New snake species discovered in the Himalayas, named after actor Leonardo Dicaprio

A Himalayan snake species has been named after Hollywood star Leonardo DiCaprio in honour of 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 "steeply domed snout."

The team from Germany, the UK and India said the snakes, which can grow up to 56cm long, were discovered in the summer of 2020 when researchers decided to look for some lesser-known snakes as part of an ongoing study of reptiles.

New snake species named after Leonardo DiCaprio.

The snakes were found sunning themselves on muddy roads in the northern Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. Scientists said they remained motionless until they were caught and had no intention of biting humans.

These snakes are mainly active from late May to August and have not been found at other times of the year. The researchers confirmed their findings through DNA analysis and found that the new species lives in the Indian states of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, as well as neighboring Nepal.

It is believed that this snake can live at altitudes up to 1,800 m above sea level.

According to reports, scientist Virender Bhardwaj first spotted the snake in his backyard in the western Himalayas during the Covid-19 lockdown. The discovery led to a three-year study by the team.

Researchers said they named the new species after DiCaprio because he is "actively involved in raising awareness about global climate change and the increasing loss of biodiversity".

'In addition, he provides funding for field conservation activities and research,' the report said.

In 2023, the actor was given the honor of naming a new species after discovering it in the Panamanian jungle. The snail-eating snake was named Simon irmelindicaprioae after his mother, Irmelin Indenbirken.

Leonardo DiCaprio founded his eponymous charity in 1998 at the age of 24, after being inspired by nature documentaries. Since then, the foundation has funded more than 200 projects in more than 50 countries, protecting endangered species, restoring ecosystems, providing clean water and funding renewable energy.