Newly Discovered Snake Species with Numerous Teeth Named After Leonardo DiCaprio

Leonardo DiCaprio now has a new species of snake named in his honor!

Researchers first discovered the reptile in the western Himalayas in the summer of 2020, the Miami Herald reported, citing an "ongoing study" published by nature.com on Monday, Oct. 21. 

After catching a few of the copper-colored snakes with dozens of teeth, scientists analyzed their DNA. They found that although the serpent had the familiar traits of other snakes, it was a new species entirely — Anguiculus dicaprioi, or DiCaprio's Himalayan snake.

DiCaprio's Himalayan snakes are considered small, reaching lengths of only 22 inches. They have "short" heads, "large” nostrils, many teeth, and a "steeply domed snout."

Additionally, the new species can be identified by its "faint" gray band, which almost appears to be a "collar" around the reptile's neck.

The snake was named after the Hollywood A-lister, 49, because the "American actor, film producer, and environmentalist [is someone] who has been actively involved in creating awareness about global climate change (and) increased biodiversity loss," researchers said. 

The species was found "basking" on the roads of muddy mountains and "remained motionless until caught and made no attempts to bite."

The team — consisting of Zeeshan Mirza, Virender Bhardwaj, Saunak Pal, H. T. Lalremsanga, Gernot Vogel, Patrick Campbell, and Harshil Patel — said DiCaprio's Himalayan snakes can survive elevations of approximately 6,100 feet.

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According to the published findings, the new species has been found in Nepal and the neighboring Indian states of Himachal Pradesh since its discovery. 

Speaking to PEOPLE at the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2016 for his documentary The Ivory Game, DiCaprio explained how he got into environmental activism. 

"At a young age, I was very saddened by species that had become extinct by the result of man-made activity, and so that led me on a long sort of journey to get me involved in environmental issues," the Oscar winner said at the time.

The Titanic star told PEOPLE that meeting former Vice President Al Gore at the White House in his early 20s helped him implement 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 really become not only fascinated with the issue but really concerned why we as a collective world community haven't done enough about it," DiCaprio said.

In 1998, he started the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation, which "supports over 35 innovative conservation projects around the world that protect fragile ecosystems and key species." It is still active today.