Grouvellinus leonardodicaprioi was discovered at a waterfall in the remote Maliau Basin in Malaysian Borneo.
Amateur scientists have discovered a new species of water beetle and named it after Leonardo DiCaprio to honour the Oscar-winning Hollywood actor's efforts towards biodiversity preservation.
The water beetle, described in the journal ZooKeys, was discovered at a waterfall in the remote Maliau Basin in Malaysian Borneo.
During a field trip initiated by Taxon Expeditions - an organisation based in The Netherlands which arranges scientific surveys for untrained people - a total of three water beetle species new to science were identified.
The expedition participants and the local staff of the Maliau Basin Studies Centre voted to name one of them Grouvellinus leonardodicaprioi, in honour of DiCaprio's efforts to protect untouched, unexplored wildernesses.
The tribute marks the 20th anniversary of the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation (LDF) and its efforts towards biodiversity preservation.
"Tiny and black, this new beetle may not win any Oscars for charisma, but in biodiversity conservation, every creature counts," said Iva Njunjic, founder of Taxon Expeditions.
LDF has contributed to over 200 grassroots projects around the globe devoted to climate change mitigation, wildlife conservation, and habitat preservation.
Other celebrities to have insects named after them include DiCaprio's Titanic co-star Kate Winslet, who also has a beetle named after her.
"We can all have an impact, but we have to work together to protect our only home," said DiCaprio in a special LDF video.
In 1998, DiCaprio established his foundation with the mission of protecting the world's last wild places.
LDF implements solutions that help restore balance to threatened ecosystems, ensuring the long-term health and well-being of all Earth's inhabitants.
Since that time LDF has worked on some of the most pressing environmental issues of the day through grantmaking, public campaigns and media initiatives.
The Foundation has gradually built a significant grantmaking operation, awarding over $80 million in grants since 2010, funding over 200 high-impact projects in 50 countries across Asia, the Americas, Africa, the Arctic, Antarctica, and all five oceans.
Through active collaboration with a broad network of environmental leaders and experts, effective organisations, and committed philanthropists, the foundation is able to find and support the best, results-driven projects in the world's most wild and threatened ecosystems.
Its work is divided into six main program areas - Wildlands Conservation, Oceans Conservation, Climate Change, Indigenous Rights, Transforming California, and Innovative Solutions.
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