Ceylon Rose/Sri Lankan Rose (Pachliopta jophon)

Sri Lankan or Ceylon Rose is an uncommon endemic butterfly found in the low country wet zone forest areas. Its larval host plant is Thapasara Bulath[තපසර බුලත්] (Thottea siliquosa).  

කිරි දණ්ඩියා/කුඩමස්සා[Kiri Dandiya/Kudamassa]/Narrow line Rasbora (Rasbora microcephalus)

Common fish species distributed in lowland streams, rivers and paddy fields.  It can be easily distinguish from other Rasbora species by having narrow metallic blue dark lateral strip, which is somewhat hazy anteriorly and diffuse on the caudal fin base. Upper margin of dark lateral strip is distinct and lower margin hazy with slightly darkened scale pockets. Also the post-dorsal length, when carried forward falls anterior to the posterior border of the eye.

Dark Evening Brown (Melanitis phedima)

An uncommon butterfly occurs from lowlands to about 3500ft elevations, particularly in the wet zone.  It flies mainly in the late afternoon and settles in the undergrowth during the day time. Dark Evening Brown is seldom seen out of jungles or well wooded home gardens. It feeds on rotting fruits and usually seen under fruit bearing trees even during the day time.  Larval host plants are grasses [Arundo donax, Cyrtococcum trigonum,  Panicum maximum(ගිනි තණ/Guinea grass),  Setaria barbat] and paddy (Oryza sativa). Its larva also fed on Carpet grass/පොටු තණකොළ (Axonopus compressus), Digitaria didactyla and Ischaemum timorense only when offered in the lab.

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.

වයිරන් අහිරාවා/ඉරි අහිරාවා/පොල් අහිරාවා [Wairan Ahirawa/Iri Ahirawa/Pol Ahirawa]/Tiger Loach (Acanthocobitis urophthalmus)

An uncommon fish restricted to the shallow slow flowing shaded streams with pebbles in South-western lowlands up to about 300m elevation.  

Sri Lankan Cerulean/Ceylon Cerulean (Jamides coruscans)

An endemic and rare butterfly found in the low country wet zone forests up to about 500m. Its larval host plant is Gal Karanda[ගල් කරඳ] (Humboldtia laurifolia)

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.

රත් කයිලයා/දම්කොල සාලයා [Rath Kaiyala/Damkola Saalaya]/Giant Danio (Devario malabaricus)

Very common fish widely distributed throughout the lowlands of both wet and dry zones up to the higher hills. It is common in flowing water though occurs also in tanks, reservoirs and paddy fields.  Giant Danio is a mid-water fish and it forms medium size shoals.  

Episcia reptans

Low-growing herb native to the South America. Introduced as an ornamental plant and cultivated in Sri Lankan home gardens, often in shade.

ගිරාමලිත්තා/Gira Maliththa/Hanging Parrot/Lorikeet (Loriculus beryllinus)

An endemic and locally common bird of forests and well wooded home gardens in wet lowlands to mid hills. Also found in foothill areas of the dry lowlands. Hanging parrot is a strictly arboreal bird and usually encounters as solitary birds or as pairs (Warakagoda D et. al., 2012). However above bird was captured in a feeding flock, travelling through the Acacia plantation of Meethirgala forest reserve with at least 50 companions of the same species. It feeds on fruits, nectar of flowers, seeds and also juice of palms collected in toddy-drawers pots. While feeding it has very restless characteristic behavior of hangs at all sort of angles. It sleeps hanging head downward from a slender, leafy twig. Hanging Parrot breeds in a tree hole from March to June and sometime again from August to September. Female builds the nest with strips nibbled from the edge of green leaves and lays 2-3 white color eggs.  

ඉපිල් ඉපිල්/Ipil Ipil/ Wild Tamarind/Cofee bush (Leucaena leucocephala)

An introduced shrub or small tree cultivated as green manure, fodder, for afforestation and as cover plants of tea estates. It is native to the tropical America. Since it has the ability of rapidly spreading to adjacent areas and invade all other native flora, Ipil Ipil is now considered as an invasive.

