New Himalayan Snake Species Named After Leonardo DiCaprio
Scientists have discovered a brand-new, gentle snake species in the Western Himalayas and named it after environmentalist Leonardo DiCaprio.
High up in the cool mountains of northern India, scientists have uncovered a gentle, slithering surprise! On 21 October 2024, an international team of researchers announced the discovery of a brand-new Himalayan snake species found resting in the Western Himalayas, including Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.
This special reptile has received the scientific name Anguiculus dicaprioi, also known as DiCaprio’s Himalayan snake. It was named in honour of the famous American actor and conservationist Leonardo DiCaprio because of his dedicated work protecting wildlife and raising awareness about climate change.
What happened?
The story began back in June 2020 when researcher Virender K. Bhardwaj spotted a small snake peacefully sunbathing on a mud road in Churah Valley, located in the Chamba district of Himachal Pradesh. Instead of slithering away quickly or hissing, the little creature stayed remarkably still and calm.
An international team of scientists from India, Germany, and the United Kingdom—including lead author Zeeshan A. Mirza and Professor H.T. Lalremsanga from Mizoram University—studied the reptile closely. They carried out detailed laboratory investigations, which included modern DNA barcoding and six CT scans of the snake’s skull. Their research, published in the peer-reviewed journal Scientific Reports, proved that this reptile possessed distinct physical traits that set it apart from known snake groups within the Colubridae family.
The scientific genus name Anguiculus is derived from Latin and translates to “small snake.” This name fits nicely because the snake measures around 22 inches in length, which is about 50 to 55 centimetres. The reptile features a steeply domed snout and a faint grayish collar band marked with dark brown spots.
Scientists recorded that this quiet species lives at chilly elevations of around 6,000 feet. The snake has been found across Chamba, Kullu, and Shimla in Himachal Pradesh, Nainital in Uttarakhand, and Chitwan National Park in Nepal. Researchers noted that these reptiles were exceptionally gentle, remaining motionless upon discovery and making no attempts to bite.
Why does it matter to you?
India is famous for majestic animals like Bengal tigers and Asian elephants, but this discovery proves that our natural world still holds wonderful secrets waiting for curious young explorers to uncover. Even in well-travelled mountain valleys, entirely new species can be quietly living right under our noses!
Learning about this gentle creature also reminds us how important it is to protect mountain forests and natural habitats. When we look after hillsides and keep ecosystems safe from harm, we protect amazing creatures that scientists are only just beginning to meet.
Words to know
- Species: a specific group of living organisms that share common traits and can breed with one another.
- Genus: a scientific category used by biologists that groups together closely related species.
- Elevation: the height of a place measured above the level of the sea.
- DNA barcoding: a scientific technique that examines short sections of genetic code to identify different living creatures.
Did you know?
DiCaprio’s Himalayan snake is remarkably peaceful! When scientists first spotted these reptiles in the wild, the snakes remained completely motionless and did not make a single attempt to bite.
Think about it
If you were exploring the Himalayan hills and discovered a brand-new animal or plant, what name would you give it, and which conservation hero would you honour?
Quick quiz
What does the Latin genus name ‘Anguiculus’ mean?
- Small snake
- Mountain climber
- Fast lizard
See the answer
Small snake
Sources
This story was prepared by the Kids Gazette news desk with the help of AI research and writing tools, using the sources listed above.
