Two species of worm-like snakes, called scolecophidians, are known to be in Barbados.

Barbados Threadsnake

The Barbados threadsnake (Tetracheilostoma carlae) is endemic to Barbados, which means it is unique to Barbados and not found anywhere else in the world. It holds the record for the smallest snake species in the world, with adults only growing to 10 cm long. It is very rare, only ever found a few times in patches of moist forest.

Flowerpot Snake

The flowerpot snake, also known as the Brahminy blindsnake (Indotyphlops braminus), was introduced to the island in the early 2000s. It quickly spread across the island and is now commonly found in gardens and natural habitats alike. It is parthenogenetic, meaning all individuals are female which reproduce asexually.

How to Distinguish the Two

Due to their small size, these two species can be difficult to distinguish. The easiest way to tell them apart with the naked eye is by looking at the position of their eyes and the patterns on their backs. The Barbados threadsnake has two pairs of pale lines which extend from their head to their tail whereas the flowerpot snake does not. The eyes of the Barbados threadsnake are on the sides of the head but the eyes of the flowerpot snake are on top of the head. There are further differences outlined below.