Reptiles Of Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka’s rich reptile fauna presently consists of 78 species of which 62% is endemic to Sri Lanka. The reptiles of Sri Lanka occupy various ecological niches, according to their habits; fossorial ones live in loose soil, some lizards are terrestrial, while some are aquatic (fresh water and marine) while some are arboreal. Reptiles form an important group of animals.

They feed on insects, crabs, rodents and other mammals, amphibians, reptiles and birds. The water monitor feeds on rats and crabs that destroy paddy field bunds, while the land monitor feeds on coconut beetles. The crocodiles help to maintain healthy ecology in tanks and waterways. All reptiles add to the biological diversity and gene pool of the country. (To be continued next week)

Hemidactylus triedrus lankae Deraniyagala, 1953
Termite Hill Gecko; A.t.l. 160mm; Status : Endemic

Lankascincus fallax (Peters, 1860)
Common Lanka Skink; A.t.l. 80mm; Status : Endemic

Lyriocephalus scutatus (Linnaeus, 1758).
Lyre Head Lizard, Hump Nose Lizard; A.t.l. 300mm; Status : Endemic

Chamaeleo zeylanicus Laurenti, 1768.
Sri Lankan Chameleon; A.t.l. 300mm; Status Not Endemic

Nessia burtonii Gray, 1839.
Threetoe Snakeskink; A.t.l. 85mm; Status : Endemic

Chalcidoseps thwaitesii (Gunther, 1872).
Fourtoe Snakeskink; A.t.l. 110mm; Status : Endemic

Hemidactylus brookii parvimaculatus Derniyagala,
1953. Spotted Housegecko; Average .total .length (A.t.l.) 124mm, Status : Endemic

Hemidactylus depressus Gray, 1842.
Kandyan Gecko; A.t.l. 130mm; Status : Endemic

Calodactylodes illingworthorum Derniyagala, 1953.
Sri Lanka Golden Gecko; A.t.l. 170mm; Status : Endemic

Dasia halianus (Haly & Nevil, 1987).
Haly’s Treeskink; A.t.l. 130mm; Status : Endemic