Navigation Links
World's smallest snake found in Barbados
Date:8/3/2008

The world's smallest species of snake, with adults averaging just under four inches in length, has been identified on the Caribbean island of Barbados. The species -- which is as thin as a spaghetti noodle and small enough to rest comfortably on a U.S. quarter --was discovered by Blair Hedges, an evolutionary biologist at Penn State. Hedges and his colleagues also are the discoverers of the world's smallest frog and lizard species, which too were found on Caribbean islands. The most recent discovery will be published on 4 August 2008 in the journal Zootaxa.

Hedges found the new snake -- a type of threadsnake -- in a tiny forest fragment on the eastern side of Barbados. He believes the species is rare because most of its potential habitat has been replaced by buildings and farms. "Habitat destruction is a major threat to biodiversity throughout the world," he said. "The Caribbean is particularly vulnerable because it contains an unusually high percentage of endangered species and, because these animals live on islands, they have nowhere to go when they lose their habitat."

Hedges determined that the Barbados species is new to science on the basis of its genetic differences from other snake species and its unique color pattern and scales. He also determined that some old museum specimens that had been misidentified by other scientists actually belong to this new species.

Scientists use adults to compare sizes among animals because the sizes of adults do not vary as much as the sizes of juveniles and because juveniles can be harder to find. In addition, scientists seek to measure both males and females of a species to determine its average size. Using these methods, Hedges determined that this species, which he named Leptotyphlops carlae, is the smallest of the more than 3,100 known snake species.

According to Hedges, the smallest and largest species of animals tend to be found on islands, where species c
'/>"/>

Contact: Barbara K. Kennedy
science@psu.edu
814-863-4682
Penn State
Source:Eurekalert  

0

GOOD

Page: 1 2 3

Related biology news :

1. Quantum weirdness, parallel worlds, dinosaur poop, and the ultimate fate of the universe...
2. The best both of worlds -- how to have sex and survive
3. Detecting the snake in the grass
4. The evolution of aversion: Why even children are fearful of snakes
5. Squirrels use snake scent
6. Does the victim affect snake venom composition?
7. Magnetic snakes control fluids, gravity-defying droplets, and solving a dragonfly mystery
8. Ecologist finds dire devastation of snake species following floods of 93, 95
9. Simian foamy virus found in several people living and working with monkeys in Asia
10. Michael J. Fox Foundation Funds $1.1 Million for Cutting-edge Approaches to Parkinsons Disease
11. W.M. Keck Foundation grant funds reproductive science research
Post Your Comments:
*Name:
*Comment:
*Email:
Related Image:
World's smallest snake found in Barbados
World's smallest snake found in Barbados