A species of snake from the Himalayas has been named after Hollywood star Leonardo DiCaprio to honor the actor and environmental activist.
According to research published in the scientific journal Nature, Anguiculus dicaprioi is a bronze-colored snake with a short head, large nostrils, “dozens of teeth,” and a “sloping dome-shaped snout.”
The research team from Germany, the UK, and India stated that this snake can grow up to 56 cm long. They were discovered during the summer of 2020 when researchers decided to search for some lesser-known snake species as part of an ongoing study on reptiles.
The newly named snake, Leonardo DiCaprio.
The snakes were found basking on muddy roads in Himachal Pradesh, northern India. According to scientists, they remain motionless until captured and show no intention of biting humans.
These snakes are primarily active from late May to August and are not found at other times of the year. Researchers confirmed their discovery through DNA analysis and found that the new species lives in the states of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand in India and the neighboring country of Nepal.
It is believed that this snake can inhabit areas at elevations up to 1,800 meters above sea level.
Reports indicate that scientist Virender Bhardwaj first discovered the snake in his backyard in the western Himalayas during the Covid-19 lockdown. This discovery led to a three-year study by the research team.
Researchers stated they named the new species after DiCaprio because he “actively participates in raising awareness about global climate change and the increasing loss of biodiversity.”
“Additionally, he funds field conservation activities and research,” the report stated.
In 2023, the actor was honored with the naming of a new species after it was discovered in the rainforests of Panama. The snail-eating snake was named Simon irmelindicaprioae after his mother, Irmelin Indenbirken.
| Leonardo DiCaprio established his eponymous charitable foundation in 1998 at the age of 24, inspired by nature documentaries. Since then, the foundation has funded over 200 projects in more than 50 countries, protecting endangered species, restoring ecosystems, providing clean water, and supporting renewable energy. |
