Pygmy lizard (Cophotis ceylanica)

This lizard is one of the slowest moving lizards on the island. You can only find it in Sri Lanka, and then only in a few areas including the cloud forests in Horton Plains, Hakgala and the Knuckles Mountain range. But if you are lucky enough to see one, you can easily identify it as a pygmy lizard by its irregular-shaped body scales and curled, prehensile tail. (Prehensile means it is able to take hold of objects like branches).

Pygmy lizards belong to a family of reptiles called Agamidae (commonly called dragons or dragon lizards). But unlike other Agamids these little fellows don't lay eggs. Instead they hatch the eggs within their body and give birth to live young. Scientists think this is because the lizards have adapted to living in cold montane environments. In these places the night air can get very cool, and if the eggs get chilled overnight they will not be able to hatch.

The mystery of the disappearing lizards

During the mid 1990s hundreds of pygmy lizards died daily in Nuwara Eliya Hakgala – pushing the once high population nearly into extinction. It is also suspected a similar population crash happened in the Knuckles Mountains, and there were great fears the species was extinct in that area until a few were found in 2004/5 on the Project Knuckles research expeditions. The precise causes remain a mystery, although it is suspected that these deaths were the result of climatic changes and deforestation.

What can you do?

The cloud forests one of the most threatened ecosystems in Sri Lanka – they have been cut down to make space for growing the vegetables we eat every day. So why not start a home garden and grow your own vegetables – and help protect the endangered pygmy lizard’s habitat.


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Illustration by Asia Hewapathirana

Asian Elephant (Elephas maximus)

These very intelligent and enormous mammals can grow up to 3m tall and 6.4m long. A male elephant weighs around 5.4 tonnes – equivalent to 5,400 packets of sugar! And despite their size their charge speed can reach nearly 50kmph.

You can find Asian elephants all through Asia, but they are already extinct in 3 countries, and there are only around 50,000 left in the wild.

Habitat loss is the main threat to these animals. Elephants eat around 150kg of vegetation a day, and as human populations increase, elephant feeding grounds are destroyed. They raid crops, destroy properties, and sometimes even kill people. Villagers often retaliate by killing the elephants, and experts now believe this to be the main cause of elephant deaths in Asia.

Other threats include poaching for ivory. And since only males have tusks, poaching has resulted in populations becoming skewed towards females, which has reduced breeding rates. Elephants have also become isolated as human settlements cut off ancient migratory routes and these small groups are at risk from inbreeding and disease.

Conservation efforts include laws that make poaching illegal, although they are hard to enforce. Many elephants live in protected reserves but these are often too small, which leads to human-elephant conflict. The creation of wildlife corridors to extend reserve lands, together with the end of poaching, are some of the steps needed to secure the future of the Asian elephant.

How to tell an Asian Elephant from an African Elephant

1.Asian elephants have smaller bodies and ears

2.The trunks of Asian elephants have only a single, finger-like end, while African elephants have two

3.Both male and female African elephants have tusks, but in Asian elephants only the males have them, and in some countries they don’t have tusks at all.


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Illustration by Asia Hewapathirana

Mugger Crocodile (Crocodylus palustris)

These large reptiles mainly live in shallow, calm waters like lakes, ponds, marshes and lagoons. They’ve adapted especially to live in water. With broad snouts and flat heads, their eyes, ears and nostrils are all on one level. This allows them to see, hear, and smell with almost all of their body underwater. Their eyes are protected by a clear third eyelid for underwater vision, and their windpipe can be covered with a flap of skin to allow them to attack underwater without letting water into the lungs. They’re excellent swimmers and use their flat tail to propel them forward.

Mugger’s are social animals and can live for 40 years or more. When it comes to families, females will dig a hole nest and lay between 10 and 45 eggs. She’ll be on guard until the young hatch and then both mum and dad will look after their young until they’re about a year old.

Did you know the temperature of the nest determines whether the young are male or female? If the nest is about 32.5oC the babies will all be male, but if it is above or below 32.5oC they’ll all be females!

Muggers are vulnerable to extinction – mainly because in the 1950s & 60s they were aggressively hunted for their skin. Now they are under threat from habitat destruction, egg collection and drowning in fishing nets.

How to tell the difference between an alligator and a crocodile

1. Crocs have long, narrow, V-shaped snouts – alligator's are wider and U-shaped

2. The fourth tooth on the lower jaw sticks over the upper lip on crocs so you can see it when their mouths are closed. In alligators it is covered up.

3. Crocs are a lighter olive brown colour, while alligators appear blackish.


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Written by Rainforest Rescue International

Illustration by Asia Hewapathirana

Lesser short-nosed fruit bat (Cynopterus brachyotis)

Fruit bats are known for their cute foxy faces and large eyes. They roost during the day and wrap their wings tightly around their body leaving only their head peeping out. Bats bodies are designed perfectly for hanging upside down. Their toes naturally close to hold onto their roosts without having to use any extra energy. Hanging upside down also gives bats a safe place to rest away from predators – on the ceilings of caves, in trees and in buildings.

Fruit bats become active soon after sunset to look for small fruit to eat like mangoes, figs and nectar. They do not echolocate so instead rely on their strong sense of smell and large eyes to find food. (Echolocation is when bats make high frequency calls and then listen for echoes to bounce from objects in front of them. They form pictures in their brains by listening to the echoes – just like we form pictures in our brains by interpreting reflected light with our eyes.)

