List of reptiles of Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka is a tropical island close to the southern tip of India. The reptile fauna within the country is second only to bird diversity when comparing with number of species. Although snakes are characterized by loss of limbs and of eyelids, several lizards share one of these characteristics, and the relationships of snakes lie with lizards. There are 103 species of snakes found in Sri Lanka. Out of this 103, 48 species are endemic with 8 endemic subspecies. Lizards are generally recognizable from their limbs from snakes, but a few skinks, have lost their limbs through evolution. Most lizards feed on insects or other invertebrates. The monitor lizards, when adult, capable of subduing and eating small to medium sized vertebrates. Several groups of lizards, including Skinks, and Geckos, are capable of automising their tails; that is, when threatened, they can willingly shed their tails, growing a new one in time. The regenerated tail is never the same as the one lost, and generally lacks ornamentation, shape and color of the original tail. There are 42 species of geckos found in Sri Lanka, where 31 species with 3 subspecies are endemic to the island. 18 species of agamid lizards found with 15 endemic species, out of those 18. Out of 31 skink species, 24 species and 1 subspecies is endemic to Sri Lanka. 2 snake-eyed lizards, 2 monitor lizards, and 1 chameleon species are found. 2 species of crocodilians occur in Sri Lanka. They are heavy build, water-dwelling species, bearing scales and large heads. The Mugger Crocodile is a hole-nester and Saltwater Crocodile is a mound-nester. Turtles and tortoises complete the reptile fauna of Sri Lanka. Island is home to 3 species of non-marine species. Also out of world's 8 marine turtle species, 5 species visit the island for breeding. Total of 9 testudines are found in the island.

Species List

Order: Squamata. Suborder: Serpentes. Infraorder: Alethinophidia

Wart Snakes

Wart snakes are stout, wrinkly-skinned aquatic snakes from coastal waters of tropical Asia and Australasia. There are 3 species in Asia-Pacific region, of which one occurs in Sri Lanka. All feed on fish. These snakes are sometimes killed for their fish-eating habits by coastal folks.

Name Binomial Status
Wart Snake Acrochordus granulatus Least concern

Boas and Pythons

The two families of Boas and Pythons are represented in Sri Lanka by one species of each. Both these snakes are stout-bodied species that lie in ambush for their prey, which consists of mammals and birds. Both are threatened by skin trade worldwide.

Family: Boidae

Common name Binomial Status
Sand Boa Gongylophis conicus

Family: Pythonidae

Common name Binomial Status
Indian Rock Python Python molurus Near threatened (Largest snake in Sri Lanka)

Colubrids

Family: Colubridae

So called "typical snakes" include a huge assemblage of snakes worldwide, about 2000 species, which vary in their mode of life, from burrowing forms to terrestrial ones and arboreal and aquatic types. Although majority of these species are harmless, a few have proven to be lethal bites, such as some keelback snakes; while others with enlarged teeth, such as cat-snakes and kukri snakes, are midly venomous, so need to be handled with care.

