Half-webbed Pug-snout Frog (Uperodon palmatus)

English: Half-webbed Pug-snout Frog
Binomial: Uperodon palmatus/Ramanella palmata
Sinhala: පාකර්ගේ මොට හොඹු මැඩියා[Pakerge mota hombu madiya]

Half-webbed Pug-snout Frog is an endemic species of frogs restricted to the central highlands of Sri Lanka. Above photographed specimen was found close to a forest in Nuwaraeliya district and the elevation above sea level of the location was about 1894m. It is considered to be a rare species due to the limited distribution of the population. This frog is morphologically more similar to Uperodon obscurus. But the differences in webbed feet can be used to distinguish one form other.

Currently limited researches have been done related to the breeding biology of this species. According to those researches, Mr. Anaslem de Silva has reported that he has observed the tadpoles of this frog in phytothelms in Horton National Park (de Silva, 1999). In addition to that in a research done by Dr. Kanishka Ukuwela and others have reported that they have observed the tadpoles of this frog in rock pools close to a stream in Seetha Eliya(Ukuwela, Silva, and Athukorala 2010).

IUCN Red List status of this amphibian is 'Endangerd'. Agricultural activities, logging, forest dieback and droughts can be regarded as major threats for the species.

References:

• De Silva, Anselm. 1999. The habitat preferences and the status of amphibians and reptiles at Horton Plains National Park. Report, Zoological Survey of Sri Lanka. National Science Foundation, Colombo. 67 pp.
  
• Ukuwela, K. D. B., E. I. L. Silva, and N. P. Athukorala 2010 The Tadpole of Ramanella Palmata (Anura: Microhylidae), a Frog Endemic to Sri Lanka. Zootaxa 2628: 63–65.
• The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(tm) 2015-4 - http://www.iucnredlist.org
• Manamendra-Arachchi, K. & R. Pethiyagoda (2006): Sri Lankan amphibians [in Sinhala]. – WHT Publications, Colombo

Conchidium braccatum/Eria braccata

Binomial Name: Conchidium braccatum/Eria braccata

Conchidium braccatum is a wild orchid found in highlands of Sri Lanka and in India. Above photographs were taken at "Sri Pada" Peak Wilderness sanctuary in August.

Chestnut Streaked Sailer (Neptis jumbah)

English: Chestnut Streaked Sailer
Binomial: Neptis jumbah

Neptis jumbah is a widely distributed butterfly in many countries in the world including Sri Lanka. It is more similar to Common Sailer. But it is less common compared to Common Sailer and mostly lives in well-wooded areas. Above photographed one was found at Makandawa rain forest in Kithulgala. IUCN Red List status of this butterfly is 'LC'.

Bigfoot shrub frogs (Pseudophilautus macropus)

English: Bigfoot shrub frogs
Binomial: Pseudophilautus macropus
Sinhala: විශාල පාදැති පඳුරු මැඩියා [Wishala padathi panduru madiya]

Pseudophilautus macropus is an endemic species of shrug frogs restricted to the Knuckles region of Sri Lanka. This frog is normally found near the streams and on wet rock surfaces. It is morphologically more similar to Pseudophilautus sarasinorum. Due to the limited habitat distribution, it is in the category of  'Critically Endagered'.

References: 

• The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(tm) 2015-4 - http://www.iucnredlist.org 
• Manamendra-Arachchi, K. & R. Pethiyagoda (2006): Sri Lankan amphibians [in Sinhala]. – WHT Publications, Colombo.

Podochilus malabaricus

Binomial: Podochilus malabaricus
Sinhala: 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 a mixture of white and pink and the plant has partially opened flowers even when fully bloomed. Above photographed one was found in "Sri Pada” Peak Wilderness sanctuary in April, 2015

References:

• An Annotated Checklist of the Orchids of Sri Lanka, Samantha Suranjan Fernando and Paul Ormerod
• Podochilus warnagalensis (Orchidaceae), a new species from Sri Lanka ISHARA H. WIJEWARDANA, THARAKA S. PRIYADARSHANA, NANDUN S. ARANGALA, ANUSHA G. ATTHANAGODA, RAKITHA T.B. SAMARAKOON, PANKAJ KUMAR

Yebury's Elf (Tetrathemis yerburii)

English: Yebury's Elf
Binomial: Tetrathemis yerburii

Yebury's Elf is an endemic species of dragonflies found in Sri Lanka. Population of this dragonfly has been spread in the southwestern and eastern parts of the island (Sumanapala, Podduwage, and Dayananda 2016). Distinct metallic blue-green eyes are the easiest method of identifying it. Above photographed one was found while perched on a bush close to a pond in Sinharaja forest reserve in June, 2015. It is in the category of 'Endangered' in the IUCN Red List. Destruction of primary and secondary forests can be the major threats for the species.

