Antiguan Racer
Alsophis antiguae
- Critically endangered
- Card rarity: Legendary
- Reptiles
The Antiguan racer is a harmless rear-fanged (opisthoglyphous) grey-brown snake that was until recently found only on Great Bird Island off the coast of Antigua, in the eastern Caribbean. It is among the rarest snakes in the world. In the year 1995 researchers estimated that only 51 Antiguan racer snakes were alive on the Great Bird Island. However, in the last 20 years, conservation efforts have boosted numbers from an estimated 50 to over 1,100 individuals by eradicating non-native predators and reintroducing the snake to other Antiguan islands in its original range. In addition to Great Bird Island, the Antiguan racer has successfully recolonised the nearby Rabbit Island, Green Island, and York Island.
Classification
- Class
- Reptilia
- Order
- Squamata
- Family
- Colubridae
- Genus
- Alsophis