Why scientists named newly discovered snake species after Leonardo DiCaprio?

• A newly discovered snake species is named after Leonardo DiCaprio.
• The snake is a copper color and has many teeth.
• DiCaprio’s Himalayan snake measures just 22 inches long.

A newly discovered species of snake in the Western Himalayas has been named after actor Leonardo DiCaprio. This species, known as Anguiculus dicaprioi or DiCaprio’s Himalayan snake, was detailed in a study published in the journal Nature on October 21.

The snake is a copper color and has many teeth. Scientists found that it is a new species after analyzing its DNA, even though it shares some features with other snakes. Researchers decided to name the snake after DiCaprio, 49, because he is a well-known actor and environmentalist who raises awareness about climate change and biodiversity loss.

[caption id="attachment_1092914" align="alignnone" width="641"] Photo: Jam Press[/caption]

DiCaprio’s Himalayan snake measures just 22 inches long and has a short head, large nostrils, and a steeply domed snout. It also has a faint gray band around its neck that looks like a collar. The snake was discovered basking on a muddy surface and did not try to bite when captured. Experts believe it can live at elevations up to 6,100 feet.

Scientists first spotted this snake in 2020, and it has only been found in Nepal and the Himachal Pradesh region of India. DiCaprio has been passionate about environmental issues since he was young. He once told People, “At a young age, I was very saddened by species that had become extinct by the result of man-made activity.” In 1998, he started the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation, which supports many conservation projects worldwide.

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