Variable Flutterer (Rhyothemis variegata)

English : Variable Flutterer

Binomial Name : Rhyothemis variegata

A common butterfly found in South Asia including Sri Lanka. Lives in low country. Still it can be seen even in Colombo district close to water bodies. Can be identified easily by back and amber color markings of wings.

Red Pierrot (Talicada nyseus)

English : Red Pierrot

Binomial Name : Talicada nyseus

This 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.

One-spot Grass Yellow (Eurema andersoni ormistoni)

English : One-spot Grass Yellow 

Binomial Name : Eurema andersoni ormistoni

An endemic butterfly of Sri Lanka. Can be seen in wettest areas in hill country and wet zone of low country. It has rounder wings compared to other grass yellow butterflies and a one spot at the base of fore wing cell.

Mottled Emigrant (Catopsilia pyranthe)

English : Mottled Emigrant

Binomial Name : Catopsilia pyranthe

This butterfly lives in South Asia, Southeast Asia and some parts of Australia. In Sri Lanka It can be seen in all over the island. But more common at low elevations. They prefer hot and sunny climate. Lays white color eggs but turns into yellow later.

Trinket snake (Coelognathus helena)

Eggs

English : Trinket snake

Binomial Name :Coelognathus helena

Sinhala : කටකලුවා / හබරලියා [Katakaluwa / Habaraliya]

C. helena is a nonvenomous snake of Sri Lanka. This snake can be found in wet zone and dry zone with the elevation above the sea level is lesser than 1000 meters. It has a black color tongue and a mouth. Mouth is opened to show black color when threatened.

Great Tit (Parus major)

English : Great Tit

Binomial Name : Parus major

Sinhala : මහ ටිකිරිත්තා [Maha Tikiriththa]

Great Tit has been distributed in all environmental zones of Sri Lanka. But they are common in hill country. Many sub species of Great Tit have been identified around the world.

Dark Cerulean (Jamides bochus)

English : Dark Cerulean
Binomial Name : Jamides bochus
This butterfly can be seen in all geographical regions of Sri Lanka and in other countries such as India, Malaysia and Australia.

Sarcococca brevifolia

Sarcococca brevifolia is a shrub restricted to Horton Plains National park of Sri lanka and Western Ghats of India. Even in Horton plains it can be see only in places where elevation above the sea level is greater than 2000 meters.(Reference : Horton Plains Sri Lanka's cloud-forest national park, Rohan Pethiyagoda)

Plains Cupid (Chilades pandava)

English : Plains Cupid

Binomial Name : Chilades pandava

This butterfly lives in India, Sri Lanka, Singapore and some other Asian countries like Malaysia. Few subspecies have been identified and the one lives in Sri Lanka is Chilades pandava lanka. It can be found in all regions of Sri Lanka except central highlands.

Zebra Blue (Leptotes plinius)

English : Zebra Blue / Plumbago Blue

Binomial Name : Leptotes plinius

Can be identified by zebra pattern of fore wing and hind wing. In Sri Lanka it can be seen in all environmental regions except central hills. It has been destributed in other Asian countries such as India and China.

Indian Fritillary (Argynnis hyperbius)

Male

Male

English : Indian Fritillary

Binomial Name : Argynnis hyperbius

In Sri Lanka this butterfly has been restricted to central highlands elevation above the sea level is greater than 1500 meters. About 10 sub species of this butterfly has been identified around the world and the one lives in Sri Lanka is A. hyperbius taprobana. It is a common butterfly of Horton National Park. They like sunny open places. Male and female looks different. Female lays bright green color eggs.

Scaly-breasted Munia (Lonchura punctulata)

English : Scaly-breasted Munia

Binomial Name : Lonchura punctulata

Sinhala : ළය කායුරු වීකුරුල්ලා [Laya kayuru weekurulla]

Scaly-breasted Munia is a common bird belongs to Estrildidae family. It can be seen in all geographical zones of Sri Lanka. They mainly feed on seeds. According to IUCN this bird has been categorized as "Least Concern". About eleven sub species of this bird have been identified around the world.

White-rumped Munia (Lonchura striata)

English : White-rumped Munia / white-rumped mannikin

Binomial Name : Lonchura striata / Uroloncha striata

Sinhala : නිතඹ සුදු වීකුරුල්ලා / [Nithamba sudu wee kurulla]

Common bird lives in all regions of Sri Lanka. Can be seen in grass lands, paddy-fields and forests. It feeds mainly on seeds. Apart from Sri Lanka this bird has been distributed in many other Asian countries.

Wanaraja - Anoectochilus regalis

Sinhala : වනරාජ [Wanaraja]

Binomial Name : Anoectochilus regalis

An endemic orchid that grows in lowland wet zone and submontane zone. It is used in traditional medicine for treating snake bites.

Indigo Dropwing (Trithemis festiva)

English : Indigo Dropwing
Binomial Name : Trithemis festiva

A dragonfly lives in hill country and lowlands. Always they live close to water bodies. Breeds in Still and running water.