Chocolate Soldier (Junonia iphita pluviatalis)

Common butterfly found in open jungle areas of all elevations of the island all the year round. It takes part in migrations especially in November to December. Chocolate Soldier often settles on damp earth. Its larva feeds on Strobilanthes diandra (නෙළු), Eranthemum capense, Phaulopsis dorsiflora, Ruellia patula, Ruellia prostrata (නිල් පුරුක්), Dyschoriste nagchana and Barleria prionitis (කටු කරඬු/Yellow Hedge Barleria)

Soft khaki weed/Prostrate globe amaranth (Gomphrena celosioides)

A native herb of South America. Introduced to Sri Lanka and now widely distributed along roadsides, rocky places and waste lands. 

Purple Leafblue (Amblypodia anita)

Rather rare butterfly occurring from sea level up to about 300m, particularly in the dry zone. Males settle on wet patches on the roads, or on carrion to absorb minerals. Larva feeds on Olax scandens, Olax imbricata and probably on Olax zeylanica.  

වල් අබ/රන් මානිස්ස/Wal-Aba/Ran-Manissa/Yellow Spider Flower (Cleome viscosa)

An indigenous and very common herb found along roadsides, cultivated grounds and rocky and sandy places. 

Mexican fireweed/Lesser green poinsettia (Euphorbia heterophylla)

An introduced very common weed widely distributed throughout the island along roadsides and waste places. It is a native plant of tropical America.  

Large Cuckooshrike/මහ කොවුල්සැරටිත්තා/මහ කොවුල්ඇස්පටියා[Maha Kovulsaratiththa/Maha Kovulaspatiya] (Coracina macei)

An uncommon breeding resident found in forest areas of lowlands up to mid hills. It is less common in wet zone. Usually a solitary bird though some time occurs as pairs or as small flocks. Large Cuckooshrike is a bird of the canopy and feeds mainly on insects. It's breeding season is from May to June and lays 2 eggs in a shallow cup made out of fine twigs, leaf-stalks, lichens etc. and felted together with cobwebs.

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Redspot (Zesius chrysomallus)

Common butterfly found all over the island from lowlands to mid hills up to about 2500ft. Larvae of Red spot has symbiotic relationship with large red ants. Red ants feed on liquid exuded by the larvae and in turn are attended by them. The larva feeds on Terminalia bellirica, Bridelia retusa (කැටකෑල), Canthium coromandelicum, Terminalia catappa (කොට්ටම්බා/කොට්ටන්/Indian almond/Country almons),  Terminalia arjuna (කුඹුක්), Falcataria moluccana (මාර), Symplocos acuminata, Cassia fistula (ඇහැළ/Indian Laburnum/Shower of Gold), Psidium guajava (පේර/Guava), Dendrophthoe falcata (පිලිල),  Cassia roxburghii (රතු වා/Ceylon cassia/Red cassia),  Senna auriculata (රණවරා/Matara Tea/Tanner's Cassia), Grewia damine (දමිණිය), Acacia longifolia, and Sesbania grandiflora (කතුරු මුරුංගා/Agati/Vegetable hummongbird).

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.

බෙරු - දියනිල්ල/Beru-diyanilla/Creeping water primrose (Ludwigia adscendens)

An indigenous common herb with prostrate floating stems, grows in water margins of ponds, tanks and flooded paddy fields in the low country. 

නිල් කටරොළු/Nil Katarolu/Blue butterfly pea/Butterfly bean (Clitoria ternatea)

An indigenous (Introduced ? >>) slender vine found along roadsides and scrub lands in the dry low lands while cultivated in home gardens of the moist regions. Flowering throughout the year and sometime white forms and much longer flowers occurs in cultivation. 

Apefly (Spalgis epeus epeus)

Rare butterfly distributed in the low country to mid hills of about 500m a.s.l. As per Woodhouse Larva of Apefly unlike with other butterflies feeds on scale insects (Coccidae) especially “Mealy bug” and is never known to eat vegetable food (Woodhouse L.G.O. 1950) But de’Abrera stated that it is just a keeping company with Mealybugs (de’Abrera B., 1998). Pupa is remarkably like the head and face of an ape. Hence its vernacular name Apefly. 

