscovered, scientists hope to learn more about the elusive rabbits. They want to gain insight into their reproductive habits as well as the role the species plays in the mountains so that they can be better preserved and protected. Conservation efforts are not limited to just rediscovering species. For example, conservationists have recently had success reintroducing pygmy pigs in India. And creative efforts in Tristan da Cunha helped save a very rare bird species, the Wilkins' bunting. The ability to save and preserve all the species on our diverse planet is extremely important. All species are part of our biosphere and are essential to a healthy and thriving ecosystem. The Omiltemi rabbits are a perfect example of this. As José Alberto Almazán-Catalán explains, "They are important for seed dispersal. … Their droppings are important for soil fertility. … They are the base of the food chain for predators such as snakes, owls, tigrillos, ocelots, pumas and coyotes." Christina Briggs of Re:wild applauded the efforts of the scientists. "Alberto and his team are helping fill a huge knowledge gap to make sure that the Omiltemi cottontail rabbit is never lost to science again." Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
