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Showing posts with label Herpetofauna. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Herpetofauna. Show all posts
Friday, February 21, 2014
Tuesday, February 4, 2014
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.
Saturday, January 25, 2014
Hump-nosed Lizard/Lyre-headed Lizard/ගැටහොඹු කටුස්සා/කරමල් බෝදිලිමා/බොහොඬා[Gatahombu Katussa/Karamal Bodilima/Bohonda](Lyriocephalus scutatus)
Hump-nosed Lizard is an endemic arboreal lizard found in shaded forests and adjoining well wooded home gardens and plantations from wet lowlands to mid hills (up to about 1600m a.s.l.). It feeds on insects[termites, butterflies, moths], earthworms, young shoots and buds as well as fruits on both trees and on land. It is a diurnal lizard and during night ascending high up trees to sleep. If cornered it opens its mouth wide to show the bright red color inside, change body color and also practicing death feigning.
Sunday, January 12, 2014
Kelaart's Dwarf Toad/කෙලාර්ට්ගේ කුරු ගෙම්බා[Kelaartge Kuru Gemba] (Adenomus kelaartii)
Kelaart's Dwarf Toad is an endemic frog inhabiting wet zone forests and adjoining well wooded areas from lowlands to sub-montane region. It is a terrestrial species though occasionally climbs on trees and walls of the rural houses. Kelaart's Dwarf Frog active mainly during the night and in the day time it hides under rocks, decaying logs and among leaf litter along stream banks. Sometimes more than one individuals can be seen hiding together in a same rock crevice.
Sunday, December 15, 2013
කට කලු කටුස්සා/Black-cheek Lizard/Dark-lipped Lizard(Calotes nigrilabris)
de Silva A., 2007 - The diversity of Horton plains national park (with specieal reference to its herpetofauna)
Wednesday, November 20, 2013
Friday, October 25, 2013
Sand Lizard/Fan-throat Lizard (Sitana ponticeriana)
Sand
Lizard is a ground dwelling reptile inhabiting sand dunes and open scrublands in
the coastal areas around the island. But it is much common in arid North,
Northwestern and southern parts. It feeds mainly on
insects such as ants, termites, beetles etc. It is capable of running on its
hind legs with considerable speed with its tail raised. Sand Lizard active
mainly during early hours of the day and again in the evening. During heated
hours of noon it is less
active and stay in shady areas or in natural burrows.
Note: Sitana species inhabiting dry coastal areas of the southeastern Sri Lanka is now considered as a separate endemic species identified as Sitana bahiri while its northern congener Sitana devakai confine to the drier coastal areas of north and northwestern parts of the island.Therefor this individual lizard photographed at Bundala Nationa Park can be considered as a Sitana bahiri.
බහිර්ගේ තැලි කටුස්සා/Bahir's Fan-Throated Lizard (Sitana bahiri)
Bahir's Fan-Throated Lizard is highly territorial lizard and before combat and prior to mating, male extend and stretch it's throat-fans very quickly. Also swivel its head and open its dark blue color mouth in a threat pose to its male opponents. It feeds on insects such as dragonflies, caterpillars and butterflies as well as tiny crabs.
References:
Amarasinghe, A.A.T., Ineich I., Karunarathna D.M.S.S., Madhava W., Botejue S. & Campbell P.D., 2015 Two new species of the genus Sitana Cuvier, 1829 (Reptilia: Agamidae) from Sri Lanka, including a taxonomic revision of the Indian Sitana species, Zootaxa 3915(1): 67-98
Note: Sitana species inhabiting dry coastal areas of the southeastern Sri Lanka is now considered as a separate endemic species identified as Sitana bahiri while its northern congener Sitana devakai confine to the drier coastal areas of north and northwestern parts of the island.Therefor this individual lizard photographed at Bundala Nationa Park can be considered as a Sitana bahiri.
බහිර්ගේ තැලි කටුස්සා/Bahir's Fan-Throated Lizard (Sitana bahiri)
Bahir's Fan-Throated Lizard is highly territorial lizard and before combat and prior to mating, male extend and stretch it's throat-fans very quickly. Also swivel its head and open its dark blue color mouth in a threat pose to its male opponents. It feeds on insects such as dragonflies, caterpillars and butterflies as well as tiny crabs.
References:
Amarasinghe, A.A.T., Ineich I., Karunarathna D.M.S.S., Madhava W., Botejue S. & Campbell P.D., 2015 Two new species of the genus Sitana Cuvier, 1829 (Reptilia: Agamidae) from Sri Lanka, including a taxonomic revision of the Indian Sitana species, Zootaxa 3915(1): 67-98
Wednesday, October 2, 2013
Whistling Lizard/Forest Lizard(Calotes liolepis)
An endemic lizard distributed in South-Western wet lowlands, sub-montane areas and few isolated places of dry lowlands (Such as Nilgala,Ritigala, Monaragala, Yala etc.). It is highly arboreal species and inhabits shaded areas of forests, well wooded home gardens and plantations. Whistling lizard has an unusual habit of uttering a high pitched whistling sound when alarmed. Hence its vernacular name. It feeds mainly on insects.