Common name Binomial Status
Green Vine Snake Ahaetulla nasuta
Brown Vine Snake Ahaetulla pulverulenta
Buff-striped Keelback Amphiesma stolatum
Banded Racer Argyrogena fasciolata
Boie's Rough-sided Snake Aspidura brachyorrhos
Black-spined Snake Aspidura ceylonensis
Cope's Rough-sided Snake Aspidura copei
Gunther's Rough-sided Snake Aspidura guentheri
Deraniyagala's Rough-sided Snake Aspidura deraniyagalae
Drummond-Hay's Rough-sided Snake Aspidura drummondhayi
Common Rough-sided Snake Aspidura trachyprocta
Olive Keelback Water Snake Atretium schistosum
Sri Lanka Blossom Krait Balanophis ceylonensis
Barnes' Cat Snake Boiga barnesii
Beddome's Cat Snake Boiga beddomei
Sri Lanka Cat Snake Boiga ceylonensis
Forsten's Cat Snake Boiga forsteni
Common Cat Snake Boiga trigonata
Dog-faced Water Snake Cerberus rynchops
Sri Lanka Wolf Snake Cercaspis carinatus
Ornate Flying Snake Chrysopelea ornata
Sri Lanka Flying Snake Chrysopelea taprobanica
Trinket Snake Coelognathus helena
Stripe-tailed Bronzeback Tree Snake Dendrelaphis caudolineatus
Common Bronzeback Tree Snake Dendrelaphis tristis
Boulenger's Bronzeback Tree Snake Dendrelaphis bifrenalis
Oliver's Bronzeback Tree Snake Dendrelaphis oliveri
Schokar's Bronzeback Tree Snake Dendrelaphis schokari
Gunther's Bridal Snake Dryocalamus gracilis
Common Bridal Snake Dryocalamus nympha
Glossy Marsh Snake Gerarda prevostiana
Lesser Stripe-necked Snake Liopeltis calamaria
Common Wolf Snake Lycodon aulicus
Flowered Wolf Snake Lycodon osmanhilli
Barred Wolf Snake Lycodon striatus
Green Keelback Snake Macropisthodon plumbicolor
Templeton's Kukri Snake Oligodon calamarius
Banded Kukri Snake Oligodon arnensis
Streaked Kukri Snake Oligodon sublineatus
Variegated Kukri Snake Oligodon taeniolatus
Indian Rat Snake Ptyas mucosa
Spotted Black-headed Snake Sibynophis subpunctatus
Sri Lanka Checkered Keelback Snake Xenochrophis asperrimus
Checkered Keelback Snake Xenochrophis piscator

Pipe Snakes

Family: Cylindrophiidae

Sometimes, these curious snakes are placed within the family Uropeltidae,and some recent authors have considered these to be distinct. A small family of non-venomous snakes,with members distributed in South-east Asia and Sri Lanka, but not in India interestingly.

Common name Binomial Status
Sri Lanka Pipe Snake Cylindrophis maculatus

Elapids

Family: Elapidae

Cobras, coral snakes, and kraits represent a family of snakes that have fixed fangs and produce neurotoxic venom, their bites causing respiratory failure. Sri Lanka is well known for its cobras and kraits. Cobras are primarily rat eaters, while kraits and coral snakes are feed on other snakes.

Common name Binomial Status
Common Krait Bungarus caeruleus
Sri Lanka Krait Bungarus ceylonicus
Indian Coral Snake Calliophis melanurus
Blood-bellied Coral Snake Calliophis haematoetron
Indian Cobra Naja naja

Sea Snakes

Subfamily: Hydrophiinae

True sea snakes can be easily differentiated from all other families of snakes, even when they enter salt water; they have flattened, paddle-like tails and short fangs at the back of their upper jaws. Further, sea snakes are completely aquatic and produce live young (viviparous), never coming ashore, with the exception of the sea kraits, that bask, rest, and lay eggs on small islands. Although mostly marine, some travel uprivers, in tidal portions of rivers. They have fixed fangs, like elapids, and their bite is extremely venomous, although, due to the generally inaccessible nature, few people have been bitten.

Common name Binomial Status
Hook-nosed Snake Enhydrina schistosa
Annulated Sea Snake Hydrophis cyanocinctus
Yellow Sea Snake Hydrophis spiralis
Ornate Reef Sea Snake Hydrophis ornatus
Collared Sea Snake Hydrophis stricticollis
Persian Gulf Sea Snake Hydrophis lapemoides
Plain Sea Snake Hydrophis inornatus
Peter's Sea Snake Hydrophis bituberculatus
Russell's Sea Snake Hydrophis obscurus
Striped Sea Snake Hydrophis fasciatus
Slender Sea Snake Hydrophis gracilis
Spine-bellied Sea Snake Lapemis hardwickii
Shaw's Sea Snake Lapemis curtus
Yellow-bellied Sea Snake Pelamis platura
Jerdon's Sea Snake Kerilia jerdoni
Banded Sea Snake Laticauda colubrina
Viperine Sea Snake Thalassophina viperina

Infraorder: Scolecophidia

Blind Snakes

Family: Typhlopidae

Worm-like in enternal appearance, blind snakes are burrowers, living under the soil, under and inside decaying logs, under stones and in the leaf litter. They frequently appear on land during the rains, when they are flooded out of their subterranean haunts. Worms, ants, termites, and their larvae form their dietary mainstay. Almost 90% of blind snakes in Sri Lanka are endemic to the country.