References:

• Sumanapala, Amila P., Divanka R. Podduwage, and Salindra K. Dayananda 2016 New Locality Records and Range Extensions for Several Threatened Species of Odonata in Sri Lanka. Check List 12(4): 1921.
• Dragonflies of Sri Lanka - Matjaž Bedjaniè, Karen Conniff, Gehan de Silva Wijeyeratne
• The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(tm) 2015-4 - http://www.iucnredlist.org

Lieftinck's Sprite (Archibasis lieftincki)

English: Lieftinck's Sprite
Binomial: Archibasis lieftincki

Archibasis lieftincki is an endemic species of damselflies found in Sri Lanka. It is a recently described (Conniff & Bedjanič, 2013) species restricted to the wet zone forests. They can be seen perching on the vegetation in the margins of rivlets of the forest. In a research done by Amila Sumanapala and others (Sumanapala, Podduwage, and Dayananda 2016) they have mentioned Pahiyangala, Indikada Mukalana,Thotaha and Walallawita for observed locations for the species. Above photographed ones were found in a rivlet at Gilimale forest reserve and in a margin of a pond at the Sinharaja forest reserve in June. IUCN Red List status of this damselfly has not been evaluated yet. But any activity that changes the environmental conditions of law land forest ecosystems might be a threat for the species.

References:

• Sumanapala, Amila P., Divanka R. Podduwage, and Salindra K. Dayananda 2016 New Locality Records and Range Extensions for Several Threatened Species of Odonata in Sri Lanka. Check List 12(4): 1921.
• Dragonflies of Sri Lanka - Matjaž Bedjaniè, Karen Conniff, Gehan de Silva Wijeyeratne

Kotagama's toad (Duttaphrynus kotagamai)

Parietal ridges and parotid glands are not much visible in a juvenile

English: Kotagama's toad
Binomial: Duttaphrynus kotagamai/Bufo kotagamai
Sinhala: 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 this species can be easily distinguished from other members of Bufonidae family found in Sri Lanka by the prominent inwardly-curved parietal ridges of the head. In a research done by Dr. Prithiviraj Fernando and others (Fernando & Dayawansa, 1994) it is mentioned that the species can be observed on rocky margins of streams, sand banks, vicinity of streams and in the leaf litter of the forest. In the research paper they have mentioned that Sinharaja, Kithulgala and Massana rain forest for distributed locations.

Above photographed ones were also observed in the leaf litter at the Makandawa rain forest, Kithulgala in March and December of 2015. We did not observe any streams very close to the observed location and believed that they have moved to that location from a nearby stream after the metamorphosis. In the IUCN Red List it is in the category of ‘Endangerd’. Habitat loss and human disturbances are said to be the major threat for the existence of this species.

Referances:

• Bufo kotagamai, a new toad (Bufonidae) from Sri Lanka P Fernando, N Dayawansa, M SIRIWARDENA Journal of South Asian natural History 1 (1), 119-124
• The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(tm) 2015-4 - http://www.iucnredlist.org
• Manamendra-Arachchi, K. & R. Pethiyagoda (2006): Sri Lankan amphibians [in Sinhala]. – WHT Publications, Colombo.

Sri Lanka Treebrown (Lethe daretis)

English: Sri Lanka Treebrown
Binomial: Lethe daretis

Sri Lanka Treebrown is a endemic species of butterflies restricted to the montane zone of Sri Lanka. Host plants of this butterfly belongs to poaceae family(Bamboo family). Due to that reason, a popular place to observe this butterfly is among the bamboo bushes of Horton National Park. Above photograph was taken at Galway's Land National Park in Nuwaraelya.

