07. Magura

 

Common Name:   Sri Lanka walking catfish 

Scientific Name:   Clarias brachysona

Animal Family:   Clariidea

Size:    Grows up to 50cm. Body color varies from dark brown to light brown. There are 3 pairs of barbels around the mouth. Black dots are scattered all over the body and an anal fin and a dorsal fin can be seen continuously growing to the caudal fin. Sticky yellow eggs are laid on a nest made of aquatic plants. Eggs are guarded by male fish . Currently under threat.

Habitat:   It is not found in the mountains and northern areas, but can be found in the Lowland of the Toka region, and in swamps where fresh water gathers around lagoon.

Food:   Carnivorous. Eat fish, Crab,and frogs.

06. Wilpita Dandiya

 

Common Name:   Sri Lanka Wilpita Rasbora

Scientific Name:   Rasbora wilpita

 
Animal Family:   Cyprinidea 

Population:   Endangered

 
Description:   Grow up to 8cm. It has an elongated body with a terminal mouth. The dorsal side is olive brown and the lateral side shows a pink color, besides a blue line running from the nasal to the hypural. The upper border of this line has a sharp edge and the bottom has a tooth- edged pattern, ventrally it is white. The fins are transparent and the pectoral,anal and caudal fins show a yellow color.

Habitat:   Kelani to Nilwala river basin. Shaded slow flowing streams with muddy or leafy substrates.

Foods:   slow sinking granules, frozen food such as bloodworms, white mosquito larvae

05. Bulath Hapaya

 

Common Name:   Black Ruby Bar / Head barb

Scientific name:   Pethia nigrofasciata

Animal Family:   Cyprinidae 

Population:   Vulnerable 

Description:   Grows up to 6-8cm. Females are slightly longer than male. Young fish have a yellow -gray body with black vertical stripes. Breeding males are dark red. Lays more than 100 eggs in shallow water between plants. The eggs hatch in a day or two and fish can be seen after 24 hours.

Habitat:  In streams fresh water on hilla around 1000ft. 

Food:    flake , granules, pellets, algae wafers and frozen foods.

04. Le Thittaya

Common Name:   Cherry Barb

Scientific Name:   Puntius titteya

Animal Family:   cyprinidae

Population:   Vulnerable 

Description:   A fish with a small elongated body. It grows up to 5cm long. Female have a faint green sheen and their flanks and bellies are highlighted with shiny silver.It may have a pinkish tone on the back and upper sides. A horizontal bar extended from the tip of the nose through the eye to the base of the caudal fin. The male has a red color, becoming very dark red (cherry fruit color) when breeding. Female have two pink stripes down their sides, which darken when ready to breed. The female lays between 200 and 300 eggs, which she scatters on plants and substrate. Chicks can be seen after 4 days.

Habitat:   Heavily shaded, shallow , and clam water

Food:   Small insects,Crustaceans,and detritus.