Schneider’s leaf-nosed bat (Hipposideros speoris)

Schneider’s leaf-nosed bat is a common insectivorous bat in lowlands and lower hills of the island. It roosts in large colonies in caves and abandoned buildings during the day time and leaves early in the evening to feed on flying beetles, mosquitoes, flies, termites and such other low flying insects. It flies close to the ground among bushes and trees and human dwellings (sometime entering verandas and even rooms to catch small flying insects).  

කොටිකන් වවුලා[Kotikan Waula]/Great horse-shoe Bat/Lesser Woolly Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus beddomei sobrinus)

Great horse-shoe bat is restricted to forested areas of both wet and dry zone lowlands. However a specimen from Madamahanwara (1077m a.s.l ) was also collected ( Bats of  the Indian Subcontinent – P.j.j. Bates and D.L. Harrison, 1997). It spends the day time hanging by one foot, with their wings wrapped around them in a hollow tree or a small cave. Great horse-shoe Bat lives solitary, in pairs or as small parties of up to three individuals. It emerges in the late evening from its diurnal roost and flies low over the ground among low bushes and along jungle paths in seeking of its prey which consists of beetles, termites and other flying insects. Race sobrinus is endemic to Sri Lanka.

කලු වඳුරා/කොළ වඳුරා[Kalu Wandura/Kola Wandura]/Purple-faced Leaf Monkey (Trachypithecus vetulus)

Purple-faced Leaf Monkey is widely distributed in forests, villages and sometime even in urban areas where there are tall trees with abundant food sources (Such as jak fruit,Mango, etc.) throughout the island excluding northern peninsula. Four different subspecies have been identified and Walas wadura or Bear Monkey (T.v. monticola) inhabiting central mountain region of the country is larger than two of other lowland supspecies (Southern Purple-faced Leaf Monkey [T.v.vetulus] found south of the Kalu river to about Ranna of Hambanthota district  while Balangoda being the north-eastern limits and Western Purple-faced Leaf Monkey [T.v. nestor] of the south western wet zone, Kalu ganga being the southern boundary and inland lower hills towards the Kandyan hills). Northern purple-faced Leaf Monkey (T.v.philbricki) inhabiting in northern areas of the island while Mahaweli valley being its southern and eastern boundary is the largest of the four subspecies . It generally found in small groups under dominant alpha male with several females and young, sometime up to about 30-40 individuals. In most areas it is very shy and never approach people and disappears to the jungles once the presence of man is detected. It feeds mainly upon the leaves, flowers and fruits and seeds of the trees. Possibly they may eat insects and tree frogs (Phillips W.W.A., 1980). Other than man who hunts it for flesh and skins, its only enemy is the leopard. The albino or semi-albino individuals are(were) not uncommon among all subspecies.

තිත් මුවා[Thith Muwa]/Spotted deer(Axis axis)

Due to the lose of habitats and of extensive poaching, nowadays Spotted deer is confined to the protected national parks and forest reserves of the dry lowlands.  It lives as herds of few individuals to a hundred or more.  These herds mostly have single dominant male while some large herds may have several sexually matured stags. Only the males of spotted deer develop antlers and young stags shed antlers annually but later in life the shedding occurs irregularly.  They feed in grasslands in the morning and evening, resting during the heat of the day in the shade of trees.  Man, leopards and occasionally crocodiles and pythons are the enemies of the Spotted deer while jackal also kill fawns and injured animals. It feeds mainly by grazing on grasses though occasionally browse on low hanging branches and also very fond of the fruits and flowers  that falls from the trees.

කුළු හරකා/වල් මීමා[Kulu Haraka/ Wal meema]/Wild buffalo(Bubalus arnee)

It is believed that wild buffalos now inhabiting in the dry zone forests and grasslands are decedents of feral domestic stock that have gone wild with the abandonment of Anuradhapura and Polonnaru kingdoms, since no wild buffaloes are to be found in the south of central provinces of Indian mainland. Above theory further says that it was originally imported from plains of Ganges by ancient Sinhalese for the agricultural purposes. Buffalo of true wild state nowadays found only in remote dry zone areas such as Yala and Wilpattu national parks, while in other areas it easily mix and mate with feral populations. Herds seen in grasslands are compose entirely of cows, their carves and young bulls while old and sexually matured bulls lives solitarily in its own demarcated territory defending it from other intruder bulls.

ලේනා[Lena]/Palm Squirrel (Funambulus palmarum)

Most common squirrel of the country distributed throughout the island as four sub species. It is found in almost everywhere except in heavy jungles. Palm squirrel feeds on nuts, seeds, fruits, flowers, barks of the trees and when lives around houses rice, bread and such other scraps of humans. Usually it can be seen associated with yellow billed babblers.

