Scientists Name New Frog Species After Hollywood Star Leonardo DiCaprio

A newly discovered frog species in Ecuador has been named after Academy Award-winning actor Leonardo DiCaprio in recognition of his dedication to environmental conservation, The Telegraph reported. The species, Phyllonastes dicaprioi, is among seven newly identified frogs by researchers from Ecuador’s National Institute of Biodiversity, the Catholic University of Ecuador, and the San Francisco University of Quito (USFQ).

In a statement, USFQ emphasized the significance of preserving these frogs’ natural environments, saying, “This study highlights the importance of protecting the unique habitats where these species live.”

The frog, which inhabits the Western Mountain Forest in El Oro province, Ecuador, is small and brown with darker markings on its body. Scientists have noted that it resides at altitudes ranging between 1,330 and 1,705 meters above sea level.

DiCaprio, a prominent Hollywood celebrity actively involved in environmental advocacy, established the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation in 1998 to promote awareness about ecological issues.

His support for shutting down a controversial oil drilling project in Ecuador’s Yasuni National Park was a key reason why researchers chose to name the newly discovered species in his honor.

Previously

In October last year, a newly discovered snake species in the Himalayas was also named after Leonardo DiCaprio. The species, Anguiculus dicaprioi, is found in regions spanning from central Nepal to Himachal Pradesh’s Chamba district.

The snake was first spotted by Virender Bhardwaj in his backyard in the western Himalayas during the COVID-19 lockdown. After he shared pictures of it on social media, the discovery gained significant attention, sparking a three-year-long investigation to determine its identity. Initially, the snake was thought to resemble Liopeltis rappi, a species typically found in the eastern Himalayas.

Before DiCaprio, another newly identified snake species was named Tachymenoides harrisonfordi after actor Harrison Ford, best known for playing Indiana Jones. Similarly, in 2017, zoologist and Pink Floyd fan Dr. Sammy de Grave honored the legendary rock band by naming a pistol shrimp Synalpheus pinkfloydi.