Common name Binomial Status
Brahminy Blind Snake Ramphotyphlops braminus
Sri Lanka Blind Snake Typhlops ceylonicus
Lanka Blind Snake Typhlops lankaensis
Pied Blind Snake Typhlops leucomelas
Malcolm's Blind Snake Typhlops malcolmi
Jan's Blind Snake Typhlops mirus
Taylor's Blind Snake Typhlops tenebrarum
Veddha's Blind Snake Typhlops veddae
Violet Blind Snake Typhlops violaceus

Sheild-tailed Snakes

Family: Uropeltidae

Sheild-tailed snakes are so called for the flat scale at the top of their tails, resembling a sheild. They are more or less restricted to the central and associated hill ranges, and part of the dry zone plains of Sri Lanka. They are burrowers, feeding on soft-bodied invertebrates. Many species are brightly colored, with smooth, iridescent scales. Out of 17 species in Sri Lanka, 16 species are endemic, one species can be seen in both Sri Lanka and Western Ghats of India.

Common name Binomial Status
Madurai Sheildtail Platyplectrurus madurensis
Large Sheildtail Pseudotyphlops philippinus
Blyth's Sheildtail Rhinophis blythi
Orange Sheildtail Rhinophis dorsimaculatus
Drummond-Hay's Sheildtail Rhinophis drummondhayi
Eranga Viraj's Sheildtail Rhinophis erangaviraji
Hemprich's Sheildtail Rhinophis homolepis
Striped Sheildtail Rhinophis lineatus
Schneider's Shieltail Rhinophis oxyrhynchus
Cuvier's Sheildtail Rhinophis philippinus
Willey's Sheildtail Rhinophis porrectus
Müller's Shieldtail Rhinophis punctatus
Deraniyagala's Shieldtal Rhinophis tricolorata
Zig-zag Shieldtail Rhinophis zigzag
Gray's Earth Snake Uropeltis melanogaster
Phillip's Earth Snake Uropeltis phillipsi
Southern Earth Snake Uropeltis ruhunae

Vipers & Pit Vipers

Family: Viperidae

Subfamily: Viperinae

Vipers, including pit vipers, represent the most specialized of the venomous snakes, capable of delivering their venom during a bite through enlarged fangs that are foldable and hollow. Their venom is typically hemotoxic, affecting the blood, and a bite is excruciatingly painful. The Sri Lankan population of these species apparently has both hemotoxic and neurotoxic properties. Pit vipers have sensory pits on the snout, which act as thermal detectors for locating warm-bodied prey, such as small mammals and birds. There are 6 described species can be found, with 3 endemic forms and one underscribed species.

Common name Binomial Status
Russell's Viper Daboia russelii
Saw-scaled Viper Echis carinatus

Subfamily: Crotalinae

Common name Binomial Status
Hump-nosed Pit Viper Hypnale hypnale
Highland Hump-nosed Pit Viper Hypnale nepa
Lowland Hump-nosed Pit Viper Hypnale zara
Amal's Hump-nosed Pit Viper Hypnale sp. Amal Not given species validity yet.
Sri Lanka Green Pit Viper Trimeresurus trigonocephalus

Agamid lizards

Order: Squamata

Suborder: Lacertilia

Agamas, or so called "Dragons", are day active lizards, usually with a crest along the middle of their backs. MOst species live on trees, bushes or on leaf litter in forested areas; there are only a few Sri Lankan species that can be found on the ground, on leaf litter or on sand. Nearly all are insectivorous, sitting in waiting for appropriate-sized insects and invertebrates to come within stiking distance. A few supplement their diet by eating flower petals and seeds. They dig shallow nests on ground, in which their soft-shelled eggs are deposited.

