The Antigua Runner: One of the World’s Rarest Island Snakes

The world of reptiles can sometimes offer us pleasant surprises. While some inspire fear, often for no good reason, others provoke genuine wonder.

This is the case of the sophis antiguae, commonly called “the Antigua runner”. The history of this snake has led to its designation as one of the rarest species on the planet. However, this status is changing, as recent research on this unique animal has demonstrated.

The “rarest snake in the world”: alsophis antiguae

The islands that make up the country of Antigua and Barbuda are well known to Caribbean enthusiasts. Located about fifty kilometers north of Guadeloupe, this picturesque territory does not extend beyond 450 square kilometers. However, it is home to incredibly diverse wildlife.

One of the most unique creatures that can be found there is the sophis antiguae, a small snake that can grow up to a meter long. Currently, this species is considered critically endangered. It feeds primarily on small lizards and exhibits sexual dimorphism, meaning the males and females of the species are different colors.

In the 1990s, there were only around fifty individuals left on the two islands, leading to fears for the worst for the reptile.

SNAKE #83
The Antiguan racer (Alsophis antiguae) is a harmless and critically endangered species found only on Great Bird Island off the coast of Antigua. Its numbers have increased in the last 20 years.

(Photo John Cancalosi) pic.twitter.com/vIurqTWupn

— EverySnake (@EverySnek) December 11, 2021

A harmless snake?

It has long been considered the serpent “lthe rarest in the world”, according to the scientific community. The UN environmental preservation site tells us the reasons for this narrowly avoided catastrophe: “Non-native mongooses introduced in the 1980s to control rats feasted on these snakes and their prey.”

Realizing that an animal species could disappear with this process, efforts were made to ensure that our alsophis antiguae survived. Fauna Flore tells us that the species now numbers more than 1,100 individuals today. Snakes are now microchipped to better understand their population and habits. And there are many hopes for the rapid increase in the coming years of these magnificent creatures. The case of alsophis antiguae questions us about our permanent management of fauna and flora and the perpetual respect that we must have for the environment.

Article originally published on March 9, 2024