Research
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.
9 papers · 2003–2024
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.