Current Affairs-Topics

New Himalayan Snake Species Discovered, Bears DiCaprio name

A new snake species, 'Anguiculus dicaprioi', was discovered in the western Himalayas during the COVID-19 lockdown. This small, brown-colored snake belongs to the Colubridae family and is found at elevations above 1,500 meters.

Discovery and Classification

  • New snake species discovered in western Himalayas during 2020 COVID-19 lockdown
  • Named 'Anguiculus dicaprioi' (DiCaprio's Himalayan snake)
  • Classified under new genus 'Anguiculus' meaning 'small snake' in Latin
  • Belongs to Colubridae family, the largest snake family with 1,938 species
  • Found at elevations above 1,500 meters across Himalayas
  • Research published in Scientific Reports journal by international team

Physical Characteristics and Habitat

  • Small-sized snake measuring around 22 inches
  • Brown-colored with broad collar featuring small dark brown spots
  • Robust skull with steeply domed snout
  • Non-aggressive nature; remains motionless when approached
  • Active primarily from late May to August

Distribution across:

    • Himachal Pradesh (Chamba, Kullu, Shimla)
    • Uttarakhand (Nainital)
    • Nepal (Chitwan National Park)

Research Significance and Conservation Impact

  • First spotted by Virender Bhardwaj in his backyard during pandemic
  • Three-year investigation involving researchers from India, Germany, and UK
  • Resolved 180-year-old taxonomic confusion regarding Liopeltis and Gongylosoma genera
  • Named after Leonardo DiCaprio to honor his environmental contributions:
    • Active involvement in climate change awareness
    • Support for biodiversity conservation
    • Funding for field conservation activities
    • Advocacy for addressing pollution-related health issues
  • Discovery highlights underexplored biodiversity in western Himalayas
  • Second species identified: 'Anguiculus rappii' found in Sikkim, Bhutan, and Arunachal Pradesh
  • Research indicates need for more comprehensive herpetofauna documentation in the region

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