Reptiles
Antiguan Racer
Alsophis antiguae
On a tiny island off Antigua, an Antiguan racer slides through the scrub in pursuit of a gecko, one of only a few hundred of its kind left in the world.
Overview
The Antiguan racer, Alsophis antiguae, is a Critically Endangered snake found on a few tiny islands off the northeast coast of Antigua. Its recovery from around 50 individuals, after rats were removed from its last refuges, is one of the best-known rescues of an island snake.
A snake saved by getting rid of rats
Invasive rats ate the racer’s eggs and young, so clearing them from the islands gave the snake a chance to rebound.
Status
Critically Endangered, with an increasing population.
Antiguan Racer: common questions
Why was the Antiguan racer almost extinct?
Mongooses drove it out of Antigua itself, and introduced rats nearly wiped it out on its last island refuges.
How was it saved?
Removing rats from its island refuges allowed its numbers to recover from around 50 individuals to several hundred.
Is the Antiguan racer venomous?
No, it is a slender, non-venomous snake that chases down small lizards.
Where does the Antiguan racer live?
It lives mainly on Great Bird Island and a few other small islets off the northeast coast of Antigua.