According to the University of Costa Rica (UCR), there are some 144 species of snakes in Costa Rica. A new one was identified last month by two nature tourist guides, during a night walk in the Drake Bay of the Osa Peninsula. Welcome snake Number 145. The snake is a Dwarf Snake of Barbour, or a Trimetopon Barburi Dipsadidae, and has previously only been seen in Panama. The guides, Gianfranco Gomez and Tracie Stice, were thrilled at their discovery, as they have been trying for months to catch the Dwarf Barbour for closer study.

Explained Alejandro Solorzano of the Zoological Museum of UCR, “These encounters are pure coincidence because the two individuals who made the discovery, whom I knew through my scientific work in the jungle, had commented to me that there was a snake they had seen, and wanted identified. I needed to see the snake to be able to review it thoroughly”
It took several attempts to finally trap the snake, but finally a few weeks ago the snake was captured at last – alive – and brought back to UCR where it was positively identified as the Dwarf Snake of Barbour. This is the first recorded sighting of this species outside of Panama.

These small snakes are not poisonous, and inhabit forests and glens, living off the eggs and larvae of other invertebrates. They belong to a group of six similar snake species, five of which have been studied previously. Little is known about the habits of these Dwarf Barbours.

Said UCR’s Solorzano, “This type of snake, because they are relatively small, hide in the fallen leaves of the jungle and tuck into small caves in the soil, which makes them difficult to observe. We know little about them, hence call them secretive animals, with mysterious behavior that is only visible at night.”

The Dwarf Snake of Barbour is a deep coffee color, with flecks of cream and black, and white spots on the head, and a yellow belly.
UCR plans to register this new found snake, and it will receive an official number in the Herpetological Review, along with a detailed description of the species as it appears in Costa Rica. Nature guides Gomez and Stice will be congratulated for their late night discovery, and for contributing to the scientific knowledge of the amazing animal life of Costa Rica

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