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Long recognized as a global biodiversity hotspot, Sri Lanka surprisingly, is still relatively little explored by scientists. The island’s biological wealth is only now coming to be assessed and appreciated, with the steady accretion of formal scientific output. Unfortunately, by the time Sri Lanka received independence from Great Britain in 1948, much of its pristine rain forests had been felled to make way for cinchona, coffee, tea and rubber plantations (the latter two still occupy more than 500,000 ha of former rain forest habitat). As a result of this, and a steadily growing population, only 9% of the island’s ‘wet zone’ [climate map] (rainfall > 2,500 mm/yr) is still forested. The plant and animal wealth of this small area is breathtaking however.  

Flowering plants

Around 3,400 species of flowering-plant species have been recorded from Sri Lanka, some 24% (800 species) being endemic to the island. Some 92% of the endemic species occur in the island's "wet zone" (rainfall > 2,500 mm/yr), the formerly rain-forested southwestern quarter, today dominated by tea and rubber plantations.
	Although just 4% of Sri Lanka’s lowland rainforests now survive, the fauna of the forest canopy is yet to be explored…
Eighty-six mammal species are recognized from Sri Lanka, excluding marine mammals but including 29 species of bats. Endemic genera (all monotypic) include the rodent genus Srilankamys and the shrew genera Feroculus and Solisorex. Large mammals— especially the Asian elephant (Elephas maximus), leopard (Panthera pardus) and bear (Melursus ursinus) play in important role in attracting tourists to Sri Lanka's national parks.

Mammals

The spotted deer or chital (Axis axis), a native of Sri Lanka’s dry lowland forests	The sloth bear (Melursus ursinus) occurs primarily in Sri Lanka’s lowland deciduous forests.	The leopard (Panthera pardus) is considered Sri Lanka’s top carnivore; the island’s leopard population is considered to belong to the distinct subspecies P. p. kotiya.

Only some 5% of male Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) in Sri Lanka have tusks. The island’s elephant population is endangered as a result of conflict with farming communities that surround the mega-herbivore’s habitat

The macaque (Macaca sinica), inappropriately named as it is, is endemic to Sri Lanka, and occurs almost everywhere.

Birds

Some 227 species of birds are resident in Sri Lanka, 23 of them being presently considered endemic to the island. Additionally, some 95 migrant, 24 pelagic and 75 incidental species have been recorded. Several wetland areas offer excellent birding, as does also the Sinharaja World Heritage Site, at which many of the island's endemic species may be seen.

Malabar pied hornbill (Anthracoceros coronatus), one of two species of hornbill occurring in Sri Lanka.	The Sri Lanka junglefowl (Gallus lafayettii), a species endemic to the island.	The peacock (Pavo cristatus), perhaps the most resplendent of Sri Lanka’s birds.

Freshwater fish

The Asoka barb (Puntius asoka: Cyprinidae), a species of freshwater fish endemic to a single river in Sri Lanka’s western rainforests.	The ornate paradisefish Malpulutta kretseri, an endangered anabantoid species found only in shallow, shaded streams in Sri Lanka’s lowland rainforests.	Werner’s killifish (Aplocheilus werneri), a colourful species formerly popular with the aquarium fish export trade, but now restricted.

Sri Lanka offers the visiting herpetologist a variety of fascinating attractions. The island boasts upwards of 150 species of reptiles, 55% of which are endemic to the island (10 genera are considered endemic). This is the highest endemicity rating in South Asia (the former ‘British India’) even after adjusting for size.

Snakes

A total of 93 species of snakes are known from Sri Lanka, 47 of them endemic to the island. Only five species are considered ‘deadly’.

Green pit-viper, Trimeresurus trigonocephalus, an inhabitant of Sri Lanka’s lowland rain forests.	The Blossom Krait, Balanophis ceylonensis: the one species in this endemic Sri Lankan genus, restricted to rainforest habitats.	The Kukri snake (Oligodon calamarius), a relatively common rainforest species, endemic to Sri Lanka.

Lizards

Geckoes. A total of 19 species of geckoes have been recorded from Sri Lanka, eight of them are presently considered to be endemic to the island. These range from the diminutive day geckoes of the genus Cnemaspis to the 22 cm long spotted giant gecko, Hemidactylus macultaus hunae.

Garden lizards. Sri Lanka has fifteen species of garden lizards (Agamidae) in five genera, including 12 endemic species. The genera Lyriocephalus, Cophotis and Ceratophora are endemic to the island’s lush rain forests.

The island’s single chameleon, Chamaeleo zeylanicus, is rare and restricted to the dry scrub forests of the north.

Particularly rich is Sri Lanka’s skink fauna, which includes 28 species, 24 of them endemic to the island.

Two species of monitors (Varanidae) occur in Sri Lanka, Varanus bengalensis and the ‘giant’ V. salvator, which approaches 2m in length. Both these species are relatively common—  Sri Lanka probably has the best wild population of V. salvator.

Ceratophora aspera (Agamidae), one of five species of horned lizards in this endemic genus; all five are restricted to rainforest habitats and are considered to be endangered.	Calotes calotes, one of the largest Sri Lankan species of Agamidae, reaching almost 50 cm in total length.	The arboreal, ovoviviparous lizards of the agamid genus Cophotis occur only in the small remaining areas of tropical montane cloud forests, around 2,000 m above sea level. Only a single species is known: C. ceylanica.
Dasia haliana, a slow-moving arboreal skink found in Sri Lanka’s north-central plains.	Perhaps the most bizarre of Sri Lanka’s 15 agamid lizard species is Lyriocaphalus scutatus, a monotypic genus endemic to the island.	The spotted Bowfinger gecko (Geckoella triedrus), one of the few gecko species occurring in Sri Lanka’s highest mountains, where temperatures often drop to near freezing.
Water monitors (Varanus salvator) can reach almost 2 m in length and are common in mangroves almost everywhere in Sri Lanka.

Perhaps the best known internationally of all Sri Lanka’s herps, thanks to the terrarium pet trade, star tortoises, Geochelone elegans, are now strictly protected.	A female Hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) comes ashore to nest on a beach in Sri Lanka’s south coast. Hawksbills are one of five marine turtle species that nest on the island’s beaches.

Crocodiles Two species of crocodile occur in Sri Lanka, Crocodylus palustris and C. porosus. Both species are considered endangered in Sri Lanka, principally because of diminishing habitat availability. Recommended for those wishing to see these animals in the wild is Yala National Park. The island's mugger (C. palustris ) population is considered to be one of the best seen anywhere.

Although considered threatened, mugger crocodiles (Crocodylus palustris) are locally common in some lowland swamps and reservoirs.

Amphibians

Sri Lanka is a global hotspot of amphibian diversity, much of it yet to be described. Recent studies suggest that the species diversity in the island may be the highest in the world, when adjusted for size. Although only around 60 species are recognized in the literature, recent surveys suggest that upwards to 200 species occur in the island, largely among the Old World tree frogs of the subfamily Rhacophorinae. Sri Lanka has now become the focus of much international attention aimed towards conserving and researching this fascinating fauna, and also assessing whether populations declines are occurring.

An as yet unnamed rhacophorid frog, one of dozens of species that emerged in a recent survey of Sri Lanka’s forest habitats by the Wildlife Heritage Trust, in an intensive six-year exploration project.	Ichthyophis glutinosus, one of three species of caecilians known from Sri Lanka.	A Theloderma schmarda vocalizing: the only member of this genus presently recognized from Sri Lanka, these ornate tree-frogs are common in the island’s tropical montane forests, above 1,500 m altitude.

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