Thursday, September 12, 2013
ගැරඩියා/කහ ගැරඩියා/Garadiya/Rat Snake (Ptyas mucosa)
Rat snake is the second largest snake in the country with some specimens observed with 3000mm long while many exceed 2400mm in length (de Silva, Anslem & Jinasena Jayantha 2009). It is a widely distributed snake from sea level to higher hills including some off-shore islands in Jaffna peninsula (Somaweera R., 2006) while common in the low country and foot hills. It is mostly living in anthropogenic habitats like home gardens, plantations and paddy fields since its main food frogs, toads and rats are abundant in such places. Other than that it feeds on lizards, birds, snakes, palm squirrels, bats etc. Rat snake is active during the day time and it is mainly a terrestrial snake though usually climbs trees and roofs in search of its prey. It is a non-venomous snake though may bite savagely when cornered. Its usual defense habit is raise its fore body and hissing like a cobra while sometime also produces a deep long groaning sound. Rat snake ‘dances’ with two snakes raise their heads from the ground and bodies coiled around each other are often observed as shown in above picture too. It was earlier believed that it is a courtship dance of a male and a female but it is a combat dance by the males (de Silva, P.H.D.H, 1980) . Female rat snake lays 5-10 eggs in a termite mound and stays with the eggs coil herself around them.
Friday, September 6, 2013
Merrem’s Hump-nosed Pit Viper/පොලොන්තෙලිස්සා/කුණකටුව/ගැට පොලගා[Polon Thelissa/Kunakatuwa/Gata Polaga] (Hypnale hypnale)
Common
venomous terrestrial snake found in anthropological habitats and plantations
(Especially tea, coconut and rubber plantations) from coastal areas up to about
600m of the central hills. More abundant in the south-western wet zone than in
the northern and eastern dry lands. However it appears to be absent in undisturbed
forests in Sri Lanka . It is a nocturnal snake and during the day
time rest under stones, logs and among leaf litter sometime with its head keep
at an angle of 45 degrees to its body resembling a dry leaf. When disturbed it flattened its body, forms it
into ‘S’ shaped loops, often vibrates the tail and lashed out. Rapid tongue protrusion has been observed too. It preys
on skinks, shrews, geckos, frogs and rodents. Instances of feeding on reptile
eggs and snakes are also observed. Merrem’s Hump-nosed Viper is responsible for
the highest incidents of snake bites in Sri Lanka (~27%) with occasional fatalities though its venom is considered as moderate.
Saturday, August 10, 2013
කබර රදනකයා(Kabara Radanakaya)/ඉරි කරවලා(Iri karawala)/Shaw’s Wolf Snake/ (Lycodon striatus)
Shaw’s Wolf
Snake is a small (100-400mm) terrestrial and nocturnal snake distributed mostly
in wet zone though occurs rarely also in intermediate and dry zone areas. It is
a non venomous and inoffensive snake, which balls itself and hides its head
underneath these coils (See right bottom picture) when disturbed. It preys mainly on geckos and skinks during
the night and stay under decaying logs, loose soil, earth cracks and leaf
litter during the day time. Parental care of eggs is observed among these
snakes and it lays 2-3 eggs.
Monday, May 27, 2013
Common Lanka Skink (Lankascincus fallax)
Rather
common skink widely distributed throughout the country from sea level to about
1050 m altitude in all climatic zones. It can be found among leaf litters or under logs and
stones during the night and become active in the morning and evening. It is
said that Common Lanka Skink forages in morning around 7.30 and in the evening
around 5- 6 Pm on insects (Das, I. & De Silva, A., 2005).
Throat color of male varies from blackish to reddish during the breeding season
and always has some white spots on the throat. This skink can be easily distinguished
from other member of the genus Lankascincus by having fused frontoparietals instead of distinct divided frontoparietals of others.
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
පිඹුරා[Pimbura]/Indian Rock Python (Python molurus molurus)
Indian Rock Python is the largest snake in Sri Lanka (with average length of an adult about 3 meters while 4.6m being the longest record (de Silva Anslem, 2009)) inhabiting varies ecosystems from tropical rain forests to coastal scrub lands throughout the country. It has been also recorded from an off-shore island near Trincomalee and from the Horton plains (Somaweera R., 2006). It is mostly active during the night though diurnal activities are also recorded especially during rainy season. Even though it is terrestrial snake arboreal and aquatic habits have been also observed. Indian Rock Python feeds on warm-blooded animals from rodents to adult deer and also monitor lizards and even frogs. There are records of Rock Python preying on leopards and occasional human too. The female python deposit 10-50 eggs inside a rock cave or large tree hole and incubates by coiling around them. It is threatened by skin-trade and also consuming of flesh for medicinal purposes. Rock Python is a non-venomous snake though its bite can cause severe wounds.