ගෝනා[Goana]/Sambar (Cervus unicolor)

Sambar is the largest member of the deer family lives in the country. It is distributed throughout the island where sizable forest lands or grasslands still remains. However due to illegal poaching in other areas Sambar is today almost restricted to the protected national parks. Horton plains are the only place where Sambar is seen in herds of considerable size. Except man the main predator of Sambar is the leopard while Crocodiles, Pythons and Jackals sometime take fawns. They are mostly active during night and grazing on grasses and take leaves and shoots of plants. Again exception can be seen in Horton plains where they may feed in the evening and early morning. 

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Long-eared false vampire bat/ කොටිකන් වවුලා[Kotikan wawula] (Megaderma spasma)

Even though true vampire bats have not been found in Sri Lanka, it is home to two species of false vampire bats. Long-eared false vampire bat can be found from lowlands to lower hills of the island. During day time these bats roost as small colonies usually consist of 2-12 individuals in abandoned houses, caves or in a hollow of a tree. It is much fond of tilled roofed houses. Late evening it emerges from its day time retreats and flies low among bushes in search of insects like beetles, grasshoppers, moths etc. 

පුත්තලම් බූරුවා[Puttalam Booruwa]/Puttalam ass (Equus asinus)

Feral donkeys found in both Mannar Island and Kalpitiya peninsula of Sri Lanka are believed to be decedents of domestic breeds imported during either colonial time or even earlier by Arab traders. (Manual of the Mammals of Sri Lanka - Phillips 1984) They are usually light grey color animals though  blacks and browns are also known.  According to the Santiapillai (Sri Lanka Nature 2000) species in Sri Lanka is Equus afcricanus with close affinities with the wild Nubian sub species.

             

ඕලු මුවා/වැලි මුවා[Olu muwa/ Welli Muwa]/Barking Deer/Muntjack (Muntiacus muntjak malabaricus)

Found in forest areas throughout the Island though much common in lower hills.  Usually met alone or as pairs in forest edges always not much away from a dense cover to which it can retreat when a threat occurred. It feeds during night but can be also seen during early morning or late evening hours. It has a very peculiar cry which resembles to the barking of a dog. Hence its English name. Sometime it keep on barking intermittently for long period when alarmed by a leopard or such a intruder. Its food consist of grasses and leaves.

ඇලි වඳුරා [Elli wadura]/Grey langur (semnopithecus priam)

A common monkey found throughout the wooded areas of the low country dry zone of the island.  Lives as family parties of both sexes of around 5 to 20 or 30 individuals lead by a dominant male. Each troop has its own domain and they spend day time on the ground or in trees in seeking foods which consist mainly of vegetable stuffs like fruits, flowers, leaves and seeds.  It keep its tail held up when walk on the ground. Other than man who hunt them for meat specially Veddas, only leopard (Panthera pardus) and perhalf Python (Python molurus) can be considered as it enemies. 

රිලවා[Rilawa]/Toque Monkey (Macaca sinica)

This common endemic monkey found in jungles of all over the island. It is represented by three sub species in three major climatic zones.

Dry zone - Macaca sinica sinica

Wet zone - Macaca sinica aurifrons

Highland- Macaca sinica opisthomelas

It lives as family groups of about 20 or more. Each family group has its own territory and much of their time spend on ground or on tree tops of that demarcated area, in searching of food which consists of fruits, berries, insects, flowers, nestlings and eggs of birds, lizards, geckos, young rats and squirrels, etc. Highland sub species is much arboreal than two low land races.  Toque monkey can store amazing amount of foods in their cheek-pouches and masticate them at leisure.  It doesn’t have any particular breeding period and breeds throughout the year.  Normally single young is born and twins can be born occasionally.  Young can cling to its mothers breast fur and easily travels with her wherever she goes. 

දඬු ලේනා[Dandu Lena]/Giant squirrel (Ratufa macroura)

Giant squirrel is distributed throughout the island in suitable habitats as three different subspecies.  Wet zone and highland subspecies have blackish brown to jet black above with totally black or ‘frosted with white’ tail, while dry zone subspecies has grizzled grey or brown upper parts with heavily frosted tail. They are diurnal and arboreal, always live in forests or near by villages with some trees. Its diet consists of leaves, barks and young twigs and shoots of trees and also wild fruits, berries and nuts in their seasons. It is said that insects, grubs and occasionally bird eggs are also included in its food. They build their nests among branches of tall tree within its territory demarcated by a solitary squirrel or a pair, using small branches and twigs. Usually they build 3-4 nests and use them both for sleeping and bringing forth young.

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Black-tipped or Ruddy Mongoose (Herpestes smithii)

This mongoose can be distinguished from other three of same family inhabiting Sri lanka by having black tip at the tail end and not having of black strip in neck. Common in jungles and vicinity of forested areas in both dry and wet zone lowlands and becoming scarce in hills above 3500-4000ft. It hunts during both day and night though mostly active in early morning and evening hours. It has a habit of carrying its tail curved upward and can be recognized it even at a distance due to this. Its prey consists mainly of birds, small mammals and reptiles and any carrion that it comes across.

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