The main threat to these bats is deforestation - when forests are cut down so are bat’s roosts. Many bats have lost their homes when their natural habitat is destroyed to make way for plantations, homes and farming.

What can you do?

1. Install a bat house
You can help create safe roosts for bats to live in by putting up a bat house. To find out how visit www.batcon.org

2. Visit a bat location
Bats roost all over Sri Lanka – why not visit and observe a bat colony to appreciate how gentle and wonderful these endangered animals are.

3. Join a conservation group
Find out about local bat monitoring or education groups near you to help protect the bats in your area.

» Find out how else you can help to protect Sri Lanka's endangered species


Illustration by Asia Hewapathirana

Fishing cat (Prionailurus viverrinus)

How many cats do you know that like water? Not many I bet. But the spotted Fishing Cat happens to be an exception to the rule. This furry feline is a great swimmer and dives head first into water to grab fish with its mouth. It can also scoop fish out of the water with its paws, and if fish aren’t available it will eat other tasty treats like frogs, crustaceans, snakes and birds.

You can find Fishing Cats living in scattered areas across India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, Lao; Myanmar; Nepal; Sri Lanka; Thailand and Viet Nam, in wetland areas including swamps and marshy areas, lakes, reed beds, tidal creeks and mangrove areas.

Fishing cats are an endangered species, and their population is getting smaller. They were once found in Pakistan but are now thought to be extinct there, and in other places they haven’t been seen in a few years. Over 50% of Asia’s wetlands have been destroyed or are under threat from human settlement and unsustainable farming. And as the wetlands have shrunk, so has the spaces for Fishing Cats to live in.

This isn’t the only problem they face – over-fishing by humans has made it harder for the Cats to find food to feed themselves and their young further reducing their chances of survival.

What can you do?

Fishing Cats need wetland habitat to live in. As the wetlands of Asia are slowly disappearing - so are the cats. You can help to preserve Sri Lanka’s wetlands by visiting our protected parks and keeping our wetland areas in unspoiled condition. You wouldn’t throw rubbish on the floor in your house, so don’t throw rubbish on the floor of a Fishing Cat’s home. Remember – when you visit our beautiful and natural lands, “take only photos and leave only footprints”.

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Illustration by Asia Hewapathirana

Brain coral (Platygyra daedalea)

Ever seen a real live brain? Well now you can – just grab a snorkel and dive into one of Sri Lanka’s colourful coral reefs.

Brain corals might have got their name because of the way they look, but they are also clever. Like other corals, they have microscopic algae called zooxanthellae living in their tissues, so small humans can’t see them. The algae make energy through photosynthesis from the sun. Most of this energy is transferred over to the coral – we could say it is the ultimate brain food! In return, the coral protects and shelters the algae. Together they make a great team.

Sri Lanka’s corals are in danger from lots of different threats – here are some of main ones:

Sometimes fishermen use dynamite to catch fish – but dynamite doesn’t just kill fish, it also destroys the reefs. Overfishing and pollution also damages coral.

Snorkelling and diving is a great way to see and learn about our sea life, but you have to be careful. Stepping on a reef can break coral that might have taken more than 50 years to grow! This can be a big problem in areas with lots of tourists.

But the biggest risk to coral is climate change. As the temperature of the world’s oceans change, this causes stress to the coral and it loses its algae. When this happens it is called ‘coral bleaching’ because the coral loses its colour – and in the end the coral usually dies.

What can you do?

1. If you go snorkelling, be careful not to damage the reefs you are exploring

2. Help keep our coastlines free from pollution by always throwing your rubbish into proper bins

3. Last month we looked at some small things you can do to help combat climate change – can you remember what they were? If not, have a look at last months blog post


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Illustration by Aisa Hewatathirana

Tennent's leaf-nosed lizard (Ceratophora tennentii)

It’s not difficult to see why this lizard is one of the 5 species in Sri Lanka commonly known as ‘horn-nosed lizards’. Each of the 5 species has a different shaped horn − and I bet you can tell how the leaf-nosed lizard got his name. Not only is the end of his nose flat, but also takes the shape of a leaf!

Adult lizards have a very special talent; they can change their colour to match their surroundings. Can you guess why this is important? Yep – you got it. They change colour to camouflage themselves so predators can’t see them.

Tennent’s leaf-nosed lizard can only be found in the Knuckles mountains (which are tropical montane cloud forests). Like many species in Sri Lanka’s they are under threat from habitat loss. In Knuckles especially, natural forest has been cut down to make way for cardamom plantations. The tallest trees have been left to give shade, but the undergrowth has been cleared to grow spices. But there is hope! These reptiles have been found living in cardamom plantations, which means they can adjust to some changes in habitat.


What can you do?

1.Buy organic
Like other animals, the lizards suffer from chemicals used in farming. By buying organic food which is grown without the use of chemicals, you are supporting farmers who are protecting wildlife

2.Conserve Carbon
The Knuckles Forest is under threat from climate change. As global warming takes effect, large areas of the forest are dying. You can help fight against climate change by conserving energy that is produced from fossil fuels (such as coal, gas and oil). So turn off lights when you leave a room, don’t leave the TV on standby, walk, cycle or take the bus to school instead of driving, and unplug your phone when it is fully charged.

» Find out how else you can help to protect Sri Lanka's endangered species


Written by Rainforest Rescue International
Illustration by Aisa Hewatathirana