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.

             

Pioneer (Belenois aurota taprobana)

Pioneer is a common butterfly found in the dry zone of low lands and sometime in wet zone, though not common in all year rounds. Its best months appear to be between September and February (The Butterflies of Ceylon - D'abrera 1998).  It joins with migrating flights during North-East monsoons and mud-pudding with other species can be observed too. Its larva feeds on plants of Capparaceae family such as Capparis brevispina, Cadaba trifoliata, Capparis grandis, Capparis sepiaria, Capparis zeylanica (සුදු වෙළන්ගිරිය) and Maerua arenaria. Egg laying only was observed on Salvadora persica (මලිත්තන් /Mustard Tree) too.

Skipper Frog/Utpatana Madiya (Euphlyctis cyanophlyctis)

Widely distributed frog, inhabiting all types of water bodies (prefer still water) from Sea level (Ex: Bundala) to higher elevations (Ex: Nuwaraeliaya).  It can be distinguished from its close relative Euphlyctis hexadactylus by its smaller size (50-60 mm from snout to vent) and smooth throat (hexadactylus has warts on its throat).  It is well adapted to aquatic life and frequently can be seen floating in water while keeping its bulging eyes and the nostril above the water surface. It can skip over the water surface when alarmed and hence its Vernacular names(Skipper/Utpatana).  

පැණි කුරුල්ලා[Pani kurulla]/Long-Billed Sunbird/Loten’s Sunbird (Nectarinia lotenia lotenia)

Long-Billed Sunbird is a very common bird of all climatic zones of the island while getting less common in higher hills.  Often found close to human settlements probably due to abundant of flowering plants, nectar of them it feeds on. Beside that it also feeds on several small insects, spiders and caterpillars. Breeding season is from February to May and the nest a hanging pear shaped structure with an entrance in the side in wet zone. And in dry zone it utilizes a larger communal nest of a certain spider by pressing a cavity into the side of it. 

Baobab (Adansonia digitata)

         

Genus Adansonia to which this tree belong has 6 species in Madagaskar, 2 in Australia and one species in tropical Africa. African species was introduced to Sri Lanka and naturalized in arid zone of the country. It is believed that it was introduced to Sri Lanka by Arab traders in several centuries ago. Here it grows in Mannar peninsula and opposite mainland, Delft island, Wilpaththu and Puththam. Trunk of it is hollowed out by African natives and made into houses, Fibers of the bark use to manufacture of ropes and young leaves as a vegetable. Pulp of the capsule contain tartaric acid and make a drink mix with water. Baobab has Tamil vernacular names – Perukku-Maran and Papparappuli. English Name  ‘Monkey bread tree’ since monkeys are fond of capsules. Aliyagaha – Sinhala name (Sri lanka wild life interlude vol l ) It is said that the tree in Pallimunai of Mannar island is the oldest and largest one of 800 years old. Local tradition is that this tree brought to SL by Arabs to feed their camels by its leaves. 

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.

Merremia emarginata

Rather rare prostrate vine found in sandy places of dry zone. Indigenous. Also found in tropical Africa, tropical Asia and Malaysia.  Specimens were collected from Mannar, Kekirawa, Trincomalee, Batticola, Yala national park (Flora of Ceylon Vol 1 – Dassanayaka & Fosberg, 1980). Above picture was taken at Manthei of Mannar district

Northern Pintail (Anas acuta)

Very common migrant to lagoons and coastal marshes and tanks of dry zone especially in Northern and South-eastern part of the country. Sometimes it occurs in flocks of many hundreds. It feeds by up-ending in shallow waters of lagoons. And during night it flies to the paddy fields to feed on grains and aquatic animals.  Eventhough it is said that it feeds during night and roost on sandbanks or on the water of lagoons well out in the middle during day time (Henry 1998 3^rd Edition & Kotagama & Rathnaveera 2010) I have observed in Vankalai sanctuary of Mannar that it is feeding even during dawn till 8-9 am and again in dusk.  Probably due to the prevailing safe situation there around army camp where hunting of them is impossible.

Common Bluetail (Ischnura senegalensis)

Common small damselfly with  about 20-24 abdomen and 13-16mm hind wing. It inhabits from sea level to 7000ft both in dry and wet zones

Golden Angle (Caprona ransonnettii)

A rare butterfly of low country dry zone found from sea level to about 1000m altitude. Its larva feeds on Lihiniya plant (Helicteres isora), Grewia hirsuta, Grewia damine, Urena lobata, and Microcos paniculata

ඇත්-නෙරෙන්චි[Et-Nerenchi]/Common pedalium (Pedalium murex)

A very common herb along sandy beaches of the dry zone. Flowering from February to September and perhaps in other months.  Flowers open in the morning and close late in the afternoon.

