Common Name: Beaked Sea Snake
Scientific Name: Hydrophis cyanocinctus
Animal Family: Elapidae
Description: Adults typically range from 1 to 1.2 meters in length. There aren't significant visual differences between male and female Beaked Sea Snakes.
Found where: They can be found in the coastal water and coral reefs around Sri Lanka.
Habitat: They inhabit coral reefs, coastal water, and estuaries.
Food: Beaked Sea Snakes primarily feed on small fish and eels.
Common Name: Slender Coral Snake
Scientific Name: Calliophis melanurus
Animal Family: Elapidae
Description: Typically around 50-70 cm in length. Generally similar in appearance.
Found Where: They are especially in the wet zone and intermediate zone of Sri Lanka.
Habitat: Found in forests areas.
Food: Feeds mainly on small reptiles and amphibians.
Common Name: Oriental rat snake
Scientific Name: Ptyas mucosa
Animal Family: Colubridae
Description: Typically around 5 to 8 cm in length
Found where: The Oriental rat snake can be found across various ecological zones in Sri Lanka. These zones include the wet zone, dry zone, and intermediate zone.
Habitat: They inhabit various environments, including forests, grasslands, and urban areas.
Food: They feed on insects such as beetles and ants.
Scientific Name: Dendrelaphis schokari
Animal Name: Colubridae
Description: They are relatively small snakes, typically ranging from 60 to 100 cm in length. In terms of sexual dimorphism, male Schokari's bronzeback snake tend to have slightly longer tails compared to females.
Found where: Schokari's bronzeback snake are found wet, intermediate, and dry zones in Sri Lanka.
Habitat: Their habitat includes a variety of environment such as forests, plantations, gardens, and rural areas.
Food: They primarily feed on small vertebrates such as lizard, frogs, and occasionally small birds.
Common Name: Templeton's kukri snake
Scientific Name: Oligodon templetoni
Animal Familiy: Colubridae
Description: They are relatively small snakes, typically ranging from 30 to 50 cm in length. In terms of sexual dimorphism, male Templeton's kukri snake tend to have slightly longer tails compared to females.
Found where: Templeton's kukri snake are found in Sri Lanka, particularly in the lowland rainforest and wet zone areas.
Habitat: Their habitat includes dense vegetation, such as forests, shrubs, and gardens, where they can find shelter and prey.
Food: They primarily feed on small vertebrates, such as lizard and frogs.
Common Name: Sri Lankan Hump-nosed Viper
Scientific Name: Hypnale hypnale
Animal Family: Viperidae
Description: The vipers typically range in size from 50-70 cm in length. One of the main differences is in size, with females generally being lager and bulkier than males. Additionally, male Hump-nosed Vipers typically have longer tails relative to their body size compared to females. Coloration and pattern may also vary slightly between the sexes, with males sometimes having brighter or more vivid marking.
Found where: Lives in the lowlands of Sri Lanka
Habitat: They are found in various habitats throughout Sri Lanka, including forests, plantation, and gardens.
Food: Their diet mainly consists of small mammals, amphibians, and reptiles.
Scientific Name: Oecophylla smaragdina
Animal Family: Formicidae (ants)
Description: Weaver ants are known for their complex social structure and them ability to construct intricate nests by weaving leaves together using silk produced by their larvae. They are typically red or reddish-brown in color and have a distinctive slender body with long legs and antennae.
Population: Weaver ants are found in larger populations, often forming extensive colonies consisting of thousands of individuals.
Found where: Weaver ants native to tropical and subtropical regions, particularly in Southeast Asia.
Habitat: They inhabit a variety of environments including forests, gardens, and arboreal, meaning they
Common Name: Buff Striped Keelback
Scientific Name: Amphiesma stolatum
Animal Family: Colubridae
Description: Typically measures around 40-60cm in length. In the Buff Striped Keelback sexual dimorphism is not very pronounced. Both male and female individuals typically have similar appearances in terms of size, coloration, and body structure. Distinguishing between males and females based solely on physical characteristics can be challenging.
Found where: In Sri Lanka, they are found in the jungles, or in the interior of the country.
Habitat: The Buff Striped Keelback can be found in a range of habitats including lowland rainforests, marshes, swamps, grasslands, and agricultural areas.
Food: The diet of the Buff Striped Keelback primarily consists of amphibians such as toads, along with small fish.
