This snake is so small, it could hide in your pocket and you’d never even know it

If you’ve always pictured snakes as long, slithery reptiles that send chills down your spine, get ready to be seriously surprised. Meet the Barbados threadsnake (yep, that’s its real name)—officially the smallest snake in the world.

This little guy maxes out at just 10.4 cm (that’s only 4.1 inches), and weighs a teeny 0.6 grams. To put it simply: it’s about as wide as a piece of spaghetti and light enough to sit on your palm without even noticing.Honestly, if you saw one, you’d probably think it was an earthworm. It’s got this thin, pinkish body and is so tiny that it can literally curl up and nap on a U.S. quarter. Because of its size, spotting one in the wild is almost impossible—they’re seriously shy, plus they live most of their lives underground.

Where can you find this little noodle?

Only in the eastern forests of Barbados, where it lives in soft soil and leafy ground cover. The Barbados threadsnake is what scientists call fossorial, which is just a fancy way of saying it prefers life beneath the surface. You’re more likely to step on one (gently, we hope) than see one slithering by.

What does it even eat?

Well, it doesn’t exactly go after frogs or mice. Its mouth is so tiny that its menu is basically limited to ant and termite eggs or larvae.

That's about all it can fit in its mini mouth—but hey, it works.And get this—when it comes to baby-making, the female doesn’t mess around with big clutches. She lays just one long, skinny egg, and the hatchling that comes out is already about half the size of a full-grown adult. Not bad for a first day in the world!Even though it’s tiny, the Barbados threadsnake plays an important role in nature, helping control insect populations. It might not look like much, but it’s proof that even the smallest creatures can have a big impact. So yeah, next time someone says snakes are scary, just show them this adorable noodle of the forest.