Alpinia abundiflora

An indigenous large herb grows in the hill country forests. Flowering from February to November.

Rufous Horse-shoe Bat (Rhinolophus rouxii)

Rufous Horseshoe Bat is a common bat occurs from forested parts of the low country to the lower hills (500 m a.s.l) while becoming scarce above 1300 m a.s.l. It roosts day time in caves, old buildings, barns and dark culverts as large colonies of same species or sometime with other species of bats such as Schneider’s leaf-nosed bat (Hipposideros speoris), Long-eared false vampire bat(Megaderma spasma) and Bi-colored leaf-nosed bat (Hipposideros ater). But roosting single individuals or small parties are also not uncommon in such places. It emerges late in the evening from the roosting site and catch small flying insects (Moths, Beetles etc.) by flying about 3-4 feet above the ground below trees or sometime darting at the prey from a perched position in a low bushes. This bat occurs in two color forms,  brown and orange, while later color phase bats are much common during the winter months of the northern hemisphere (Yapa A. & Ratnavira G., 2013). 

වල් - කිඩාරම් [Wal-Kidaram] (Arisaema leschenaultii)

Rather rare indigenous herb found in shady places in the hill country. The "flower" is hooded with the green spathe protecting the interior, which contains the true flowers from the rain. 

Muller's shrub frog (Pseudophilautus sarasinorum)

An endemic shrub frog confined to the sub-montane forests from 600 to 1300m in Central and Knuckles hills. It can be observed on moss covered rocks and trees near forest streams as well as such anthropogenic habitats.

පුංචි ලේනා[Punchi Leana]Dusky striped jungle squirrel (Funambulus obscurus)

The smallest squirrel in Sri Lanka with relatively short tail compared with the other squirrels. It is distributed in wet zone forests from lowlands to higher hills. It is strictly forest dweller though sometime visits adjoining well wooded home gardens. Dusky striped jungle squirrel feeds on insects, grubs, flowers, fruits and often follows mix-species feeding flocks of birds, closer to the ground in search of disturbed insects and grubs by the birds. They are often encountered as pairs and keep contacts with each others with bird-like contact call. 

සිංහලෙන් කියවන්න >>

Hare-bell (Wahlenbergia marginata)

An indigenous and common herb found in Patana lands and rocky areas of the higher hills (1400-2400 m). Flowering throughout the year though chiefly from December to May.

Malayan (Megisba malaya)

Malayan is a common butterfly occurs from lowlands to hills (Up to about 400ft). The dry seasonal form is large. Males often settle on damp earth and bird dropping to absorb minerals. Its larval food plant are Allophylus cobbe (බූ-කොබ්බෑ\කොබ්බෑ), Mallotus rhamnifolius (මොළබෑ/බුලු හුලු කැප්පෙටියා), Mallotus philippensis, and Mallotus eriocarpus.

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බුලත් හපයා/මනමාලයා[Bulath Hapaya/Manamalaya]/Black Ruby Barb(Pethiya nigrofasciatus)

An endemic fish restricted to slow flowing clear, shady forest streams with gravel or sand substrate from wet lowlands up to about 300m elevation from Maha Oya to Walawe basin. 

Eulophia graminea

Rather rare terrestrial orchid species grows in open places under partial shade in the dry regions. 

Blue Pursuer (Potamarcha congener)

Blue Pursuer is a locally common dragonfly found in small weedy ponds and marshes from lowlands to mid-hills. 

සුදු වේවැල්/තුඩරෑන[Sudu Wewal/Thuda rena] (Calamus ovoideus)

An endemic rattan climbing about 50-70 m height, occurs in wet lowlands and lower montane forests up to about 1500m a.s.l. Flowering in April and fruits ripen during September - October. Canes use to make furniture and baskets.  

Sharp-snouted shrub frog (Pseudophilautus cuspis)

An endemic shrub frog is confined to the wet lowland close canopy rain forests with little understorey from 150m to 660m a.s.l. Sharp-snouted shrub frog is active both day and night and during the day time it can be found among leaf litter on the ground. Vocalizing males can be found on branches and leaves above the forest floor during the night.

Recorded areas - Millawa near Morawaka, Mederipitiya and Wathugala near Deniyaya, 

Above individual was photographed near famous giant Navada tree of Sinharaja world heritage site from Kudawa entrance. 

බාඳුරා වැල්[Badura wel]/Pitcher-plant (Nepenthes distillatoria)

A woody leaf climber reaching top of tall trees or growing over lower vegetation in primary and secondary forests of the lowland wet zone.  Also grows in scrublands. The insectivorous habit of the plant is believed to be as an adaptation to meet nutritional deficiency when it occurs in poor soils. However plant can be found in both poor and rich soils. The lid over the pitcher functions as insect attraction due to its reddish green or brown color and also prevent dilution of its insect-digesting fluid with rain water. The fluid in the 'pitcher' part of the leaf is prescribed as a remedy for whooping cough by some indigenous medical practitioners and prescribes to taken orally. The stems are used as rough cordage.