Scientific Name: Agelenidae
Family: Agelinidae
Description: Agelenidae spiders are usually medium-sized spiders known for their distinctive funnel-shaped wings. They have long bodies with long, thin legs. They vary in color but generally include blue, white, or tan. They have eight eight eyes arranged in two rows.
Population: Agelnidae spider populations can vary depending on factors such as habitat suitability and prey availability. They are genearlly widespread and not considered a threat.
Found where: These spiders are found all worldwide, with species inhabiting various regions and ecosystems.
Habitat: These spiders are commonly found in grassy areas, forests, meadows, and other vegetation-rich environments. They often build their funnel-shaped webs in low vegetation, along the ground, or in corners of buildings and structures.
Food: These spiders are carnivorous and primarily feed on insects that become trapped in their webs. They typically prey on small insects such as flies, mosquitoes, and beetles. Once ensnared in the web, the spider will immobilize its prey with silk before consuming it.
Scientific Name: Barychelidae (family), with various species within it.
Animal Family: Barychrlidae
Description: Barychelid Spiders are typically medium to large-size spiders with robust bodies. They often have a stocky appearance and are well adapted for burrowing.
Population: Population sizes may very depend on the species and their habitat condition. Specific population data for individual species may not be readily available.
Found where: Barychelidae spiders are found in various regions worldwide, particularly in tropical and subtropical areas.
Habitat: These spiders inhabit a range of environments, including forest, grasslands, and deserts. They are known for their burrowing behavior, often constructing silk-lined burrows in soil or beneath rocks and logs.
Food: Barychelidae spiders are carnivorous, feeding primarily on insects and other small invertebrates that they catch using their silk webs or by ambushing prey near their burrows.
Common Name: Barred Danio
Animal Family: Cyprinidae
Description : Around 8-10 blue bands can be seen all over the body. The fins are light yellow. The body grows to a size of 6-8 cm. Mature males are more colourful and noticeably slimmer plus they have orange distal edges to the ventral and anal fins, these being white in females.
Found where : The barred danio is oviparous,and is found mostly in the Nilwala River basin.
Habitat: The beautiful fish is habitat in the streams and rivers of the island nation.
Foods : It's diet consists of annelid worms,small crustaceans, and insects.
Population: Least Concern
Description: Grows up to 7 cm. A small fish with a slender body. Identifying gender. It has two black spots. Base of dorsal fin and junction of body and caudal fin. It has a band of color from the eyes to where he fins are. In nature males, the red band is dark red with a bronze green stripe. The eyes are red. Outer semicircle. In females, the red color is less, and the world belt will be difficult to distinguish from its body color.
Habitat: Inhabits hill streams, lowland Swamps and dry zone rivers and tanks.
Foods: Green algae and detritus
Common Name: Sri Lanka stone sucker
Animal Family: Cyprinidae
Population: Common
Description: Grows up to 15 cm. A small elongated fish. The lower side of the body is gray and upper side is yellow. A dark black line can be seen on both of the body from head to the dorsal fin. The fins are dark brown in color.It is special that the mouth is turned under. Two small buds are located in front of the month.
Habitat: This fish prefer rapidly flowing water bodies which contains rock.
Food: Aquatic plants and Aquatic insects
Scientific Name: Clubionidae
Animal Family: Clubionidae
Description: Sac Spiders are small to medium-sized spiders with a pale yellow to light brown coloration. They have long legs and a cylindrical body, and their characteristic feature is the sac- like retreat they construct for shelter.
Population: Sac Spider are relatively common and can be found in various regions worldwide.
Found where: They are found in a wide range of habitats, including forests, grasslands, urban areas, and agricultural fields.
Habitat: Sac Spiders prefer to dwell in vegetation, under rock, and in crevices. They are nocturnal hunters and use their silk retreats to rest during the day and hunt at night.
Food: Sac Spiders primarily feed on insects, such as ants, flies, and small moths, which they catch by ambushing or actively hunting.
Scientific Name: Corinnidae
Animal Family: Arachnids
Description: Corinnidae Spider are a diverse family of spiders known for their varying size, colors, and behaviors. They typically have compact bodies and robust legs, often with distinct pattens or markings.
Population: The population of Corinnidae spiders varies depending on their specific species and Habitats. Some Species may be more abundant in certain regions, while others may be less common.
Found where: Corinndae spider are found worldwide, with species inhabiting diverse ecosystems ranging from tropical rainforests to deserts and temperate forests.
