....::::::Endemic Agamid Lizards of Sri Lanka ::::::....

Endemic Agamid Lizards of Sri Lanka

*01. Painted – lips lizard Calotes ceylonensis* (MÜller, 1887) S:Thola Wisithuru Katussa**

A colorful arboreal agamid confined to monsoon forests, plantations and home gardens in the dry and intermediate zones. Active during the day on tree trunks. This species is restricted to the semi-evergreen monsoon forests of the north, east and south at localities such asGiritale, Minneriya, Sigiriya, Mankulam, Elahera, Nilgala, Laggala- Pallegama, Kumana, Puttalam and Kumbalgamuva. IUCNSL 2007 List:VU / FFPO: Protected
*02. Maculate Lizard Calotes desilvai (Bahir & Maduwage, 2005) S: Lapawan Katussa.*

A rare endemic lizard found in the Morning Side area of Sinharaja World Heritage. IUCNSL 2007 List:CR
03. Crestless lizard Calotes liocephalus (GÜnther, 1872) S:Kondu Dathirahitha Katussa
A rare agamid restricted to the Central Highlands (including the Peak Wilderness) and the Knuckles Massif.It differs from other Calotus species by lacking supratympanic spines. The rarity of this species is apparently due to destruction of its forested habitats, which has been converted to cardamom plantations, including the parts of the Knuckles Massif, Gammaduwa, Agrapathana and Pundaluoya. IUCNSL 2007 List:EN / IUCN 2002 Global Red List: EN / FFPO: Protected

04. Whistling Lizard Calotes liolepis (Boulenger, 1885) S: Sivruhanlana Katussa

Restricted to the submontane forests and found in forested areas and plantations. Unusual among agamid lizards is its habit of uttering a high pitched whistle when alarmed. Widespread, but apparently patchily distributed, in the central hills of Sri Lanka, including the Knuckles, Loolcondera, Galaha, Deltota, Kotmale, Sinharaja, Talawakele, Hanguranketha, Kanneliya, Menikdena, Galle, Teldeniya, Peradeniya, Gampola, Namunukula. IUCNSL 2007 List:VU / FFPO: Protected
05. Black-lipped Lizard Calotes nigrilabris (Peters, 1860) S: Kalu Kopul Katussa

A submontane and montane species, found at elevations of 1,000m and above. Inhabits tree trunks, hedges and shrubs, where it hunts for insects worms by day. This species is tolerably common at localities such as Hewaheta, Hakgala and Nuwara Eliya, in the Central Province, Pattipola, Ohiya, Horton Plains and Peak Wilderness. IUCNSL 2007 List:VU / FFPO: Protected
06. Rough-horned Lizard Ceratophora aspera (GÜnther, 1872) S: Ralu Ankatussa

A short-horned, differing from all other horned lizards from Sri Lanka in showing two enlarged, conical ridged scales at back of head. This ground –dwelling species is restricted to the moist lowlands and submontane dipterocarp forest regions of southern Sri Lanka,below 900m elevation in Kitulgala, Hiniduma, Kottawa. IUCNSL 2007 List:EN / FFPO: Protected
07. Erdelen’s Horned Lizard Ceratophora erdeleni (Pethiyagoda & Manamendra-arachchi, 1998) S: Erdelenige Ankatussa
A horned lizard with only a rudimentary horn, that is occasionally missing altogether. Known only from Morning Forest Reserve, Sri Lanka. Inhabits rainforests in the midhills and is arboreal and diurnal. An endemic of Sri Lanka, it occurs in a small forest patch, at an elevation of 1,060m. IUCNSL 2007 List:CR / FFPO: Protected
08. Karu’s Horned Lizard *Ceratophora karu* (Pethiyagoda & Manamendra-arachchi , 1998) S: Karunarathnage Ankatussa

Another horned lizard, also restricted to Sinharaja’s Morningside Forest Reserve. Endemic to the lowlands of southern Sri Lanka, up to an elevation of 1,060m. IUCNSL 2007 List:CR / FFPO: Protected

09. Rhinoceros-horned Lizard *Ceratophora stoddaartii* (Grey, 1835) S: Kangamuwa Ankatussa

A lizard with an striking horn. A horned (in all males) lizard widespread from the montane forests of central Sri Lanka. A slow-moving, arboreal species, found on trees one to two metres above ground. Cypress trees are preferred and it is known to hunt for invertebrates on the ground. When threatened, it open its mouth wide, revealing the bright orange linings in the oral cavity. Localities where this species has been recorded includde Loolcondera, Hewaheta, Nuwara Eliya, Hakgala, Pattipola, Ohiya, Horton Plains, Dimbulla, Agrapatana, and Sri Pada. IUCNSL 2007 List:EN FFPO: Protected

*10. Leaf – nosed Lizard Ceratophora tennenti* (GÜnther & Grey, 1861) S: Dumbara Ankatussa**

A point endemic lizard from the Knuckles massif, whose horns look more like a leaf blade. A diurnal, slow-moving species, associated with tree trunks and cardamom stalks. Hatchlings were mainly confined to forest leaf litter and low shrubs. Restricted to the Knuckles Massif, at elevations of 760-1220m. IUCNSL 2007 List:EN / IUCN 2002 Global Red List: EN / FFPO: Protected

11. Pygmy Lizard Cophotis ceylanica (Peters, 1861) S: Kuru Bodilima

A slow-moving lizard, found on moss-covered tree trunks in montane regions. Inhabits montane regions between 1,300-2,200m elevation, within forest mosaic comprising Cyperus and hedges. Known localities include Nuwara Eliya, Horton Plains, Hakgala, Peak Wilderness. An ovoviviparous lizard. IUCNSL 2007 List: EN FFPO: Protected

12. Dumbara Pygmy Lizard Cophotis dumbara (Samarawickrema et al, 2006) S: Dumbara Kuru Bodilima
A rare point endemic lizard from the Knuckles massif, small in size and due to the slow behavior it is hardly seen among the vegetation it inhabit. Found in Riveston (Northern mountains of Knuckles) and Deenston (South-eastern mountains of Knuckles) area. An ovoviviparous lizard. IUCNSL 2007 List:CR
IUCNSL 2007 List:CR
13. Hump- nosed Lizard *Lyriocephalus scutatus* (Linnaeus, 1758) S: Gatahombu Katussa, Karamal Bodilima, Sondura.

A large, hump-nosed lizard, widespread in the wet lowlands and the midhills, from 25m up to an elevation of 1,650m. Inhabitants of forests with high canopy, it also enters home gardens and found on low trees as well as on the ground, and active by the day, ascending higher reaches of trees to sleep at night. Localities include Kitulgala, Ratnapura, Elkaduwa, Udawattekale, Gannoruwa, Hantana, Gampola, Matugama, the Knuckles Range, the Peak Wilderness Sanctuary, and Sinharaja.
14. Sri Lankan Kangaroo Lizard Otocryptis weigmanni (Wagler, 1830) S: Pinum Katussa

A familiar group of ground-dwelling lizard from the midhills of central Sri Lanka, and also part of the west, south and east. Inhabits the leaf litter, particularly in the vicinity of forest streams. When threatened, it may run bipedally, and even attempt to climb saplings and trees. Common in the home gardens and forests of Kandy region and areas up to an elevation of about 1,200m in wet zone.
15. Kangaroo Lizard Otocryptis nigristigma (Bahir & Silva, 2005) S: Pinum Katussa