Common name Binomial Status
Common Green Forest Lizard Calotes calotes
Painted-lipped Lizard Calotes ceylonensis
Crestless Lizard Calotes liocephalus
Whistling Lizard Calotes liolepis
Black-lipped Lizard Calotes nigrilabris
Garden Lizard Calotes versicolor
Morningside Lizard Calotes desilvai
Rough-horned Lizard Ceratophora aspera
Erdelen's Horned Lizard Ceratophora erdeleni
Karu's Horned Lizard Ceratophora karu
Rhino Horned Lizard Ceratophora stoddartii
Leaf-nosed Lizard Ceratophora tennentii
Pygmy Lizard Cophotis ceylanica
Knuckles Pygmy Lizard Cophotis dumbara critically endangered
Hump-nosed Lizard Lyriocephalus scutatus
Sri Lanka Kangaroo Lizard Otocryptis wiegmanni
Black-spotted Kangaroo Lizard Otocryptis nigristigma
Bahir's Fan-throated Lizard Sitana bahiri
Devaka's Fan-throated Lizard Sitana devakai
Fan-throated Lizard Sitana ponticeriana

Chameleons

Family: Chamaeleonidae

The sole representative of an otherwise essentially Afro-Madagascar family, the single species of chameleon found on Sri Lanka. A few enter Middle East and southern Europe. They feed primarily on insects that are caught with the help of their long and sticky tongue. Most species are arboreal, and all are well active during the day. Unusual among lizards are the eyes, which can move independently with each other, and opposable fingers and toes, with also a prehensile tail.

Common name Binomial Status
Indian Chameleon Chamaeleo zeylanicus

Geckos

Family: Gekkonidae

Geckos are familiar to all city dwellers. This family includes species commonly found in human dwellling, as well as forest surviviors. House geckos actually several species, and many are human commensals. However, most species are found in undisturbed habitats, from forests to scrublands and even on desert dunes. All species are primarily insectivorous, tending to sit in wait for insects to come within striking distance. Their tails are detachable when threatened, with a new one replaced the one lost. 41 species of geckos are found in Sri Lanka, where 14 species are endemic. One genus is completely endemic to the country.

Common name Binomial Status
Sri Lanka Golden Gecko Calodactylodes illingworthorum
Alwis's Day Gecko Cnemaspis alwisi
Amith's Day Gecko Cnemaspis amith
Cnemaspis clivicola
Gemunu's Day Gecko Cnemaspis gemunu
Cnemaspis kallima
Kandyan Day Gecko Cnemaspis kandiana
Kumarasinghe's Day Gecko Cnemaspis kumarasinghei
Latha's Day Gecko Cnemaspis latha
Menike's Day Gecko Cnemaspis menikay
Molligoda's Day Gecko Cnemaspis molligodai
Cnemaspis pava
Phillip's Day Gecko Cnemaspis phillipsi
Deraniyagala's Day Gecko Cnemaspis podihuna
Cnemaspis pulchra
Cnemaspis punctata
Ranwella's day gecko Cnemaspis ranwellai
Retigala Day Gecko Cnemaspis retigalensis
Samanala Day Gecko Cnemaspis samanalensis
Rocky Day Gecko Cnemaspis scalpensis
Forest Day Gecko Cnemaspis silvula
Rough-bellied Day Gecko Cnemaspis tropidogaster
Upendra's Day Gecko Cnemaspis upendrai
Slender-headed Bent-toed Gecko Cyrtodactylus cracens
Taylor's Bent-toed Gecko Cyrtodactylus edwardtaylori
Bridled Bent-toed Gecko Cyrtodactylus fraenatus
Ramboda Bent-toed Gecko Cyrtodactylus ramboda
Knuckles Bent-toed Gecko Cyrtodactylus soba
Sinharaja Bent-toed Gecko Cyrtodactylus subsolanus
Spotted Ground Gecko Geckoella triedrus
Blotched Ground Gecko Geckoella yakhuna
Four-clawed Gecko Gehyra mutilata
Brooke's House Gecko Hemidactylus brookii
Kandyan Gecko Hemidactylus depressus
Asian House Gecko Hemidactylus frenatus
Spotted Rock Gecko Hemidactylus hunae
Termite Hill Gecko Hemidactylus lankae
Bark Gecko Hemidactylus leschenaultii
Hemidactylus parvimaculatus
Flat-tailed Gecko Hemidactylus platyurus
Scaly Gecko Hemidactylus scabriceps
Indopacific Tree Gecko Hemiphyllodactylus typus
Mourning Gecko Lepidodactylus lugubris