Habitat: They are adaptable spiders including leaf litter, under rocks, in vegetation, and even in human structures such as house and buildings.
Food: Corinnidae spiders are predators, feeding on a variety of small insects and other arthropods. They often hunt by ambushing their prey or by constructing silk retreats where they wait for passing prey.
Common Name: Green Vine Snake
Scientific Name: Ahaetulla nasuta
Animal Family: Colubridae
Description: Average length 120cm. Maximum length 200cm. There are some subtle difference between males and female. Female tend to be slightly larger than males especially in terms of body length. Some males may have slightly broader heads than females, but difference can be subtle. In some cases, there might be slight difference in coloration or pattern between males and females, but this can vary.
Found where: Ahaetulla nasuta is endemic to the Central and Southwestern wet zone of Sri Lanka.
Habitat: Found in low bushes, shrubs and trees in lowland forest terrain at elevations up to about 1000 meteres, particular near streams and often found near human settlements.
Food: They normally feed on frogs amd lizard using their binocular vision to hunt.
Common Name: Forsten's cat snake
Scientific Name: Boiga forsteni
Animal Family: Colubridae
Description: It is the largest among Cat Snakes and can grow up to 230cm. But generally found in 120-150cm range. This species is sexually dichromatic, males are green and females are brown in colour.
Found where: We can found this wonderful snake at Yala National Park.
Habitat: The preferred habitats of Boiga forsteni are lowland forests and agricultural areas.
Food: Boiga forsteni preys on lizards, snakes, birds, bats, and rodents.
Common Name: Ornate Paradise fish
Found where: South- western ichthyological province.
Population: Vulnerable
Description: In length about 10cm the surface of the lake has a bright green color and the lateral sides have a red color mixed with silver. Also 3 black spots can be seen laterally. The dorsal fin of the male is filamentous and has a bright teal green spot near the tip. Male fish are smaller and more colorful than female fish.
Habitat: It inhabit shallow, slow-flowing streams in forested areas shaded with plentiful vegetation near the edges.
Scientific Name: Jmides Lacteata
Animal Family: Lucanidae
Size: Small-sized butterfly with a wingspan of about 30-35 mm
Population: Specific population numbers are not well documented, but it is generally considered to be not rare in its natural habitats.
Found Where: Primarily found in Sri Lanka.
Habitat: The Milky Cerulean typically inhabits forests, woodland edges, and garden.
Foods: The adults are often seen feeding on nectar from various flowering plants.
Common Name: Smooth-breasted snakehead/ Brown snake head
Scientific Name: Channa orientails
Animal Family: Channidae
Population: Near Threatened
Description: Grows up to 15cm. The surface is dark brown ad the belly is white. Dorsal and ventral dark brown oblique stripes. The pectoral fins are light brown with scattered dark spots. The surface fin is blue and its outer edge is red. The anal fin is blue and its edge is white. There are additional respiratory organs that can use atmospheric oxygen for breathing. They can breathe on land for a while. N wet weather , they can survive on land for more than four days. If the body dries up, it dies. The male carries the eggs and the female guards the territory.
Habitat: South - Western ichthyological province, fresh water typically shaded streams
Food: plankton, insects, and small amphibians
Scientific Name: Pseudophilautus femoralis
Family: Rhacophoridae
Type : Amphiban
Clan : Chordata
About : Pseudophilautus femoralis, commonly known as the round-snout pygmy frog, is a species of frog in the family Rhacophoridae. It is endemic to Sri Lanka.
Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forests.
Common Name: Lanka Blue Laubuca
Scientific Name: Laubuka lankensis
Animal Family: Cyprinidae
Population: Near Threatened
Description: Grows up to 6-7cm. There is yellow color between the scales on the top of the body. The underside is grey. There is a blue line from the sides of the head to the tip, where yellow virum can be seen. The fin are transparent. Anal fine is quite large. The female is lighter in color than the male.
Habitat: Mahaweli ichthyological province
Common Name: Red fin labea
Scientific Name: Labeo lankae
Animal Family: Cyprinidae
Population : Critically endangered
Description: Grows up to 20 - 30 cm. Surface color is olive green. Laterally it is pale and ventrally greyish white. Adult fish have reddish -orange fins. There is a teardrop -shaped dark spot near the tail fin. Outstanding buds get a pair. There is a dorsal ventral time with included fleshy lips. The color of young fish is slightly different from the appearance of an adult fish. The cubs are silver in color. Their fins are pale yellow. Red around the eyes.