Caspian Tern/කැස්පියා සාගරළිහිණියා/රත්තුඩු මුහුදුළිහිණියා[Kaspiya Sagaralihiniya/Rattudu Mudhudulihiniya] (Sterna caspia)

Caspian tern is the largest of all terns. It is unmistakable with its characteristic large red bill with dark tip. It is a common migrant to dry zone coastal areas of Northern half of the island and coastal wetlands and tanks of Hambantota district. It is less common in wet zone. Breeding birds were observed also from sand banks of Adam’s bridge and resident population present in Negombo lagoon (Kotagama & Ratnavira 2010).  Caspian tern is usually seen flying solitarily or in pairs and resting on sand banks often companies with other terns. 

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Dawn Bluetail (Ischnura aurora aurora )

Small damselfly of about 16-20mm of abdomen and 10-12mm of hind wing, distributed locally throughout the country from the coast to the higher hills. 

විස්සනි/මහමැදහන්ගු[Wissani/Maha-Medahangu]/Langali (Pergularia daemia)

A twining indigenous herb common in dry and arid zones of sri lanka, often in disturbed vegetations.  It has greenish white flower with five petals flowering from February to September.

Spot-Billed Duck (Anas poecilorhynacha)

Spot-billed duck has been considered as a rare migrant till recent time.  But Ceylon Bird Club members were able to observe some breeding birds of this duck in Vankalai Ramsar wetland site recently and so it is now considered as a Breeding resident of Sri Lanka supplemented by migrant birds from India during the North-East monsoons .Migrant birds are earlier reported from tanks, paddy fields and marshes of Jaffna peninsula, Mahawelli flood plain national park and eastern sea belt. This duck can be distinguished from all other ducks by its colorful bill. Vankalei is a good site for observing this duck and above picture was taken while it was flying over the Mannar causeway. 

Indian Duskhawker (Gynacantha dravida)

This rather uncommon dragonfly can be easily identified by a distinct constriction in its abdomen. It appears at dusk and come frequently to lights in houses though its usual habitats are tanks edges and marshlands where it flies rapidly during dusk and probably dawn as well. During day time they rest in shrubs overhanging the water surface. 

Forest Daygecko (Cnemaspis silvula)

Forest daygecko is a recently described (Manamendra-arachchi, Batuwita & Pethiyagoda – Zeylanica - 2007) endemic gecko species of lowland wet zone forests. So far it is recorded from Kanneliya, Sinharaja, Beraliya, Kaluthara, Mathara, Galle, Kottawa etc. It is diurnal in habit and usually found in large tree trunks.  It can be distinguished from other Cnemaspis species by having about 7 indistinct V-shaped markings on the dorsum and light yellow spot between two chevrons on the occipital region. 

කොළඹ කපුටා[Kolamba Kaputa ] House Crow (Corvus splendens)

Very common breeding resident of all zones. Abundant in coastal and urban areas but never in thick forests.  It is omnivorous and scavenges on anything edible. In recent history uncontrolled garbage disposal has created an ideal condition for House crow to extend its habitats while threatening to survival of most other animals especially avifauna in most urban areas.  House crow roosts in large flocks in tall trees still remains in towns and it is a common sight of arriving crows from every direction at the dusk to such roosting places, sometime from very long distance of their day time feeding grounds.  The breeding season is from May to September and it builds a nest which is just a mass of twigs with the hollow lined with fibres.  

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වනරාජ [Wanaraja] (Anoectochilus regalis[Anoectochilus setaceus])

An endemic terrestrial orchid species grows in shade of trees among leaf litter in the tropical wet evergreen forests and subtropical montane forests (From 305m to1829m altitude). Flowering in January, May to September and December. Wanaraja is used for treating snake-bite poisoning in traditional Sinhalese medicine. It has been collecting extensively and illegally for medicinal as well as ornamental purposes. Therefore this orchid species has become rare in most places where it was abundantly occurred previously.    

Kandian Gecko (Hemidactylus Depressus)

An endemic gecko with wide distribution in the island excluding higher altitudes and perhalf far north of the country.  Nocturnal and feed on insects. It inhabits on trees, rock crevices and sometime even in houses.  Lay two eggs in a  rock crevice or a tree hole.