Tree Nymph (Idea iasonia)

An endemic and rare butterfly found in wet forests from lowlands to higher hills. Occurs rarely also in some Northern and Eastern dry zone forests. It is usually found near water streams and easily notice by its floating and sailing like slow flight, often high among tree tops. Its only known larval food plant is Parsonsia alboflavescens (කිරි අඟුණ/වල් අඟුණ)

වතු-සුද්ද/Sri Lanka Jasmine/Grape-Jasmine/Wathu-Sudhdha (Tabernaemontana divaricata)

Large shrub flowering throughout the year. Native to the Southern Himalayas and cultivated in Sri Lankan gardens since ancient time as an ornamental plant.  Variety with broad corolla lobes also exist. 

ගස්-ලබු/පැපොල්/Papaya (Carica papaya)

Small tree with usually unbranched stem of about 5 to 7 m tall.  Native to tropical America and cultivated throughout the island. Fruits edible. 

නමිනම්/Nam-Nam (Cynometra cauliflora)

Native tree of Malaysia introduced into Sri Lanka apparently before mid 18^th century. Fruits edible.

පිළිල/Pilila (Dendrophthoe falcata)

An indigenous common half-parasite growing on the branches of trees. Widespread throughout the country except higher montane zone and common in the dry zone. Flowering throughout the year. 

ගම්-පිල/කටු-පිල/Gam-Pila/Katu-Pila/Wild Indigo/Fishpoison (Tephrosia purpurea)

Common indigenous herb found along roadsides, waste lands and near seacoast in the low country. 

හීන් කරඹ/Heen-Karamba (Carissa spinarum)

A very common indigenous small shrub with spines on the node, distributed throughout the low country dry zone in jungles, roadsides, along forest edges and especially in disturbed vegetation. Flowering throughout the year. 

Blue Percher (Diplacodes trivialis)

A very common dragonfly of the lowlands up to mid hills. It inhabits rice fields, weedy tanks, streams beaches and footpaths, often far from the water unlike most other dragonflies. 

කටු පතොක්/Katu Pathok (Opuntia dillenii)

Native to the South America. Introduced as an ornamental plant and now naturalized common weed in sandy places of dry and arid zone especially in Bundala and Yala national parks.  Fruit edible.

Forget-me-not (Catochrysops strabo)

Common butterfly occurs all over the dry lowlands up to about 3500ft, especially in abandoned paddy fields and chena lands.  Its larva feeds on Cajanus cajan (රට තෝර/Dhal/Pigeon Pea/Chick Pea/Red Gram), Flemingia lineata, Phyllodium pulchellum, Rhynchosia cana, Tephrosia purpurea (ගම්-පිල/කටු-පිල/Wild Indigo/Fishpoison), Tephrosia villosa (බූ පිල/Hoarypea) and  Indigofera linnaei (බිං අවරි)

Asian Palm Swift (Cypsiurus balasiensis)

Common breeding resident in low country and lower hills especially where palm trees such as Palmyras or Talipots are available.  It keeps in flocks and spends its time flitting about in open areas in search for small flying insects. It breeds probably year round and the nest is a small cup of feathers and cotton, glued with its saliva under fan-palm leaf or occasionally the fronds of the Areca or Betetnut palm (Only if no fan-palm is available). 

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Cingalese Bushbrown (Mycalesis rama)

An endemic and rare butterfly occurs in forested areas with bamboo in the low country wet zone.  The larva is believed to be feed on Ochlandra stridula (Bamboo/බට).

Black-winged Kite (Elanus caeruleus)

An uncommon breeding raptor in open areas, grasslands paddy fields and Patana lands in dry lowlands and hills.  Occasional visitor to the wet lowlands. It encounters mostly as solitary birds or in pairs. It has a habit of hovering frequently when hunting on grasshoppers, lizards, rats and young birds in open country.  The breeding season is from December to March and sometime again from July to October. The nest – untidy mass of sticks – is placed at top of a tree in fairly open area.  

කොහා[Koha]/Asian Koel (Eudynamys scolopaceus)

Common breeding resident in home gardens, cultivation and other wooded areas avoiding dense forests from lowlands to mid hills.  It feeds almost entirely on fruits including berries of some ornamental garden plants.  Mating call of male bird can be heard frequently during Sinhala new year season which happen to be start of its breeding season which last from April to August. It is a parasitic bird and  female bird lays eggs mainly on two species of crows (Jungle Crow and House Crow) and sometime of babblers nests.