Lacertas

Family: Lacertidae

Lacertas are primarily lizards of colder, open areas of Eurasia, and only 2 spcies occur in Sri Lanka, where both restricted to more arid northern, eastern, and southern parts of the island. They are rough-scaled lizards, with enlarged forehead scales, well-developed limbs and show femoral pores. These are fast-moving and day-active predators of insects and other small invertebrates.

Common name Binomial Status
Leschenault's Snake-eyed Lizard Ophisops leschenaultii
Lesser Snake-eyed Lizard Ophisops minor

Skinks

Family: Scincidae

Skinks are shiny-scaled, day-active lizards, those with limbs found scurrying on the forest floor wherever there are patches of sunlight filtering in. Many species in Sri Lanka are fossorial. This is one of the largest families of lizards, and found on all continents.Those that are fossorial are poorly known. Most skinks have smooth scales, possibly adapted for burrowing in soil, and all have detachable tails, that regenarate eventually, as in geckos.

Common name Binomial Status
Four-toed Skink Chalcidoseps thwaitesii
Haly's Tree Skink Dasia haliana Endangered
Deignan's Lanka Skink Lankascincus deignani
Deraniyagala's Lanka Skink Lankascincus deraniyagalae
Lankascincus dorsicatenatus
Common Supple Skink Lankascincus fallax
Gan's Lanka Skink Lankascincus gansi
Greer's Lanka Skink Lankascincus greeri
Munindradasa's Lanka Skink Lankascincus munindradasai
Adams Peak Lanka Skink Lankascincus sripadensis
Smooth Lanka Skink Lankascincus taprobanense Near threatened
Taylor's Lanka Skink Lankascincus taylori
Spotted Supple Skink Lygosoma punctata
Sri Lanka Supple Skink Lygosoma singha Data deficient
Beddome's Skink Eutropis beddomii
Bibron's Skink Eutropis bibroni
Keeled Indian Mabuya Eutropis carinata
Taylor's Striped Mabuya Eutropis floweri
Bronze Mabuya Eutropis macularia
Sri Lanka Bronze Mabuya Eutropis madaraszi
Tammanna Skink Eutropis tammanna
Smith's Snake Skink Nessia bipes
Three-toed Snake Skink Nessia burtonii
Deraniyagala's Snake Skink Nessia deraniyagalai
Two-toed Snake Skink Nessia didactyla
Shark-headed Snake Skink Nessia hickanala
Layard's Snake Skink Nessia layardi
Toeless Snake Skink Nessia monodactyla
Sarasins' Snake Skink Nessia sarasinorum
Dussumier's LItter Skink Sphenomorphus dussumieri
Sphenomorphus megalops
Sphenomorphus striatopunctatum

Monitors

Family: Varanidae

Monitors are the largest of the living lizards. They are swift and active predators of small mammasl, birds, bird eggs, reptiles, amphibians and as well as invertebrates. Their forked tongue, which flick in and out to taste the chemical nature of the surrounding environment, are reminiscent of those of snakes. The Water monitor is one of the 3 largest lizards in the world, and is known to congregate on turtle nesting beaches to eat eggs and hatchlings. They are day-active, and forage on land, as well as water, and some species frequently climb trees in search of bird eggs and nestlings. 2 species of monitors found on Sri Lanka.