Hill Swallow (Hirundo domicola)

English : Hill Swallow
Binomial Name : Hirundo domicola
Sinhala : කඳුකර වැහිලිහිණියා / [Kandukara Wahi-lihiniya]

Widely distributed bird in hill country of Sri Lanka and other parts of the world. Nest is made inside ledges, cliffs or man made structures like tunnels. It feeds on insects.

Yellow-browed Bulbul (Acritillas indica)

English : Yellow-browed Bulbul

Binomial Name : Acritillas indica / Iole indica  

Sinhala : බැමකහ ගුලුගුඩුවා / කහ කොණ්ඩයා [Bema kaha guluguduwa / Kaha kondaya]

Yellow-browed Bulbul lives in Sri Lanka and India. It can be found only in forests and deficult to find close to human habitats. In Sri Lanka there are two sub species. Among subspecis of this bird, I. indica indica lives in dry zone and hill country. I. indica guglielmi lives in wet zone and it is endemic to Sri Lanka.

Dendrophthoe neilgherrensis

Dendrophthoe neilgherrensis is a parasitic plants grows on stems of other trees. It can be seen in wet zone of Sri Lanka and India. (Reference : Horton Plains Sri Lanka's cloud-forest national park, Rohan Pethiyagoda)

Strobilanthes pulcherrima

English : Strobilanthes
Binomial Name : Strobilanthes pulcherrima
Sinhala : නෙළු [Nelu]
S. pulcherrima is an endemic species of Strobilanthes grows in central Highlands of Sri Lanka. It is common in Horton National Park. Flowers bloom only once in 12 years.

Staghorn clubmoss (Lycopodiella cernua)

English : Staghorn clubmoss

Binomial Name : Lycopodiella cernua

This plant can be seen in highlands of Sri Lanka. Apart from Sri Lanka it has been distributed in many other parts of the world.

Dwarf Bamboo (Arundinaria densifolia)

English : Dwarf Bamboo  
Binomial Name : Arundinaria densifolia
A. densifolia is an species of Dwarf Bamboo that grows in swampy areas of Horton National Park of Sri Lanka.

Rose Myrtle (Rhodomyrtus tomentosa)

Flowers

Fruits

English : Rose Myrtle
Binomial Name : Rhodomyrtus tomentosa
Sinhala : සීතා පේර [Seetha pera]
Rose Myrtle is native to Asia including China and Australia. In Sri Lanka this plant grows naturally in highlands elevation above the sea level is greater than 1500 meters. It has pink flowers and edible fruits.

Common gorse (Ulex europaeus)

English : Common gorse

Binomial Name : Ulex europaeus

U. europaeus is native to western Europe and has been introduced to Sri Lanka. Now It is considered as an invasive plant in Horton National Park. This shrub can be seen commonly in roadsides of Horton National Park and Nuwaraeliya.

Actinodaphne speciosa

Binomial Name : Actinodaphne speciosa

Sinhala : අලි කන් / පොල්කටු [Ali Kan/ Polkatu]

A.speciosa is an endemic tree that grows in central highlands of Sri Lanka. It has huge tough leaves that droop when cold. Due to that reason, it is given the Sinhala name 'Ali kan' with the meaning of "Ears of elephant".

Blue Glassy Tiger (Ideopsis similis)

English : Blue Glassy Tiger  

Binomial Name : Ideopsis similis

I. similis is a butterfly belongs to Nymphalidae family.It can be found in Asia. This butterfly can be identified by bluish and whitish markings of wings. In Sri Lanka it has been restricted to lowland wet zone.

Wild Turnip (Arisaema leschenaultii)

English : Wild turnip
Binomial Name : Arisaema leschenaultii
Sinhala :  වල් කිඩාරම් [Wal Kidaram]

A. leschenaultii is an herbaceous plant that grows in India and Sri Lanka. In Sri Lanka it has been restricted to central highlands. Tubers of this plant is used in traditional medicine of Sri Lanka.

Exacum trinervium

English : Exacum

Binomial Name : Exacum trinervium

Sinhala : නිල් බිනර / ගිනිහිරියා [Nil Binara / Ginihiriya]

Small herb that grows in grass lands. In Sri Lanka few subspecies have been found and they are endemic. This plant is used in traditional medicine.

Common Mormon (Papilio polytes)

Male

Female

Female

English : Common Mormon
Binomial Name : Papilio polytes

This butterfly has been distributed across Asia including Sri Lanka. It mimics Inedible Common Rose and the Crimson Rose to protect themselves from predators. In Sri Lanka they have been distributed in all climatic zones.

Common Tiger (Danaus genutia)

English : Common Tiger / Striped Tiger
Binomial Name : Danaus genutia

Common Tiger is a butterfly lives in India,, Myanmar and Sri Lanka. In Sri Lanka it has been distributed across all regions. This butterfly is ignored by predators due to its unpleasant taste and smell.