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Oriental Skylark/කොණ්ඩ ගොමරිට්ටා/පෙරදිගු අහස්රිට්ටා[Konda Gomaritta/Peradigu Ahasritta] (Alauda gulgula)

Locally common breeding resident, inhabiting grasslands, dry paddy fields and open country mainly in dry zone lowlands. Visits wet zone and breeds rarely in the hills.  It lives on ground in pairs or as small flocks and never perching on trees but on low stumps, stone walls etc. It feeds on insects like grasshoppers and also seeds of grasses and weeds.  The small crest on fore crown, which normally down and erects when excited can be used to distinguished Oriental skylark from bit similar but stockier and browner Jerdon’s Bushlark.  The breeding season is from March to July and it lays 1-3 eggs in a nest made out of grass and fibers in a small hollow on ground usually under a small tuft of grass or shrub.

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Brown Hawk Owl (Ninox scutulata)

Common breeding resident distributed throughout the country in forests, cultivation and wooded areas of cities and villages while becoming uncommon in higher hills. Sights of Brown Hawk Owls sitting on lamp or telephone posts, TV antennas during nights are not uncommon in most urban and suburban areas with some trees even in and around Colombo. Brown Hawk Owl can be easily identified by its distinctive loud call which sounds like koo-ook, koo-ook heard especially on moonlit nights. It is a nocturnal bird and feeds on insects takes on the wing.  The breeding season is from March to April and again in November. It lays 2-3 eggs in a tree cavity.

Greater Flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus)

Common migrant and summer loiterer to lagoons, brackish lakes and salt-pans of Northern, Eastern and Southeastern coastal areas. Mainly occurring in Jaffna, Mannar and Bundala salterns usually as large flocks of several hundreds or sometimes in thousands.  Greater Flamingo mainly feeds on vegetable substances and small aquatic animals. Even though breeding of it has not been recorded from Sri Lanka nest mounds build up of mud were observed in Bundala national park several times.  The nearest breeding site from where Sri Lankan migrants probably come situated in the Rann of Kutch on the west coast between India and Pakistan. 

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.

මොණරා [Monara]/Indian Peafowl (Pavo cristatus)

Indian Peafowl is a common breeding resident of dry lowlands and some areas in the intermediate zone. It inhabits mainly open country, chena lands and scrub lands avoiding dense forests.  Its food consists of grains, leaves, grasshoppers, termites, and also small reptiles.Its usual feeding times are in the early morning and hour or so before sunset.  It roosts on trees during the night. Indian peafowl usually lives as small groups and spends their time mostly on ground walking great distances in search of food.  It flies mostly to cross an obstacle like rivers or to escape from sudden danger.  The breeding season is from December to May and male attains its long train during the mating season.  The peahen lays 3 to 5 eggs in a slight hollow on ground well hidden in dense shrubbery.

Little Egret(Egretta garzetta)

Very common breeding resident found in swamps, paddy fields, lagoons, canals, tanks and mangroves from lowlands to lower hills while uncommon in higher hills. It feeds mainly on fish and other aquatic animals often associating with other egrets and herons. The breeding season is from December to May and it builds a nest –A platforms of sticks - in trees usually near water, colonially with other water birds.  

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Paddyfield Parasol (Neurothemis intermedia intermedia)

An uncommon dragonfly found in lowland forested areas, paddy fields, plantations and vicinity of tanks in the dry zone (bedjanic, M., K. Conniff & G. de Silva Wijeyeratne, 2007). Rare in the hills. 

Lesser Crested Tern (Thalasseus bengalensis)

Locally common winter visitor and occasional summer loiterer to lagoons, salt-pans, sand spits and estuaries of most coastal areas. It keeps in small to large flocks usually with other terns and gulls. Lesser Crested Tern feeds on fish, plunging from some height at espied fish while flying above the water surface, and the fish is swallowed on the wing. 

Wall’s Grappletail (Heliogomphus walli)

Wall’s Grappletail is a rare endemic dragonfly inhabiting fast flowing forested streams. Earlier records only exist from Morningside estate of Rakvana, Balangoda and Nalanda (de Fonseka T., 2000). 

