06. Asian Elephant

 

Common Name:   Asiatic elephant 

Scientific Name:   Elephas maximus 

Animal Family:   Elephantidae

Population:   Asian elephants once roamed across most of asia, now they're restricted to just 15% of there original range, in a number of fragmented and isolated population around south and south east Asia. Today, there are fewer than 50,000 Asian elephants left in the wild.

Description:  Slightly smaller than their Afircan cousins,adult Asian elephants weigh on average between 6000 and 12000 pounds .They typically stand. 6 to 12 feet tall at the shoulders. Males are usually larger than females .

Habitat:  Asian elephanta are found in isolated pockets of India and Southeast Asia, including Sumatra and Borneo.

Foods:  Cultivated crops such as bananas, rice and sugarcane are favourite foods.

05. Sri Lankan Spotted Chevrotain

 

Common Name:   Mouse- deer

Scientific Name:   Moschiola meminna 

Animal Family:   Tragulidae

Description:   Head and body length in the species typically is 55-60 cm. It is dull brown in color with three or four dotted white stripes going longitudinally along flank.

Habitat:   In Sri lanka, this species is found in the dry zone and is replaced in the wet zone by the yellow- striped chevrotain.

Foods:   Mostly on row fruits or succlent fruits- like produce of palnts such as roots, shoots, nuts and seeds. 

04. Golden Plam Civet

 

Common Name:   Kalawedda 

Scientific Name:   Paradoxurus zeylonensis

Animal Family:   Viverrids

Description:   The golden plam civet has two morphs- one golden and one dark brown. Specimens from montane areas are darker,slightly greyish -toned wood-brown, and paler on the underside with a yellowish- white tail tip.The rounded ears have hairless edges.The eyes large with vertical pupils.

 Habitat:   Lowland rainforest , montane evergreen forests , and also dense monsoon forest.

Foods:   Friuts, berries, invertebrates, and a wide range of small vertebrates.

03.Sri Lanka Leopard

 

Common Name:   Diviya

Scientific Name:   Panthera pardus kotiya 

Animal Family:   Felidae

Population:   The leopard population is estimated to number around 646 individual in protected areas and 163 animals in unprotected regions.The total number is estimated to lie between 700-950 animal in sri lanka.no subpopulation is thought to be larger than 250 individuals.

Description:   The Sri lanka leopard is still found in all habitat throughout the island in both protected and unprotected areas.

Habitat:   Sri lanka leopard are native to the island of Sri lanka. They are found in a range of habitats from open savannah  to rainforest.

Foods:   small mammals,birds and reptiles, as well as larger animals.The animals also preys on sambar,barking deer,wild boar, and monkeys.