Shining Gossamerwing(Euphaea splendens)

This beautiful endemic damselfly with brilliant metallic blue or green hindwings of males (visible only when it flies )  is a common insect of montane and sub-montane streams surrounded by some vegetation. Rarely seen females can be found in near by jungle. Male has a habit of using its forewings as propellers while keeping the hindwinds fully spread out as wings of a plane. 

ගඳපාන/රටහිඟුරු[Ganda-Pana/Rata Hinguru]/Common Lantana/Wild Sage (Lantana camara)

A native shrub of South America (probably West Indies) and now widely distributed throughout the tropic. It was introduced to Sri Lanka in 1926 through the Royal botanical garden as an gardening plant and later on escaped and naturalized at all elevations of the country.  It is very common in wastelands, open areas in jungles, abandoned chena cultivations etc….Now it is considered as an invasive plant and measures are being taken to eradicate or control spreading of this plant specially in national parks such as Udawalawe, Bundala..etc where invading Lantana shrubs greatly reduced grazing lands available for Elephants and other wildlife. However ripe berries of this plant are widely eaten by birds and they act as dispersers of seeds. Also it provides nectar for butterflies.

Oriental Green-Wing (Neurobasis chinensis chinensis)

Oriental Green-Wing is a comparatively large damselfly with very long slender legs. Male insect - shown in picture - can be easily identified by having beautiful metallic green body, shining metallic green hind wings and hyaline forewings while female has brown tinted wings. It is a common damselfly of montane and submontane streams usually with surrounding forests. It is observed that this species is frequently found together with Black-tipped Flashwing (Vestalis apicalis ) and Shining Gossamerwing(Euphaea splendens)

Club Beak (Libythea myrrha rama)

Club Beak is a locally common butterfly distributed in wet forested areas of hills from 600-1200 m a.s.l. It usually found near streams and wet roads. If disturbed, it only flies few meters and probably return back to the same location in a few seconds. It flies very fast but once settles on a flower or wet road or on a boulder in a stream, sits absolutely still few minutes. The larva feeds on celtis species of the family Ulmaceae (Celtis.philippensis [මැදිතැල්ල] and Celtis timorensis [ගූරැන්ද/බූරැන්ද]).

Malabar Sprite (Pseudagrion malabaricum)

Locally common damselfly from lowlands up to mid hills. Much common in the wet zone sea level. It can be distinguished from similar other species (P. microcephalum) by larger size (Abdomen about 32-33 mm and hind wing 20 - 22mm While it is 27-29 mm and 17-20mm respectively of P. microcephalum) and this one having goblet shaped mark on second segment with only a stem while other species has line running into the goblet shaped cup.

කලපු කිරලා[Kalapu Kirala]/Black-winged Stilt(Himantopus Himantopus)

A resident bird of dry zone lowlands. It inhabits coastal mudflats, lagoons, marshes and inland tanks and also possible winter visitors to both wet and dry lowland water bodies. They breed from June to July usually as small colonies. Nesting is on the edge of a lagoon or tank or on a small islet. Nest is an usual depression in the ground sometimes lined with few rushes, water weeds or desiccated cow-pats. Food consists of mollusks, worms, aquatic insects and marsh plants. Usually feed as small scattered flocks and unite into a compact flock if disturbed. The long stilt-like legs enable it to reach food supplies normally out of reach for most other waders.

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Spine – Legged Redbolt (Rhodothemis rufa)

Brilliant scarlet red abdomen and thorax with no black markings of the male is the key to identify this insect from similar other dragonflies (Such as Scarlet basker). Sub adult males and females have a light yellowish mid dorsal stripe on segment 1 to 4. It is an uncommon dragonfly of lowland plains and breeds in weedy tanks, ponds, streams and channels while females hiding in surrounding jungle.

බිනර/ගිණිහිරිය[Binara/Ginihiriya] (Exacum macranthum [Syn: Exacum trinervium subsp. macranthum)

An endemic herb grows in moist places of the highlands mainly in southeastern part of the Central province. Common in Horton plains, Pattipola, Ambewela, Ohiya, Hakgala and Corbet’s gaps of knuckles range. Flowering from January to June and again in September to December.

Cruiser (Vindula Erota)

Cruiser can be found in forest areas of all over the island though can’t be considered as a common butterfly. It is much common from May to September months of the year. It is frequently found mud puddling on wet patches on gravel roads and usually bask high up on trees, time to time taking short flights and returning to the same spot. Sexes are dissimilar and great variation can be seen of dry and wet zone forms. Males of dry zone form are much smaller than wet zone form and not bright orange as of wet season form. Its only confirmed food plant in Sri Lanka is Passiflora subpeltata an introduced and naturalized vine in the sub montane region.

Yellow Waxtail (Ceriagrion coromandelianum)

Very common damselfly recorded from all areas of the country. It is easily distinguished from other damselflies by having bright yellow abdomen of males. It breeds in weedy water and males can be seen in such habitats such as weedy tanks, ponds, canals, paddy fields…etc. Females live in shrub jungles some distance away from water bodies.

