October 23, 2008—We're not pulling your leg—this tiny-limbed Brazilian reptile finally has a proper name.

Bachia oxyrhina's very long body and tail lends it a legless look, and its short, rudimentary nubs serve no purpose, experts say.

The lizard was discovered in January in central Brazil's Cerrado, a wooded savanna being converted to ranch and cropland at twice the rate of the nearby Amazon.

Of the 14 new species found during the expedition, Bachia is the first to be officially named. Part of its moniker, oxyrhina, is derived from the Latin words for "sharp" (oxy) and "nose" (rhino). The creature uses its pointy nose to snuff out small bugs, termites, and ants in the sandy soil.

"All this information is crucial to the development of adequate conservation strategies," said expedition leader Cristiano Nogueira, a Conservation International biologist.

"It is difficult to conserve a species or an area if you don't know it."

The new species is described in the September issue of the journal Zootaxa.

—Christine Dell'Amore