Sunday, September 23, 2012
Common hourglass tree frog (Polypedates cruciger)
An arboreal frog of about 60mm snout to vent length of male and 90 of
female. Endemic to Sri Lanka and distributed in both wet and dry zone up to
about 1525m a.s.l though not much common in dry zone. It is much common around
anthropogenic habitats and usually it is encountered inside bathrooms, overhead
water tanks, banana groves and other such vegetation.
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
නයා/නාගයා[Naya/Nagaya]/Spectacled Cobra/Indian Cobra(Naja naja)
Cobra is a highly venomous snake that is
accountable for large number of human mortalities annually. It is diurnal and
terrestrial in habits though some nocturnal activities are also known. However it may climb trees in search of prey and also can swim well. It
inhabits forests, plantations, paddy fields etc. most of the time close to
human habitations. It feeds basically on rodents and varies other small animals
(Rats, lizards, other snakes, frogs, birds and their eggs, etc). It is also cannibalistic. In Sri Lanka Cobra is common in all over the island except
in higher hills. It has neurotoxic venom.
Monday, July 9, 2012
Common Skink (Eutropis carinata lankae)
Common Skink is a common lizard found in home gardens,
plantations and open areas from lowlands to about 1000m a.s.l. It is the largest
Eutropis species of the Sri Lanka . It is diurnal and terrestrial in
habits and feeds on grasshoppers, beetles, earth worms and sometime even on small
frogs and reptiles. It can be usually seen basking on rocks and walls
sometime as pairs.
Monday, May 14, 2012
හැළ කිඹුලා[Hala Kimbula]/Mugger crocodile (Crocodylus palustris)
Mugger crocodile is a freshwater crocodile
inhabiting tanks, rivers, villus, reservoirs and also sometime in saltpans of
dry lowlands. Mugger Juveniles feeds on
insects and small vertebrates such as fish and frogs while adults hunt mammals
as large as deer as well as small mammals, water birds, fish, turtles, snakes
etc. It is said that when capturing fishes it remains with its jaws open until
one swims by and then seize with a snap (Deraniyagala P.E.P. 1939). Occasionally
it attacks humans. It aestivate in the jungle during the drought until rainy
season comes. It is estimated that total population of Mugger in Sri Lanka is perhaps around 1200 individuals (Das
Indraneil and de Silva Anslem 2005)
සිංහලෙන් කියවන්න >>
Monday, May 7, 2012
කිරි ඉබ්බා/අළු ඉබ්බා/දිය කුකුලා[Kiri Ibba/Alu Ibba/Diya kukula]/Flapshell Turtle (Lissemys punctata)
Kiri Ibba is a common turtle from lowlands to
mid hills up to about 1200m. It inhabits paddy fields, rivers, salt marshes,
tanks, ponds and even canals in some urban areas. It feeds on frogs, fish, crabs,
snails, worms, insects and water plants. Flapshell turtle also scavenges on
dead animals. One of the major threats to it in Sri Lanka is killing large numbers for food.
Monday, October 31, 2011
තලගොයා[Thalagoya]/Land Monitor(Varanus bengalensis)
Land monitor is widely distributed throughout
the country from sea level to mid hills up to about 500m a.s.l. It is diurnal and
usually active after having got it body temperature up by basking in the
morning. It spends the night in tree holes, crevices and even in the ceilings
of the houses. Juveniles mainly feed on insects while adults prey on frogs,
small mammals (rats, squirrels), snails, insects, grubs, crabs, eggs, etc. Its
flesh is a delicacy among indigenous Vedda people. Also other jungle
villagers hunt these lizards for its flesh which is believed to be easy to digest
and hence good for pregnant women and invalids. Fighting among males during
breeding season take place in ‘bipedal fashion’ can be occurred and it is believed
that they probably breed all the year round and lays 10-30 eggs in a burrow in
the ground, in termite mounds or inside decaying logs.
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Common paddy field frog/Vel madiya (Minervarya agricola [Fejervarya limnocharis])
Common paddy field frog can be distinguished
from similar two other Fejervarya species by the absence of the
longitudinal ridges on the dorsal area of the body and having more or less
round tubercles instead. It is one of the commonest frog of the island found in paddy fields, streams, ponds and such other water bodies. However sometimes
it encounters even far away from the water. It is distributed in both wet and
dry zones of the country below about 1400m a.s.l
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