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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Changeable Hawk-Eagle(Spizaetus cirrhatus)

Changeable hawk-eagle is a rather common breeding resident mainly inhabits low country dry zone(less common in wet zone) and medium elevations of the hills up to 1500m. It keeps its habitats to open forest areas and grasslands with trees such as chena cultivations and tank borders spending much of its time perch on an exposed branch of a tree, looking out of prey which consists mainly of lizards, rodents and birds upon which it pounces with unexpected rush. It breeds during early months of the year and sometimes in June-July. Nest a large platform of sticks and twigs build about 12 – 30m up in a tall tree generally on a hill side or edge of a ravine. Both sexes share in building the nest though only female incubate. Most of the time clutch size is a single egg.

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African tulip tree (Spathodea campanulata)

Introduced from West Africa and now widespread in moist lowlands and sub montane region up to about 1200m elevations of the island. Cultivate as ornamental and shade tree in home gardens and roadsides. A large tree of about 30m height branching widely at top. Bright Orange-Red flowers blooms during June-September months of the year.

Asian Skimmer (Orthetrum glaucum)

Common dragonfly of hill country streams, ponds and marshes, not usually found in the plains. Characteristic dark face help to distinguish this dragonfly from similar other Skimmers. Abdomen about 32mm and hind wing 36mm.

කිතුල්[Kithul] (Caryota urens)

Native tree with 12-18 m high cylindrical stem of wet lowlands of south-west of the island up to 2000m elevation and Kurunagala, Badulla areas of intermediate zone. Also distributed in South India. Found in rain forest sub-canopy and as cultivated trees in home gardens. It has multitude of uses especially jaggery and toddy being produced from the inflorescence sap. Leaves and stems as elephant fodder and pith an edible starch.

Green Skimmer (Orthetrum sabina)

Very common insect of plains and submontane regions of the country. Usually encountered in weedy edges of tanks, irrigation channels, paddy fields and perennial and seasonal ponds where it breeds. Both male and female are similar in shape and color. The extraordinary swollen abdomen of this dragonfly is remarkable and a useful identification feature of it.

Common Jezebel (Delias eucharis)

It is abundant everywhere in island wherever its larval food plant flourishes (i.e. Loranthus species - Common parasitic plants called Pilila in Sinhala) at all elevations and flies all the year round. Flight is weak and fluttering. Although flies rather high, it comes readily to flowers in all weather conditions. It is not frequently mud puddling as the males of its mimic (Painted Saw-tooth) but in very hot weather few settle on damp spots on the river beds. Rather rare wet season form of this butterfly described with white of the upper surface is replaced by yellow, said to be frequent in Ratnapura district. Common jezebel sometimes flies with the company with its mimic of entirely different genus (Prioneris sita/ Painted Saw-tooth) which in normal flight appear very similar to the jezebel with coloration, wing shape and size. But once disturbed Painted Saw-tooth has rapidly ascending flight unlike Common jezebel.

Lava feeds on the leaves of Dendrophthoe falcata, Dendrophthoe ligulatus, Dendrophthoe neelgherrensis, Scurrula cordifolia, Scurrula parasitica, Taxillus tomentosus and Taxillus cuneatus of Loranthaceae family

හම්බූ පන්[Hambu Pan] (Typha angustifolia)

Indigenous reed-like marsh herb with about 150-250cm tall stem grows in low country tanks, ditches and marsh lands. It is most commonly found in the low country dry zone. Leaves use for thatching houses, weaving mats and basket works. Cigars like spikes or inflorescences where very small female flowers in lower part and male flowers in upper, are frequently used for interior decorations.

Asian Pintail(Acisoma panorpoides)

Asian Pintail is a very small dragonfly of lowland plains up to lower hills. It has a very weak and short flight and hence keeps close to vegetation around heavily weeded water bodies such as tanks, marshes etc. and breed on them without moving far away. It is about 15-18mm of body size (Abdomen) and wing span of 16-22mm. Juvenile female is pale ochreous and which is replaced by azure blue of both sexes of adults.

Common Tiger (Danaus genutia)

It is a common butterfly of all over the island all the year round but less common over 4000ft. The sexes are similar but the male has the scent-pouch on the hind wind which is more prominent in the under side as can be seen in the picture. Migratory species and it join on limited extends in the plights. The female of this butterfly is mimicked by the females of Common Palmfly (Elymnias hypermnestra) and Indian Fritillary(Argynnis hyperbius)  Larva feeds on  Cynanchum tunicatum (කන් කුඹල), Cynanchum annularium, Oxystelma esculentum, Pentatropis capensis, Vincetoxicum flexuosum and Ceropegia candelabrum

Common wood Frog/Bronzed frog (Indosylvirana temporalis)

Common wood Frog is a semi-arboreal common frog in shaded rocky streams of wet zone rain forests. It may be also inhabits paddy fields and such anthropogenic habitats. Anslem de Silva recorded it on the road to Horton plains at 1830m above sea level and it is considered as the highest location where this frog is recorded so far. It is endemic to Sri Lanka. It lives mainly on wet rocks in streams rather than in the water itself and diurnal activities also observed in rain forest areas though mostly active during night and hide among rock boulders during day time.

පලා පොළඟා[Palaa Polaga]Green Pit Viper (Trimeresurus trigonocephalus)

Green Pit Viper is a moderately venomous endemic snake to Sri Lanka. It is arboreal and nocturnal, occasionally descending to the ground in search of food comprises of frogs, small mammals and birds. This sluggish pit viper is usually encountered on low shrubs during morning hours. It is widely distributed in all three climatic zones of the island except higher hills and arid zones while relatively much common in wet zone grasslands and rain forest areas and occasionally in plantations. It produces live young most of the time during months of June-July. When threatened vibrate its tail and lashes out to bite seldom with hissing sound.

Ictinogomphus rapax(Rapacius Flangetail)

Rapacius Flangetail is a locally common dragonfly of tanks and paddy fields of low country up to mid hills. It is comparatively large insect of about 52mm of abdomen with appendages and wings with a span of 55-60mm. It breeds on both running and still water while preferring the latter. It is recorded from Kantalai, Wilpattu,Passara, Polonnaruwa,Kandy,Periyakulam, Haldummulla(Fonseka, 2000) and Anawilundawa(Personal observations)

Baron (Euthalia aconthea vasanta)

Baron is a common butterfly found in all over the island up to about 3500ft in all year round. Larva of this butterfly feed on Mangifera psittacus (Mango/අඹ) and Anacardium occidentale (Cashew/කජු) both are extensively cultivated fruit trees (Nothopegia beddomei is also identified as its larval host plant). However both Woodhouse and Ormiston mentioned that it had not been recorded from Jaffna at that time even though mango trees are abundance in peninsula. It has a very strong flight and they are fond of mud puddling at wet road sides or on forest tracks. Frequently it comes to decaying

 fruits.