Malabar trogon (Harpactes fasciatus)

Male

English: Malabar trogon
Binomial: Harpactes fasciatus
Sinhala: 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 insects. Forest fragmentation is the major threat for the bird.

Velvet-fronted nuthatch (Sitta frontalis)

English: Velvet-fronted nuthatch
Binomial: Sitta frontalis
Sinhala: විල්ලුද නළල් යටිකුරිත්තා[Willuda nalal yatikuriththa]

Sitta frontalis is a passerine bird found in some Asian countries including Sri Lanka. It feeds on insects and some other small creatures on stems of trees by climbing up and down while keeping the head down. Above bird was photographed in April at Hakgala Botanical Garden.

Liparis elliptica

Binomial Name: Liparis elliptica

Liparis elliptica is a globally distributed species of wild orchid. Above photographs were taken in December in the highlands of Sri Lanka.

Asanka's shrub frog (Pseudophilautus asankai)

English: Asanka's shrub frog
Binomial: Pseudophilautus asankai
Sinhala: අසංකගේ පඳුරු මැඩියා[Asankage panduru madiya]

Asanka's shrub frog is an endemic shrub frog found in Sri Lanka. It's population has been restricted to the central highland where the elevation above the sea level is between 810 - 1830m. Body color varies in a vast range including light green, ash, light blue or brown ect. Agrochemicals and habitat loss has become a major threat for this frog. IUCN Red List status is 'Endangered'.

Dancing Dropwing (Trithemis pallidinervis)

Female

English: Dancing Dropwing/Long Legged Marsh Glidder
Binomial: Trithemis pallidinervis

Dancing Dropwing is a dragonfly fond in both wet zone and dry zone of Sri Lanka. Apart from Sri Lanka it has been recorded from many other Asian countries. IUCN Red List status of this dragonfly is 'Least Concern'.

Little orange tip (Colotis etrida)

English: Little orange tip
Binomial: Colotis etrida

Little 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.

Cyathea sinuata

Binomial Name: Cyathea sinuata

An 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.