Habitat: These fish found in lakes and rivers are most common in sandy and rocky places.
Food: Algae
• According to the Red Data Report, hunting and selling of these endangered fish is prohibited by law.
Scientific Name: Elymnias singala
Animal Family: Nymphalidae
Size: Adults typically have a wingspan of about 4 - 5 centimeters.
Population: Population data may vary, but this species is not considered threatened.
Found where: Endemic to Sri Lanka, primarily found in forested areas.
Habitat: Ceylon Palmfly butterflies inhabit various forested habitats, including tropical rainforests and montane forests.
Food: The larvae of Ceylon Palmfly feed on various species of palm plants, while adults primarily feed on nectar from flowers.
Scientific Name: Pachliopta jophon
Animal Family: Papilionidae
Size: The wingspan ranges from 90 to 100 millimeters.
Population: Information on population size might vary depending on recent studies, but it's considered stable overall.
Found where: It is found in Sir Lanka
Habitat: It inhabits forests and gardens, especially areas with lush vegetation.
Food: The larvae of Ceylon Rose butterflies feed on various species of Aristolochia plants
Common Name: Sri Lanka Cat Snake
Scientific Name: Boiga ceylonensis
Animal Family: Colubridae
Description: They are about 4 feet long from tip to tip with the tail 10 inches. In Boiga ceylonensis, also known as the Sri Lankan Cat Snake, sexual dimorphism is not very pronounced. Both males and females typically have similar appearance in terms of size, coloration, and body structure. Therefore, distinguishing between males and body females based on physical characteristics alone can be challenging.
Founded where: The dry lowlands, the wet zone and up to about 450meters in the hills.
Habitat: Lives in dense vegetation including bushes and trees of hills.
Food: Feeds mainly on lizards, birds, rodents, bats, frogs etc.
Scientific Name: Boiga barnseii
Animal Family: Colubridae
Description: It is the smallest cat snake in Sri Lanka and grows up to a maximum of about 600mm (24 in) in snout-length. The male and female Boiga barnesii, also known as Barnes' Cat Snake, typically have similar appearances. However, in many snake species, males tend to be slightly smaller and simmer than females, but this may not always be the case. Additionally, in some species, males may have slightly longer tails or5 broader heads compared to females, but these differences can be subtle and vary among individuals.
Founded where: Some snakes are founded in all parts of the country form the seas surrounding the island to the highest point- Horton Plains.
Habitat: They are live in a wide variety of habitats including forests, swamps, grasslands, deserts amd in both fresh amd salt water.
Food: Being a nocturnal and an arboreal hunter, it mainly feeds on agamid lizards and geckos.
Scientific Name: Idea Iasonia
Animal Family: Nymphalidae
Size: Adults typically have a wingspan of around 80-100 millimeters.
Population: Population size can vary, but they are not considered to be in any immediate danger of extinction.
Found where: Endemic to Sri Lanka, primarily found in forested areas.
Habitat & Food: They inhabit tropical and subtropical forests, often found near streams or in damp areas.
Food: As adult, they feed on nectar from various flowers, while caterpillars feed on the leaves of specific host plants.
Common Name: Sri Lankan green pit viper
Scientific Name: Trimeresurus trigonocephalus
Animal Family: Viperidae
Description: 20-25cm (7.9-9.8 in) at birth, and males grow to a maximum total length of 60-75cm (24-30 in). Generally, female tend to be larger and bulkier compared to males. While both sexes have similar coloration patterns, females may sometimes display slightly difference hues or patterns, but this can vary.
Found where: All climatic zones of the island except at high elevations and in the arid zones.
Habitat: This sluggish pit viper is usually encountered on low shrubs during morning hours, but it mostly occupies in grasslands and rain forests.
Food: Feeds on frogs, lizards, birds, small mammals, and birds.
Common Name: Ceylon krait / Sri Lankan krait
Scientific Name: Bungarus ceylonicus
Animal Family: Elapidae
Description: The average adult length for this species is 75cm (291/2inch) with 90cm (351/2 in) being the upper limit. There may be slightly differences in size, with female potentially being slightly larger or smaller than male4s, but this can vary and it not a reliable distinguishing. Both males and females typically have similar black and white banding patterns along their bodies.
Found where: In the wet zone of the island
Habitat: In shaded home gardens, plantations and rainforests.
Food: They are terrestrial, feeding mainly on other snakes but also on frogs, lizards, and small mammals.