පිනුම් කටුස්සා[Pinum Katussa]/Sri Lankan Kangaroo Lizard(Otocryptis weigmanni)

An endemic ground dwelling lizard confined to wet zone of the country (In forest areas from sea level up to 1300m). It inhabits on the leaf litter near forest streams. This lizard when disturbed may run bipedally (Rises on to its hind legs when running). That is the base for unusual name ‘kangaroo lizard’ for it. P.E.P. Deraniyagala mentions several Sinhalese names for this lizard – (Kala Katussa, Yak Katussa, Pinum Katussa, Thalli Katussa). Its diet consists of insects (Ants, Moths, Grasshoppers and Beetles), Spiders and occasionally plant materials such as tender shoots.

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Blue Stars (Aristea ecklonii)

 Native plant of southeastern Africa, South Africa, Uganda and Madagascar. Introduced to Sri Lanka and escaped from the Hakgala botanical garden and naturalized in patana lands and roadsides in only higher altitudes of Nuweraeliya district. Common around Hakgala and in patana lands of Horton plains. Flowers open early morning and close before noon.

Asian Openbill/විවරතුඩුවා/බෙල්ලන් කොකා [Vivaratuduwa/Bellan koka] (Anastomus oscitans)

Smallest stork of Sri Lanka with a    characteristic bill which has a gap between mandibles when it is closed. Common breeding resident of marshes, tanks, paddy fields and lagoons. Much common in dry zone low lands where it met with singly or in small parties and flocks. However it has been observed that recently open bill had expanded its distribution range to the wet zone specially wetlands around Colombo such as Muthurajawela, Bellanwila and paddy fields of Western province. Its food  consists mainly of mollusks. Also eat crabs, frogs, fish and other small animals found in its swampy habitats
Its peculiar bill is obviously an adaptation to facilitate extraction of soft body of mollusks from the hard shell. Regularly soar on thermal currents on sunny days and can be seen flocks circling up to great height in sky. It is recorded that this stork brings bivalve mollusks to ashore and eat soft parts when valves open due to hot sun. Breeding season is from December to March and nest in colonies sometime up to hundreds or more in top of low trees by water.

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Crimson Dropwing (Trithemis aurora)

                  A common dragonfly of lowlands to submontane mid-hills. Prefer slow moving streams and channels to breeding rather than tanks and ponds. But adult males are not uncommon in weedy tank edges and river banks. Females and juvenile males resort to the surrounding jungles away from water bodies.

Chestnut-streaked Sailor (Neptis jumbah)

Common butterfly flies from sea level to mid hills of about 500ft. Usually it rest with open wings unlike most other butterflies. It joins in the migratory flights in large numbers. Larva feeds on Bhesa nitidissima, Pterospermum suberifolium (වෙළන් /Fishing rod tree ), .Campylospermum serratum (බෝ-කෑර/ගෝ-කෑර), Prunus walkeri, Celtis philippensis, Bhesa ceylanica, Dalbergia pseudo-sissoo, Nothapodytes nimmoniana, Erythrina fusca, Berrya cordifolia, Psophocarpus tetragonolobus and Grewia carpinifolia

Six-toe green frog (Euphlyctis hexadactylus)

Purely aquatic frog widely distributed in lowlands water bodies such as ponds, marshes,rivers and tanks with aquatic vegetations. Highest attitude where this frog is recorded is Warnagala area near Kuruwita of peak wilderness sanctuary (760m). Sometime it can be seen inside domestic wells too. Dorsal surface bright green or mud brown often with pale yellow or creamy white lateral line. Female is large and grows up to 120mm in length while small males grow only about 58-87mm.

සුදු නෙලුම්[Sudu Nelum](Nelumbo nucifera)

Aquatic indigenous herb of ponds and tanks of dry zone. Often cultivated in other areas. Flowering throughout the year but mainly during February to August. Flowers use as temple offering and rhizomes are edible and use also in medicine. Color of the flower varies from white to purplish pink.

Asian Groundling (Brachythemis contaminate)

Very common dragonfly of slow flowing streams, weedy tank edges and marshes from the sea level to mid-hills. Abdomen – 19-20mm and Wings – 22-23mm. Female is lighter in color and much yellowish with clear wings contrary to male figured above.

Lime Butterfly( Papilio demoleus)

Common butterfly of all over the island below 1500ft throughout the year. It occasionally joins with migratory flight in great numbers and may then be seen at higher elevations. Larva feed on various plants of Rutaceae family (Limonia acidissima(දිවුල්/Woodapple), Citrus auruntifolia (දෙහි/Lime), Citrus limon, Citrus sinensis, Chloroxylon swietenia, Atalantia ceylanica [වල් දෙහි/යකිනාරන්/‍යක් දෙහි], Aegle marmelos [බෙලි], Ruta chalepensis, Glycosmis pentaphylla [දොඩම් පනා], Euodia suaveolens and Pamburus missionis [පඹුරු] ) and Cullen corylifolium of Fabaceae family.

Black-tipped Mongoose /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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