Snake species named after Leonardo DiCaprio

Scientists have discovered a new snake species high in the Himalayan mountains , and named it ' Anguiculus dicaprioi ' in honour of Hollywood actor and environmentalist Leonardo DiCaprio , reports HC Vanlalruata. The findings, published in the peer-reviewed journal ' Scientific Reports ' on October 21, highlight the region's rich biodiversity .

The species is small, growing up to 22 inches, with distinct features such as a steeply domed snout and a faint grey collar around its neck, said HT Lalremsanga from Mizoram University , one of the researchers involved, in the project. Found at altitudes of 6,100ft, the snakes have been located in Nepal and in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.

The discovery occurred during a summer 2020 expedition in northern India, where researchers were investigating lesser-known reptile species .