Newly Discovered Snake Species Named After Leonardo DiCaprio – Here’s Why

Leonardo DiCaprio is a snake.

A newly discovered species of a toothed snake in the Western Himalayas has been named after the actor, according to an “ongoing study” published in the journal Nature in October. 21.

When scientists analyzed the snakes’ DNA, they discovered that although it had known characteristics of other snakes, it turned out to be an entirely new species: Anguiculus dicaprioior DiCaprio’s Himalayan snake.

Scientists who discovered the species of copper-colored snake with dozens of teeth named the species after DiCaprio, 49, because “the American actor, film producer and environmentalist [is someone] which has been actively involved in creating awareness of global climate change (and) increasing biodiversity loss,” the researchers said.

DiCaprio’s snakes are only 22 centimeters long, which is considered small, with “short” heads, “big” noses, lots of teeth and a “steep-domed snout”. They have a “pale” gray band which looks like a “collar” around their neck.

The snake was found “bathing” in the muddy mountain and “remained motionless until captured and made no attempt to bite.” Experts believe the snake can survive altitudes of up to 6,100 feet.

Scientists first found the species in 2020, and so far it has only been seen in Nepal and the Himachal Pradesh region of India, according to the findings.

DiCaprio got into environmentalism as a boy, telling People in 2016, “At a young age, I was very saddened by the species that were disappearing as a result of human-made activity, and so that led me to kind of long trip to involve me in environmental issues.”

He recalled a meeting with former Vice President Al Gore in his early 20s to come up with a plan.

“He sat me down, drew a picture of the planet, drew our atmosphere, and said, ‘This is the most important crisis facing humanity,’ and from that point on, I was really not only fascinated by this issue , but I was really concerned about why we as a collective world community haven’t done enough about it,” DiCaprio said at the time.

The “Titanic” star founded the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation in 1998, which “supports over 35 innovative conservation projects around the world that protect fragile ecosystems and key species.”