English: Little orange tipBinomial: Colotis etridaLittle orange tip is a butterfly found in India and Sri Lanka. In Sri Lanka it can be seen mostly in arid zones. Sub species found in Sri Lanka is Colotis etrida limbata. Above photograph was taken in Puttalam district.
Binomial Name: Cyathea sinuataAn endemic rare tree fern found in low land wet zone of Sri Lanka. It can be seen in some areas of Sinharaja and Kanneliya. It is considered to be the only species of Cyathea that has simple leaves which has not been pinnated or lobed. This tree ferns is one of the smallest tree ferns found in Sri Lanka.
English: Dull-green shrub frogBinomial: Pseudophilautus viridisSinhala: අඳුරු කොළ පඳුරු මැඩියා[Anduru kola panduru madiya]Pseudophilautus viridis is an endemic species of frog restricted to central highlands of Sri Lanka. Occurs in the elevations between 1555m to 1830m above the sea level. No water is required to lay eggs. They deposit eggs in a hole excavated by the female in the wet soil ...
Binomial Name: Dendrobium panduratum/Callista pandurata Dendrobium panduratum is a wild orchid found in India and Sri Lanka. In Sri Lanka, it grows in Lowland wet and submontane zones.
English: Corrugated water frog/ Sri Lanka wart frogBinomial Name: Lankanectes corrugatusSinhala: වක රැලි දිය මැඩියා[Waka reli diya mediya]Endemic but common frog found in law-land and montane zone of Sri Lannka. L. corrugatus is the only member of genus Lankanectes and the only member of Lankanectinae sub family. Only lives in running and still water bodies. Can be easily identified by ...
English: Red-striped ThreadtailBinomial Name: Elattoneura tenaxEndemic and rare to find damselfly of Sri Lanka. It has been recorded from lowland wet-zone and from hill country. IUCN red list status of this damselfly is 'Vulnerable'.
Binomial Name: Cyathea crinitaSinhala: ගිනිහොට[Ginihota]Cyathea crinita is a tree fern restricted to Western Ghats of India and Sri Lanka. Grows in cool and wet places. In Sri lanka mostly found in Nuwaraeliya district where the elevation above the sea level is greater than 1500m. IUCN Red list status is 'Endangered'.
MaleEnglish: Jungle Threadtail Binomial Name: Elattoneura caesiaJungle Threadtail is a rare and endemic damselfly of Sri Lanka. Mostly restricted to wet zone. Above photo was taken close to a stream inside a rain forest. Male can be identified by dark colored body and light blue pruinescence on the thorax. IUCN Red List status of this damselfly is 'Endangered'.
MaleMating, Left - Male, Right - FemaleEnglish: Dark-glittering ThreadtailBinomial Name: Elattoneura centralisDark-glittering Threadtail is an endemic common dragonfly found in Sri Lanka. Its population has been distributed in wet zone, dry zone and also in hill country. Male has a body with a metallic purple gloss which cant be seen in females. Above photographs were taken close to a branch ...
Orange Billed Babbler in 100 rupee note English: Orange-billed babbler/Sri Lankan rufous babbler/Ceylon rufous babblerBinomal Name: Turdoides rufescensSinhala: ශ්රී ලංකා රතු දෙමලිච්චා[Sri Lanka rathu demalichcha]Orange-billed babbler is an endemic resident breeder of Sri Lanka. Restricted to wet zone forests. But can be seen in home gardens close to undisturbed forests. It lives in flocks and can be identified by noisy ...
English: Common PierrotBinomial Name: Castalius rosimonCommon Pierrot is a widely distributed butterfly found in South Asian countries. It can be found in all environmental regions of Sri Lanka except central highlands.
English: Kirtisinghe's frog Binomial Name: Fejervarya kirtisinghei/Zakerana kirtisingheiSinhala: කීර්තිසිංහගේ මැඩියා/Kirtisinghe madiyaAn endemic widely distributed common frog found in Sri Lanka. Population has been distributed in the altitude range of 150-1580m. Adults are semi-aquatic. In IUCN Red List it is listed in 'Least Concern' category. Agrochemical pollution has become the major threat for this species. ...
English: Angled PierrotBinomial Name: Caleta decidiaA butterfly mainly found in wet zone forests of Sri Lanka. Host plants belong to Rhamnaceae family. Its population has been distributed in many other Asian countries.
English: Spot-winged thrush/Spot winged Ground ThrushBinomial Name: Zoothera spiloptera/Geokichla spilopteraSinhala: පුල්ලි වල් අවිච්චියා / ශ්රී ලංකා තිත්පිය තිරාසිකයා [Pulli wal awichchiya / Sri Lannka thithpiya thirasikaya]Endemic species of bird found mainly in wet zone of Sri Lanka. Rare to find in dry zone. Feed mainly on insects and sometimes on fruits. Above photographs were taken at Sinharaja rain forest when ...
Grows on wet surfaces of stonesSeed capsulesBinomial Name: Malaxis thwaitesiiMalaxis thwaitesii is a rare to find wild orchid grows in lowland wet zone forests of Sri Lanka. Most of the time it can be seen on wet surfaces of stones close to water streams.
Binomial Name: Spiranthes sinensis English: Chinese SpiranthesSpiranthes sinensis is a wildly distributed species of wild orchid found in many parts of the world including Sri Lanka. In Sri Lanka it has been distributed in montane and sub-montane zone. Above photographs were taken in December.
Binomial Name: Idea iasoniaEnglish: Sri Lanka Tree Nymph/Ceylon Tree NymphAn endemic butterfly found in wet zone and dry zone forests of Sri Lanka. It has a unique slow floating flight with very slow wing beats. In the wet zone this butterfly can be seen flying in the canopy layer of the forest. In IUCN Red list it is categorized as ...
Binomial Name: Adrorhizon purpurascens/Pleione purpurascens/Coelogyne purpurascens/Dendrobium purpurascensEnglish: Purple AdrorhizonA small sized wild orchid found in highlands(Montane and sub-montane) of Sri Lanka. Can be seen on mossy stems of trees. Above photographs were taken in December. In IUCN Red List, this is listed as 'Vulnerable'
Binomial Name: Oberonia wightiana Lindley O. wightiana is a ground orchid found in highland forests of Sri Lanka. Most of the time it grows on mossy stems of trees. Also this orchid grows naturally in South India. Above photos were taken in December. IUCN Red List status is ''Near Threatened'.
English: Sharp-snouted shrub frogBinomial name: Pseudophilautus cuspis / Philautus cuspisSinhala: තියුණු හොඹු මැඩියා [Thiyunu hombu madiya]An endemic frog found only in wet zone rain forests of Sri Lanka with a good canopy layer. Can be found mostly with leaf litter. This frog is given the Latin name 'Cuspis' due to its sharp snout. Habitats are limited to few places ...
