Anguiculus dicaprioi

Oct. 23, 2024

A team of scientists have discovered a new species of snake in the Western Himalayas, whom they have named after Hollywood star, Leonardo Di Caprio.

About Anguiculus dicaprioi :

  • It is a member of the Colubridae, the largest family of snakes on the planet with 304 genera and 1,938 species.
  • Features
    • The new species has dozens of small-sized teeth.
    • It grows around 22 inches and has a broad collar with small dark brown spots.
    • It has a "robust skull", and a “steeply domed snout”.
    • This species lives at heights of around 6,000 feet above sea level.
  • Researchers suggested the common name ‘DiCaprio’s Himalayan snake’.
  • Distribution: The snake is found in Chamba, Kullu and Shimla in Himachal Pradesh, Nainital in Uttarakhand and Chitwan National Park in Nepal.
  • These snakes are mostly active from late May to August and are not seen at other times of the year.

What are Colubrid Snakes?

  • A colubrid is any of the numerous, diverse, largely nonvenomous snakes that comprise the reptile family Colubridae.
  • The Colubridae family is one of the largest snake families, consisting of over 1,800 species.
  • They are characterized by the absence of hind limbs.
  • They are found in various regions around the world, except for Antarctica and some remote oceanic islands.
  • Habitats: They inhabit a wide range of environments, including forests, grasslands, deserts, wetlands, and aquatic habitats.
  • Venom: The majority of colubrid snakes are non-venomous.
  • Among well-known colubrids are king snakes, watersnakes, milk snakes, gartersnakes, racers, ratsnakes, ring-necked snakes, hog-nosed snakes, and the venomous boomslangs.