Pruinosed Bloodtail (Lathrecista asiatica asiatica)

English: Pruinosed Bloodtail
Binomial: Lathrecista asiatica asiatica

It is a widespread species of dragonflies found in many countries in the world. In Sri Lanka, the population has been distributed in the lowlands. Above photographed specimen was found in Gilimale area in the Rathnapura district. In the IUCN Red List it is in the category of 'Least Concern'.

Reference:

• Dragonflies of Sri Lanka - Matjaž Bedjaniè, Karen Conniff, Gehan de Silva Wijeyeratne
• The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(tm) 2015-4 - http://www.iucnredlist.org

Yellow-wattled lapwing (Vanellus malabaricus)

English: Yellow-wattled lapwing
Binomial: Vanellus malabaricus
Sinhala: කහ-යටිමල් කිරළා

Yellow-wattled lapwing is a common bird found in the Indian sub continent. They mainly live in dry areas compared to the Red-wattled lapwing. Females lay eggs in a nest made in the ground. Color of the eggs is light brown and there are blackish-brown spots scattered on the surface. It is 'Least concerned' in the IUCN Red List. Above photographs were taken at Yala National Park in June, 2015.

Sri Lanka wolf snake (Lycodon carinatus)

Scales are identical in size and keeled.

English: Sri Lanka wolf snake
Binomial: Lycodon carinatus
Sinhala: දාර රදනකයා[Dara Radanakaya]

Sri Lanka wolf snake is an endemic and nocturnal species of snakes found in Sri Lanka. They mainly live in lowland wet and submontane zones and prefer damp forest areas. Above photographed one also found while it was in a wet place of the forest ground. This species is non-venomous. But it greatly mimics deadly venomous Sri Lankan krait in morphology and coloration. This snake has identically sized rough scales on the back and those have been keeled. But Kraits have large hexagonal line of scales running down the spine and the body of the Krait is shiny compared to the Sri Lankan wolf snake.

Referaces: 

•  L. J Mendis Wickramasinghe: Recognizing Deadly Venomous Snakes form Harmless Snakes of Sri Lanka – Dilmah conservation
•  Richira Somaweera : Snakes of Sri Lanka[in Sinhala]

Cleisostoma tenuifolium

Binomial Name: Cleisostoma tenuifolium

C. tenuifolium is a wild orchid found in lowland wet zone forests of Sri Lanka. In addition to that, the same species has been recorded in India and Thailand. Above photographs were taken at Meethirigala forest reserve in August.

Reference: An Annotated Checklist of the Orchids of Sri Lanka, Samantha Suranjan Fernando and Paul Ormerod

Ana Mia's Shadowdamsel (Ceylonosticta anamia)

English: Ana Mia's Shadowdamsel
Binomial: Ceylonosticta anamia

Ana Mia's Shadowdamsel is an endemic species of damselflies found in the wet zone forests of Sri Lanka. Its orange-yellowish colored prothorax is an easy identification method for this shadowdamsel. Above photographed ones were found in Kalugala and Meethirigala forests.

Reference: Dragonflies of Sri Lanka - Matjaž Bedjaniè, Karen Conniff, Gehan de Silva Wijeyeratne

Plum Judy (Abisara echerius)

English: Plum Judy
Binomial: Abisara echerius

Plum Judy is a butterfly belongs to Riodinidae and they have been distributed in many Asian countries including Sri Lanka. This butterfly is always found in the forest and common in lower elevations.

Cheeky shrub frog (Philautus procax)

Juvenile

English: Cheeky shrub frog
Binomial: Philautus procax
Sinhala: කම්මුලේ පැල්ලමැති පඳුරු මැඩියා[Kammule pallamathi panduru madiya]

Philautus procax is an endemic species of shrub frogs found in Sri Lankan highlands. The known population of this frog is restricted to the Rakwana Hills of the Eastern Sinharaja. Bearing a white patch between lower margin of the eye and the upper lip is a distinctive character which is the easiest identification method from other amphibians found in the same region. In the described research paper (Manamendra-Arachchi and Pethiyagoda 2005), they have mentioned that the holotype of the species was found in the elevation of 1060m at Morningside Forest Reserve. Above photographed ones were also found in Sooriyakanda area where the elevation is about 1080m above the sea level. Observed place was a closed-canopy cloud forest and there was a small water stream close to the perched shrubs. It is ‘Critically Endangered’ In the IUCN Red List and any activity that changes the environmental conditions of cloud forests might be a threat for the species.