Garganey (Anas querquedula)

Garganey is probably the most abundant of our migratory ducks.  It is very common winter visitor as large flocks to the coastal lagoons, large tanks and marshes of dry lowlands. Small flocks can be found rarely in inland tanks and wet lowlands.  It is highly gregarious bird and often associating with other migratory ducks such as Northern Pintail, Common Teal and Northern Shoveler. It feeds on grain such as rice and also insects, crustaceans and mollusks, mostly during the night.  During the day time it spends far from the shore floating in a close flock (Henry G.M. 1998).  However diurnal feeding sometime up-ending in lagoons and large water bodies can be observed nowadays probably due to lack of ‘Duck shooting’ as it prevailed during Henry’s time.  

Brook Hooktail (Paragomphus henryi)

Locally common dragonfly inhabiting fast flowing streams and rivers in submontane areas according to the de Fonseka (de Fonseka T., 2000) and hills and mountain regions as per bedjanic, M.,  et.al., 2007. However F.C. Fraser in 1933 noted that it is the commonest Gomphine in the island found in everywhere at all elevations (Fraser F.C. 1933). Probably what he meant is in suitable habitats as he elaborated further that it is a jungle insect usually found sunning itself on rocks in mid streams. With the recent distribution data of Brook Hooktail in the island M. Bedjanic concluded that P. henryi is not so common anymore, being known from around 70 localities concentrated in central and southwestern part of Sri Lanka (Bedjanic M., 2013) Above picture was taken at lowland rain forest stream of southwestern Sri Lanka (Indikada Mookalana – A heavily degraded secondary forest) with about 40m height above sea level (6°54.072'N, 80°09.724'E). Males Brook Hooktail can be easily distinguished from all others of the family by having long hook like down-curved anal appendages (insert). Female lack that expansion.

Fraser F.C. 1933 The Gomphines of Ceylon (Order Odnata), F.C. Fraser, Ceylon Journal of Science (B) Vol. XVIII, Pt 1 December 22, 1933 page 33 

bedjanic, M.,  K. Conniff & G. |de Silva Wijeyeratne, 2007, Gehan's photo guide: Dragonflies of Sri Lanka. Jetwing Eco Holidays, Colombo 248p.

de Fonseka, T. (2000). The dragonflies of Sri Lanka. Wildlife Heritage Trust: Colombo. 304 p. 

bedjanic, M. 2013 Paragomphus Campestris Spec.Nov., A New endemic dragonfly from Sri Lanka (Ansoptera:Gomphidae) Odonatologica 42(1): 45-53 March 1, 2013 (http://www.rufford.org/files/Odonatologica%2042(1)%2045-53%20March%201,%202013.pdf)

Stork-billed Kingfisher/Manathudu Maha-pilihuduwa/Maha Pilihuduwa(Pelargopsis capensis capensis)

Stork-billed Kingfisher is the largest of the Kingfisher family in Sri Lanka. It is an uncommon breeding resident in rivers, streams tanks, marshes, paddy fields, and lagoons - usually adjoining wooded areas- from lowlands to lower hills. It is more common in dry zone. Stork-billed Kingfisher lives as pairs or solitary birds.  It mainly feeds on fish, frogs, crabs and other small animals. The breeding season is from January to May and probably again from August to September. The nest is a well concealed hole on the banks of rivers or tank-bunds.

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Angled Pierrot (Caleta decidia)

Angled Pierrot is an uncommon butterfly more partial to the jungle habitats of wet lowlands up to mid hills. De’ Abrera noted that Angled Pierrot is neither a ‘mud-puddler- nor a creature of open countryside (de’Abrera B., 1998). However mud-puddling individuals are not uncommon and also it inhabits open areas but always close to the jungles such as jungle foot paths (Above picture was also taken at such a habitat and it was mud puddling on a muddy foot path though it has flew away and settled on a near by shrub where picture was taken). It is frequent in jungle clearings and in shady streams (Banks J&J, 1999). It is a swift  flying insect which takes part in migrations.  The larva feeds on Maha-Eraminiya plants (Ziziphus rugosa) and Gouania microcarpa.