English: Common paddy field frog/Indian cricket frog/Boie's wart frog/rice field frog/Asian grass frog Binomial Name: Fejervarya limnocharisSinhala: වෙල් මැඩියා[Wel madiya]Fejervarya limnocharis is a widely distributed frog lives in South Asian countries including Sri Lanka. This frog can be seen in both wet zone and dry zone close to water bodies.

English: Grey wagtailBinomial Name: Motacilla cinerea/Motacilla melanope/ Calobates melanopeSinhala: අළු හැලපෙන්දා [Alu helapenda]Grey wagtail is a migrant bird distributed across many parts of the world including Asia, Europe and Africa. In Sri Lanka it lives in all environmental regions and can be seen near water- paddy-fields, forest openings and running streams. They mainly feed on variety of aquatic invertebrates including ...

English:Purple HeronBinomial: Ardea purpureaSinhala: කරවල් කොකා[Karawal koka]Purple Heron is a resident breeder in Sri Lanka and has a waste global distribution around the world. In Sri Lanka, it has been distributed in both dry zone and in the wet zone. But common in wet lands of dry zone. Above photosgraph was taken at Yala national park.

Binomial: Podochilus malabaricumSinhala: මහා පද්ම[Maha patma] Podochilus malabaricum is a wild orchid found in lowland wet and submontane zone. It is one of the four species of orchids found in Sri Lanka which belong to the genus Podochilus. It is morphologically more similar to the recently described species Podochilus warnagalensis (Wijewardana et al. 2016). The color of the flower is ...

English : Red Pierrot Binomial Name : Talicada nyseusThis butterfly can be seen in all environmental regions of Sri Lanka. It flies slowly near the ground and settles frequently. Plants belong to Crassulaceae family are the major host plants. Apart from Sri Lanka it lives in South Asia and South-East Asia.

English: Gan's Lanka SkinkBinomial Name: Lankascincus gansiSinhala: Gansge lakhiraluwa / ගාන්ස්ගේ ලක්හීරළුවාLankascincus gansi is an endemic skink lives in wet climatic zones of Sri lanka. And it’s all members of the genus Lankascincus is endemic to Sri Lanka. It has been reported in elevation of 30-700m above the sea level. Can be seen in home gardens and forests. Lives under ...

English: Painted Waxtail / bi-coloured damselBinomial Name: Ceriagrion cerinorubellumPainted Waxtail is a widely distributed dragonfly found in countries such as India, Sri Lanka and Malaysia. This dragonfly can be identified by bright brick red colored abdomen. In Sri Lanka it can be seen in low country wet zone close to water streams, lakes and paddy fields.

English : Indian Palm Bob / Palm BobBinomial Name : Suastus gremius Indian Palm Bob is a butterfly lives in India and Sri Lanka. It can be commonly seen in Sri Lanka except central highlands.

Flower Bud (Young)Flower BudEngish : Azalea Scientific: Rhododendron arboreum subsp. ZeylanicumSinhala : මහරත්මල් / අශෝක [Maha Rathmal / Ashoka]R.subsp.zeylanicum is an endemic tree grows in highlands of Sri Lanka. It can only be seen in montane environments where elevation above sea level is greater than 1500 meters. It is the most prominent tree in grass lands of Horton National Park.The ...

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'.

Binomial Name: Perbrinckia scansorPerbrinckia scansor is an endemic freshwater crab distributed in the wet zone of Sri Lanka. It is considered to be the only known tree climbing crab found in the island. Deforestation and habitat loss has become the main threat for the existence of this crab. Its IUCN Red List Status is ‘Least Concerned’. Above photographs were taken ...

English: Common Bronzeback Tree SnakeBinomial Name: Dendrelaphis tristisSinhala: තුරු හාල්දන්ඩා[Thuru haldanda]Dendrelaphis tristis is a non venomous arboreal snake found in Asian countries including Sri Lanka. In Sri Lanka it has been distributed in wet, intermediate and dry zone forests but difficult to find in hill country. It has an active and aggressive behavior.

English: Bee OrchidBinomial: Cottonia peduncularisCottonia peduncularis is a wild orchid found in Sri Lanka and India. It is given the name 'Bee orchid' since the lip of the flower resembles a bee. It is believed that the lip of the flower mimics a female bee sitting on the flower that leads to attract male bees, which helps in pollination. Above photographs were taken in March, 2015.

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.

Parietal ridges and parotid glands are not much visible in a juvenileEnglish: Kotagama's toadBinomial: Duttaphrynus kotagamai/Bufo kotagamaiSinhala: කොටගමගේ ගෙම්බා[Kotagamage gemba]Kotagama's toad is an endemic species of frogs found in Sri Lanka. It is nocturnal and lives in covered forests where there is a good canopy layer. Species name of the frog, ‘Kotagamai’ is a patronym honouring Prof. Sarath Kotagama.Adults of ...

English : Gladeye BushbrownBinomial name : Mycalesis patnia Gladeye Bushbrown is a common butterfly that can be seen in Sri Lanka and southern India. Butterfly can be easliy identified by eyelike spot on the forewing.

MaleEnglish: Malabar trogonBinomial: Harpactes fasciatusSinhala: ලෝහවන්නිච්චා[Lohawannichcha]Malabar trogon is a brightly colored bird fond in dense forest of Sri Lanka and India. Male can be identified easily by red colored underparts. Underparts of the females are not bright and orange in color. More common in wet zone. Sinharaja forest reserve is a popular place to observe this bird. They feed on ...

English: Black-winged stiltBinomial: Himantopus himantopus himantopusSinhala: කළුපිය ඉපල්ලෑවා[Kalupiya ipallewa]Common bird found in fresh and brackish water bodies of Sri Lanka. More common in dry zone compared to wet zone. Most of the time this bird can be seen in shallow water searching for insects and crustaceans for the food. Above photographs were taken in June in Yala national park. ...

English: Hyacinth orchidBinomial Name: Satyrium nepalense Satyrium nepalense is a ground orchid that grows in montane zone of Sri Lanka. Common in Pathana grasslands such as Horton National Park. This orchid can be seen in other Asian countries such as India and China.

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 ...