April 30, 2008
New species found in Brazil

Lewis Smith

A legless lizard and a miniature woodpecker are among 14 species new to science discovered in a remote region of Brazil.

The animals were identified during an expedition to the Cerrado, an area of wooded grassland rated among the world’s top 50 homes for wildlife.

Scientists found that the new lizard, from the Bachia genus, was perfectly adapted to its surroundings, being able to slither, snake-like across the sandy soil. The expedition carried out by Conservation International in partnership with researchers from Brazilian universities also found eight previously unknown species of fish, two reptiles, a horned toad and a fat-tailed mouse oppossum. All were located in and around the 716,000-hectare (1.77 million-acre) Serra Geral do Tocantins Ecological Station. The new woodpecker had a striking red head and at about 12 cm long is one of the smallest in the world.

Dr Nogueira described the discovery of new species as better than finding buried treasure. He said it was likely that there were more new species in the region but habitat was being destroyed so fast that they could become extinct before being identified. “The area we were looking in is large and it is likely there are other unknown species, especially fish — they are a very diverse group — and reptiles.”

Full story, source: The Times

14 new species ,and theres still many out there that might not ever be discovered.
i saw the pictures that legs less lizard looks like a snake they should just classify it as a different type of snake

But lizards are not the same as snakes so no, they shouldn't.

Well as long as its not newts

Finding 440 species is alot, unfortunately I then read about the habitat being destroyed so fast. I would have loved to see a picture of the minature woodpecker that was found...Nice read.... I did find the picture galley, but no woodpecker and the other pics. were too large to put up...Although as Matt said, the legless lizard should not be classified as a snake but damn, it sure looks like one...

lizards are lizards, not snakes. There is a type of lizard where I live that does not have legs and it is called a glass snake, but as for it being a snake, you can tell by just looking at it that it isnt.

The Stenocercus looks just like a bearded dragon...
The legless lizard... definitely looks like a snake to me...

Maybe the scientists found some new 'herbal' plant life over there as well.

isn't a legless lizard considered a snake?

No they are completely different.
Lizards are in the sub-phylum Lacertilia
Sankes are the sub-phylum Serpentes

Somehow, some people think legless lizard=snake.