Binomial Name: Drosera peltataEnglish: Shield sundew / pale sundewSinhala: අඩහඳ ඇස්ස[Adahanda assa]A carnivorous plant found in highlands of Sri Lanka. It can be seen in many other Asian countries also. Shield shaped leaves given it the name 'peltata'. This plant is used in Sri Lankan traditional medicine. Above photos were taken in the month of December in a grass ...
English: Barking Deer / Red Muntjack Binomial Name: Muntiacus muntjak Sinhala: වැලි මුවා / ඕලු මුවා [Weli muwa/Olu ouwa]Population of this mammal has been distributed thorough the Sri Lanka. Can be seen as pairs or alone close to forests. They feed on grass and tender leaves. Its call resembles the barking of a dog and due to that reason it ...
English: Common RoseBinomial Name: Pachliopta aristolochiaeA butterfly belongs to Papilionidae family and the population has been distributed across South and South East Asia. Sub species P. a. ceylonicus is endemic to Sri Lannka. Population of Sri Lanka has been distributed in all environmental regions. But difficult to find in areas where elevation above the sea level is greater than 1200meters.
English: Pea blueBinomial Name: Lampides boeticusPea blue is a butterfly belongs to Lycaenidae family and population of this butterfly has been distributed in many parts of the world including Sri Lanka. This photo was taken in Horton National Park close to Ulex europaeus shrubs which is one of this butterfly's host plants.
Wet-season formEnglish: Common evening brownBinomial Name: Melanitis ledaWidely distributed butterfly in Asia, Africa and Australia including Sri Lanka. Two seasonal forms exists namely Wet-season form and Dry-season from. Different types of grasses are the host plants of this butterfly.
English: Red-faced malkohaBinomial Name: Phaenicophaeus pyrrhocephalusSinhala: වත රතු මල්කොහා[Watha rathu malkoha]Red-faced malkoha is an endemic bird found in dense forests of Sri Lanka. Sinharaja Forest Reserve is considered as the popular place to observe this bird. Most of the time this bird become a member of mixed-species feeding flocks of Sinharaja forest. It is shy and can be seen in ...
English: Monkey PuzzleBinomial Name: Rathinda amorRathinda amor is a widely distributed butterfly in Sri Lanka except central highlands. Common in areas where the rainfall is high. This butterfly can also be seen in India. Its host plants belong to Rubiaceae, Dipterocarpeae, Euphorbiaceae, Loranthaceae, Sapindaceae and Myrtaceae families.
Binomial Name: Habenaria acuminata / Ate acuminata Thwaites A wild orchid found in Sri Lanka and South India. In Sri Lanka it can be found in Submontane zone. Above photographs were taken in November.
Binomial Name: Vaccinium leschenaultii V. leschenaultii is a small tree/large shrub found in highlands of Sri Lanka. This plant can also be seen in other Asian countries such as India and Myanmar. Color of flowers varies from dark pink to white. This photograph was taken in a forest patch of Horton National Park.
English: Lime butterfly / Lemon butterflyBinomial Name: Papilio demoleusCommon butterfly found in all environmental regions of Sri Lanka. It is given the name, "Lime Butterfly" since it uses plants belong to citrus family as the host plant. Population of this butterfly has been distributed around many other Asian countries.
MaleFemaleMaleFemaleEnglish: Sri Lanka whistling thrushBinomial Name: Myophonus blighiSinhala: ලංකා අරංගයා/අරංගයා[Lanka arangaya/Arangaya]An endemic resident breeder of Sri Lanka. It is found in the central hills close to jungles or inside dense forests. This species is considered as a one of the most difficult to observe bird in Sri Lanka due to its shyness, scarcity and restricted distribution. Being usually active in ...
English: Common hour-glass tree-frog /Sri Lanka whipping frogBinomial Name: Polypedates crucigerSinhala: සුලභ පහිඹු ගස් මැඩියා[Sulabha pahimbu gas mediya]An endemic arboreal frog found in Sri Lanka. More common in wet zone. Can be seen close to human habitats and natural forests. In IUCN Red List it has been listed as "Least Concerned". agrochemical pollution is a major threat for the ...
English: Asian common toadBinomial Name: Duttaphrynus melanostictus/Bufo melanostictusSinhala: ගෙයි ගෙම්බා [Gei gemba]Considered as the commonest frog of Sri Lanka. It can be seen close to human habitats and difficult to find in the wild. This species has been widely distributed in other Asian countries and it is categorized as "Least Concern" in IUCN Red List. It has prominent, kidney-shaped parotoid ...
English: ClipperBinomial Name: Parthenos sylviaClipper is a butterfly found in dense forests of Sri Lanka and difficult to find close to human habitats. It is common in wet zone compared to dry zone. This butterfly settles rarely on the ground. Most of the time it can be seen flying high up in the trees. Many sub species of this butterfly ...
Binomial Name: Robiquetia virescensRobiquetia virescens is a wild orchid found in Sri Lankan montane and sub-montane zone forests. Apart from Sri Lanka this species has been recorded in southern India. Above photographs were taken in December.
English: Eurasian Black bird/Indian blackbirdBinomial: Turdus merula kinnisiiSinhala:කළු බිම්සැරියා[Kalu Bimsariya]Widely distributed bird around the world including Indian subcontinent and Europe. Few sub species of this bird has been identified. Sub sp. T. m. kinnisii is endemic to Sri Lanka and restricted to montane zone where the elevation above the sea level is greater than 1000m. This bird can be identified ...
Binomial Name: Calanthe triplicataEnglish: Christmas OrchidCalanthe triplicata is a wild orchid found in montane zone of Sri Lanka. Mostly can be seen in shaded places of Sri Lankan highlands. It is a widely distributed species of orchid in many regions of the world including other Asian countries, Australia and Pacific Islands.
English: Sri Lanka rock frog Binomial Name: Nannophrys ceylonensisSinhala: ලංකා ගල්පර දිය මැඩියා / ලංකා ගල්පර මැඩියා[Lanka galpara diya madiya / Lanka galpara madiya]Nannophrys ceylonensis is an endemic species of frogs found in wet zone lowlands and montane zone upto 1200 meters above the sea level. This frog is aquatic and lives on moist rock surfaces. In IUCN Red List, ...
Binomial Name: Coelogyne odoratissimaC. odoratissima is a species of wild orchid found in montane and submontane zones of Sri Lanka. Common in Horton plains national park. It has white colored fragrant flowers. Above flowers were photographed in December on mossy stems of trees. Apart from Sri Lanka, This orchid can be seen in South India.
English Name: Common GullBinomial Name: Cepora nerissa Common Gull is a species of butterfly distributed across Asian countries including Sri Lanka. Common in dry zone of Sri Lanka. Its food plants belong to Capparaceae family.
