It may not have its charm, its blue eyes but it bears its name. It is the new DiCaprio beetle, discovered in Malaysian Borneo
He is about to end up run over, his mother saves himIt may not have its charm and blue eyes, but it bears its name. It is the new DiCaprio beetle, discovered in Malaysian Borneo.
It was identified by a group of citizien scientists, led by the biologists of Taxon Expeditions who decided to rename one of the new water beetles discovered in the uncontaminated basin of Maliau, in Malaysian Borneo, with the name of the American actor.
The tribute also marks the 20th anniversary of the birth of the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation which supports various projects dedicated to the conservation of biodiversity.
The initiatives of Citizen Science in biodiversity research are increasingly widespread, with an annual growth rate of 10% in the number of projects launched. They provide important scientific information, especially in terms of biodiversity monitoring but also in the planning and management of ecosystems and protected areas. Some have been operating successfully for decades, involving thousands of citizens. However, the results are rarely published in scientific journals, as was the case with the discovery of these beetles.
Grouvellinus leonardodicaprioi
The charming creature has an egg-shaped (obovate) body, is approximately 2,97mm long and 1,60mm wide. The back is black in color, with a slight metallic sheen. The claws and antennae, on the other hand, are dark brown with yellow hues.
The species name was selected during a ceremony at the Maliau Basin Studies Center on October 6, 2017, which was attended by expedition participants and other scientists.
“We discovered six new beetle species on our first expedition to the remote Maliau Basin, 30 kilometers long, in Malaysian Borneo! One of these is named after Hollywood actor and environmentalist Leonardo DiCaprio " it is read on the official website.
A nice recognition for the actor. Who knows if he will have enjoyed it as much as the Oscar.
The study is published in the journal ZooKeys.
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Francesca Mancuso