Common name Binomial Status
Bengal Monitor Varanus bengalensis Least concern
Water Monitor Varanus salvator Least concern

Crocodiles

Family: Crocodylidae

Sri Lanka is home to 2 species of crocodilians, both are crocodiles; one from saltwater habitats, and the other from freshwaters. They are predators of small to large-sized prey, and some large-growing individuals may pose danger to humans and livestock. All species are linked to wetlands, such as rivers, dams, and mangroves, and all lay eggs. The sex of crocodiles is determined by the incubation temperature of the eggs.

Common name Binomial Status
Mugger Crocodile Crocodylus palustris Vulnerable
Saltwater Crocodile Crocodylus porosus Least concern

Asian Terrapin

Family: Bataguridae

These are hard-shelled and primarily aquatic, although a few are terrestrial, showing large scales on the limbs as well as a "high walk", like tortoises. The shell bears scutes and the snout lacks the pig-like tubular structure seen in soft-shelled turtles. There is a general tendency towards herbivory, although some are specialized feeders of fish and crustaceans, and a few show enlarged heads and associated jaw muscles for tackling hard-bodied prey such as molluscs. Eggs are hard-shelled, and buried along banks of water bodies. A single specie occur in Sri Lanka.

Common name Binomial Status
Indian Black Turtle Melanochelys trijuga Near threatened

Marine Turtles

Family: Cheloniidae

All but one species of marine turtles belong to this family. They are exclusively marine in habits, only the adult females coming ashore to lay eggs. Widespread in the warm seas of the world, marine turtles are threatened by a variety of human activities, from hunting for their flesh and shell scutes, to pollution of marine habitats and destruction of nesting beaches.

Common name Binomial Status
Loggerhead Sea Turtle Caretta caretta Endangered
Green Turtle Chelonia mydas Endangered
Hawskbill Sea Turtle Eretmochelys imbricata Critically endangered
Olive Ridley Sea Turtle Lepidochelys olivacea Vulnerable

Leatherback Sea Turtle

Family: Dermochelyidae

This family includes a single living species, and several fossil species, it is the largest of the turtles, and one of the heaviest living reptiles. It frequently wanders into cold Arctic waters, presumably in search of food, and primarily feeds on jellyfish.

Common name Binomial Status
Leatherback Sea Turtle Dermochelys coriacea Vulnerable

American Hard-shelled Turtles

Family: Emydidae

There is one representative of this family exists in Sri Lanka. It was introduced to the country by pet trade, and it is now widespread in many tropical and subtropical regions of the country.

Common name Trinomial Status
Red-eared Slider Trachemys scripta elegans Near threatened

Tortoises

Family: Testudinidae

The true tortoises are almost entirely herbivorous, only sometimes scavenge on carrion. It is recognizable in possessing columnar legs, rounded shells, and heavy scales on limbs. They are adapted for a life on dry land, and many species can survive long periods without water. A few species from wetter parts of range are, foond of water, wallowing in forest streams for hours. Tortoises are known dispersal agents of forest plants. Popular in pet tarde within the country as well as abroad.

Common name Binomial Status
Indian Star Tortoise Geochelone elegans Least concern

Soft-shelled Turtles

Family: Trionychidae

A skin-clad shell, just three claws on each limb and nostrils set on a fleshy proboscis, immediately set these turtles apart from all others. A highly aquatic, they are found in rivers and ponds, and are primarily carnivorous, although water plants may also consumed. Soft-shelled turtles are aggressive, and can deliver a painful bite, so even hatchlings need to be handled with caution.

Common name Binomial Status
Flapshell Turtle Lissemys punctata Least concern

References