Research

Research Papers

Peer-reviewed papers and research communications on Sri Lanka’s amphibians, reptiles and butterflies — from field surveys of the mid-country wet zone to the role of frogs and lizards in natural pest control of paddy fields. Open any paper to read it here in full.

11 papers · 2003–2026

2026SnakesTaxonomyConservation

Rediscovery and redescription of Aspidura deraniyagalae Gans & Fetcho, 1982 (Reptilia: Colubridae) after 44 years with conservation measures for the Aspidura genus

A. Aththanagoda, B. Ranasinghe, R. Jayasundara, O. Fernando, D. Hettiarachchi, M. Madawala, N. Daundasekara, K. Weerakkodi, A. de Silva & S. Karunarathna

WILDLANKA · Vol. 14, No. 1 · pp. 1–25

A Critically Endangered rough-sided snake known only from 13 specimens collected in 1982 is rediscovered at its Namunukula type locality and at new sites in Galagama and Haagala, with the first expanded descriptions of both sexes and urgent conservation measures for the genus.

2026SnakesReview

Snake fauna of Sri Lanka: historical perspectives, current knowledge, and future directions

Anslem de Silva, Kanishka D.B. Ukuwela, Nimal D. Rathnayake, Anusha Aththanagoda, Nayana Daundasekara & Suranjan Karunarathna

Book chapter · Snakes of South Asia: Discovering Hidden Diversity; Conserving a Changing Legacy · pp. 155–173

A review of how knowledge of Sri Lanka’s snakes has grown from early natural history to modern taxonomy, molecular phylogenetics and snakebite medicine — covering biogeography, ecology, an endemism of over 50%, and the threats and research priorities ahead.

2024ButterfliesDistribution

Range expansion of Clouded Silverline butterfly (Cigaritis nubilus) in Sri Lanka

P.K. Dissanayake, H.H.C.U. Herath, K.G.S.N. Vajirasena, D.M.N.P. Daundasekara & B.C. Wijamunige

TAPROBANICA · Vol. 13, No. 2 · pp. 142–143

Three new locations for this rare endemic butterfly, far outside its historically known northern range — including the first record above 500 m and the southernmost sighting ever documented.

Journal page DOI

2024ButterfliesMigration

Tracking the migration of Albatross butterflies (Appias sp.) in Sri Lanka

P.K. Dissanayake, R. Gamage, R.W.D.L. Kumara, N. Weerasinghe, D.M.N.P. Daundasekara, H.S.B. Wijesinghe & S.K. Gunatilake

TAPROBANICA · Vol. 13, No. 1 · pp. 28–29

Island-wide observations at 60 locations during the 2023 inter-monsoon traced the Lesser and Common Albatross migrating mainly northwest, likely from Kumana towards Wilpattu, rather than towards Adam’s Peak as traditionally believed.

DOI

2012SnakesEcology

Color variations, sexual dimorphism, and population structure of Aspidura trachyprocta (Serpentes: Colubridae) in an anthropogenic habitat in Sri Lanka

Kanishka D.B. Ukuwela & Nayana P.K. Dawundasekara

Russian Journal of Herpetology · Vol. 19, No. 1 · pp. 70–74

A study of 42 live rough-sided snakes from farmland in the Central Hills recorded seven dorsal and ventral colour patterns, found males have relatively longer tails and more keeled scales near the vent, and a female-to-male ratio of 1 : 2.33.

2009AmphibiansDiversity survey

A survey on the amphibians of Ambagamuwa, a tropical wet mid-land area in Sri Lanka

D.M. Nayana Pradeep Kumara & Kanishka D.B. Ukuwela

Herpetology Notes · Vol. 2 · pp. 81–85

Surveys of gardens, forests, paddy fields and tea plantations in 2003 and 2007 recorded 19 amphibian species — 11 endemic and 9 on the IUCN Red List — including two frogs of the genus Philautus new to science.

2004AmphibiansReptilesDiversity survey

Herpetofaunal diversity with special reference to endemic and nationally threatened species at Polgolla, an upland area in the mid country wet zone of Sri Lanka

Shirani Nathanael, D.M. Nayana Pradeep, S.M.M. Samarakoon & Anslem de Silva

Lyriocephalus Special Issue · Vol. 5, Nos. 1 & 2 · pp. 86–95

A survey of Kandyan home gardens, marshes and forests around Polgolla recorded 42 amphibian and reptile species, including 19 endemics and several nationally threatened species, and compared diversity across the three habitats.

2004AmphibiansReptilesPest control

Predatory patterns of paddy field pests by amphibians and reptiles of Sri Lanka

D.M. Nayana Pradeep & H.N.P. Wijegunasekera

Lyriocephalus Special Issue · Vol. 5, Nos. 1 & 2 · pp. 96–102

Diet analysis of frogs and lizards in mid-country paddy fields: half the diet of the common paddy frog Fejervarya limnocharis was pest Hemipterans, showing amphibians play a larger role in natural pest control than reptiles.

2004ReptilesDiversity survey

Reptile diversity of Ambagamuwa, in the mid-country wet zone of Sri Lanka

Kanishka Ukuwela & D.M. Nayana Pradeep

Lyriocephalus Special Issue · Vol. 5, Nos. 1 & 2 · pp. 103–110

A 2003 survey of the little-studied mid-country wet zone recorded 29 reptile species — 17 of them endemic and 16 nationally threatened — plus two skinks believed to be new to science.

2004SnakesNatural history

Some observations on Boiga barnesi (Reptilia: Serpentes: Colubridae)

D.M. Nayana Pradeep & Kanishka Ukuwela

Lyriocephalus Special Issue · Vol. 5, Nos. 1 & 2 · pp. 156–159

Morphology, measurements and scalation of Barnes’ cat snake — the rarest of Sri Lanka’s four Boiga species and an island endemic — from specimens found at Ambagamuwa in 2003.

2003AmphibiansReptilesPest control

The role of amphibians and reptiles in natural pest control in paddy fields of Sri Lanka

D.M. Nayana Pradeep Kumara, M.N.M. Ibrahim & H.N.P. Wijegunasekera

Proceedings, 11th Annual Student Research Sessions · Dept. of Animal Science, University of Peradeniya · pp. 39–40

A season-long field study of 51 acres of paddy at Ambagamuwa: 15 amphibian and reptile species were recorded, and stomach-content analysis showed frogs feeding heavily on crop pests such as Hemipterans and mole crickets.