References:

• Manamendra-Arachchi, K., and Pethiyagoda, R. (2005). ''The Sri Lankan shrub-frogs of the genus Philautus Gistel, 1848 (Ranidae: Rhacophorinae), with description of 27 new species.'' Raffles Bulletin of Zoology, Supplement 12, 163-303.
• The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(tm) 2015-4 - http://www.iucnredlist.org 
• Manamendra-Arachchi, K. & R. Pethiyagoda (2006): Sri Lankan amphibians [in Sinhala]. – WHT Publications, Colombo.

Mahatha helaya

Binomial name: Mahatha helaya

Mahatha helaya is an endemic species of freshwater crabs found in the hill country of Sri Lanka. This crab is only known from its type locality, near Kalupahana in the borders of water streams close to the main Colombo-Haputale road (Bahir and Ng 2005). All the members of the genus Mahatha are endemic to the island and the species name 'helaya' also has a Sinhala meaning, which is a name for an inhabitant of Sri Lanka. In the IUCN Red list, it is 'Critically Endangerd' due to the very limited distribution.

Above photographed specimens were also found very close to the defined type locality, where margins of a roadside stream at Kalupahana. All human activities that change the aquatic environment of river margins will be the main risk for the survival of this species.

References:

• Bahir, Mohomed M., and Peter KL Ng 2005 Descriptions of Ten New Species of Freshwater Crabs (Crustacea: Brachyura: Parathelphusidae: Ceylonthelphusa, Mahatha, Perbrinckia) from Sri Lanka. Raffles Bulletin of Zoology, Supplement 12: 47–75.
• The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(tm) 2015-4 - http://www.iucnredlist.org
• Identification guide provided by: Mr. M. M. Bahir

Bine's Shadowdamsel (Ceylonosticta bine)

English: Bine's Shadowdamsel
Binomial: Ceylonosticta bine

Ceylonosticta bine is a damselfly restricted to the wet zone. All members of the genus Ceylonosticta are endemic to Sri Lanka. Above photographed one was found at Gilimale rain forest.

 Reference: Dragonflies of Sri Lanka - Matjaž Bedjaniè, Karen Conniff, Gehan de Silva Wijeyeratne

Sri Lankan Blue Oak leaf (Kallima philarchus)

English: Sri Lankan Blue Oak leaf
Binomial: Kallima philarchus

Sri Lankan Blue Oak leaf is an endemic species of butterflies found in Sri Lanka. They normally rest on trunks of trees pointing the head downwards. When it fold the wings together, its body shape and the color resemble a dried leaf which can mislead predators. The upper side of the wings is blue in color that is only visible if the wings are opened. Host plants of this butterfly belong to Acanthaceae family and above photograph was taken at Sinharaja.

Sri Lanka Petite Shrub-frog (Pseudophilautus tanu)

English: Sri Lanka Petite Shrub-frog
Binomial: Pseudophilautus tanu

Sri Lanka Petite Shrub-frog is an endemic species of amphibians found in the law-land wet zone forests of Sri Lanka. It can be observed in open areas of canopy covered forest margins. In the research paper (PETHIYAGODA 2009) they have mentioned that this species was observed in Kanneliya and Pituwela rain forests. In addition to that it has been mentioned that the species might occur in other lowland wet zone forests of the island. It is believed that this species also lay eggs in the soil, which is the common egg laying behavior of the genus Pseudophilautus.
Above photographs were taken at Gilimale rain forest, Rathnapura. Photographed location was a forest margin and there were small water streams closed to the fern trees which we found above specimen. Any human activity that change the environmental consistency of forest margins such as adding garbage and agricultural activities can be considered as the main threats for the species. IUCN Red list status of this frog is 'Endangered'.

Referance:

• PETHIYAGODA, ROHAN 2009 Two New Species of Shrub Frogs (Rhacophoridae: Philautus) from the Lowlands of Sri Lanka. Zootaxa 2122: 51–68.
• The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(tm) 2015-4 - http://www.iucnredlist.org