There is still a lot of nature left in Sri Lanka. There are many National Parks, I visited 8 reserves or parks on my trip. I had the best wildlife viewing outside of Africa in Sri Lanka. Following are pictures of plants and animals that I saw during my trip.
Pictures of birds in Sri Lanka and other nature pages are separate:
Mountain forests in the center of Sri Lanka. (620k) Morning fog on the edge of Horton Plains. (1037k) Waterfalls. (1341k) Waterfall with rainbow. (1094k) Forest. (1388k) Forest. (1413k)
Sri Lanka Flora
Bright yellow mold. (1109k) Mushroom. (712k) Fragile Dapperling (Leucocoprinus fragilissimus). (506k) Microporus Mushroom (Microporus sp.). (634k) Mushroom. (569k) Mushroom. (829k) The fern is an invasive species that is taking over the whole grassland. (1240k) Morning Glory (Ipomoea sp., german: Prunkwinden, french: Ipomée). (877k) Flamevine (Pyrostegia venusta, french: Liane aurore). (923k) Flower. (614k) Orchid. (575k) Orchid. (613k) Orchid. (541k) Orchid. (766k) Horsefall Morning Glory (Ipomoea horsfalliae). (784k) Red Trailing Bauhinia (Phanera coccinea). (843k) Rough Osbeckia (Osbeckia aspera). (579k) Yesterday-today-and-tomorrow (Brunfelsia pauciflora). (1205k) Yesterday-today-and-tomorrow (Brunfelsia pauciflora). (754k) Pride of Burma (Amherstia nobilis, german: Tohabaum, french: Arbre à orchidées). (862k) Bamboo Orchid (Arundina graminifolia). (589k) Plant with fruits. (742k) Lily. (580k) Water Lilies. (1044k) Water Lilies. (1122k) Water Lilies. (658k) Water Lily. (768k) Lotus flower. (753k) Tree Rhododendron (Rhododendron arboreum, french: Burans). (1.6M) Tree Rhododendron (Rhododendron arboreum, french: Burans). (995k) Sri Lanka Pitcher Plant (Nepenthes distillatoria, german: Kannenpflanzen). It is endemic to Sri Lanka. (772k) Rattan. (1.6M) Bamboo. (1.5M) Huge tree fern. (1.7M) Temple Tree (Plumeria rubra, german: Rote Frangipani, french: Frangipanier rouge). (670k) Pink Poui (Tabebuia rosea, french: Tête Comore). (1172k) Tree. (1.5M) Flamboyant Tree (Delonix regia, german: Flammenbaum, french: Flamboyant). (1122k) Shorea (Shorea stipularis), a tree about 450 years old. The species is endemic to Sci Lanka and is critically endangered. (1021k) Sea Coconut (Lodoicea maldivica, german: Seychellenpalme, french: Cocotier de mer). This tree is originally endemic to the Seychelles. (1217k) Sea Coconut (Lodoicea maldivica, german: Seychellenpalme, french: Cocotier de mer). (1210k) Banyan Tree (Ficus benghalensis, german: Banyan-Feige, french: Figuier des banians). (1.6M) Banyan Tree (Ficus benghalensis, german: Banyan-Feige, french: Figuier des banians). (1494k)
Sri Lanka Fauna
Giant African Snail (Lissachatina fulica, german: Große Achatschnecke, french: Escargot géant africain). (561k) Snail (Ratnadvipia karui). This species is endemic to Sri Lanka. (703k) Bee hives. (1.6M) Termite mound. (1.5M) Termite nest. (1175k) Slender-scaped Carpenter Bee (Xylocopa tenuiscapa). (517k) Walking Stick (Phasmatidae gen.). (611k) Spider web with Giant Golden Orb Weaver (Nephila pilipes). (743k) Giant Golden Orb Weaver (Nephila pilipes). (509k) Lantern Bug (Pyrops maculatus). (829k) Tiger Beetle (Cicindela lacrymans). (629k) Grasshopper (Cingalia dubia, german: Feldheuschrecken, french: Acrididae). This species is endemic to Sri Lanka. (649k) Giant Robber Fly (Microstylum sp.). (658k) Giant Robber Fly (Microstylum sp.) attacking a grasshopper. (676k) Coromandel Marsh Dart (Ceriagrion coromandelianum). (649k) Ditch Jewel (Brachythemis contaminata). (578k) Ditch Jewel (Brachythemis contaminata). (512k) Chalky Percher (Diplacodes trivialis). (1372k) Sri Lanka Sabretail (Megalogomphus ceylonicus). This species is endemic to Sri Lanka. (553k) Rufous Marsh Glider (Rhodothemis rufa). (886k) Wandering Pennant (Macrodiplax cora). (514k) Common Gull butterflies (Cepora nerissa). (1135k) Blue Mormon Swallowtail (Papilio polymnestor, french: Mormon bleu). (681k) Narrow-banded Bluebottle (Graphium teredon). (1049k) Dancing Ceylon Tree Nymphs (Idea iasonia). These butterflies are endemic to Sri Lanka. (570k) Spineplate Millipede (Harpagophoridae gen.). (960k) Brown Leech (Haemadipsa zeylanica, german: Ceylonegel). (619k) Sri Lankan Walking Catfish (Clarias brachysoma). This species is endemic to Sri Lanka. (637k) Rhino-horned Lizard (Ceratophora stoddartii, german: Hornagame). This species is endemic to Sri Lanka. (1093k) Changeable Lizard (Calotes versicolor, german: Blutsaugeragame, french: Agame versicolore). (781k) Changeable Lizard (Calotes versicolor, german: Blutsaugeragame, french: Agame versicolore). (883k) Hump Snout Lizard (Lyriocephalus scutatus). It is endemic to Sri Lanka. (629k) Baby Common Green Forest Lizard (Calotes calotes). (672k) Common Green Forest Lizard (Calotes calotes). (770k) Common Green Forest Lizard (Calotes calotes) on a Rhododendron. (743k) Common Green Forest Lizard (Calotes calotes). It was hiding behind the tree stem, moving around the tree as I moved around. (823k) Male Common Green Forest Lizard (Calotes calotes). (554k) Long-nosed Whip Snake (Ahaetulla nasuta, german: Nasen-Peitschennatter, french: Serpent liane nasique). (816k) Indian Star Tortoise (Geochelone elegans, german: Indische Sternschildkröte, french: Tortue étoilée d'Inde). (816k) Indian Black Turtle (Melanochelys trijuga). (560k) Small Asian Water Monitor (Varanus salvator salvator, german: Bindenwaran, french: Varan malais). (1102k) Swimming Asian Water Monitor (Varanus salvator salvator, german: Bindenwaran, french: Varan malais). (1293k) Asian Water Monitor (Varanus salvator salvator, german: Bindenwaran, french: Varan malais). (1242k) Bengal Monitor (Varanus bengalensis, german: Bengalenwaran, french: Varan du Bengale). (1226k) Close-up of Bengal Monitor (Varanus bengalensis, german: Bengalenwaran, french: Varan du Bengale). (995k) Mugger Crocodile (Crocodylus palustris, german: Sumpfkrokodil, french: Crocodile des marais). (1034k) Indian Palm Squirrel (Funambulus palmarum, german: Indisches Palmenhörnchen). (772k) Grizzled Giant Squirrel (Ratufa macroura, german: Sri-Lanka-Riesenhörnchen, french: Écureuil géant de Ceylan). (558k) Grizzled Giant Squirrel (Ratufa macroura, german: Sri-Lanka-Riesenhörnchen, french: Écureuil géant de Ceylan) eating a Jackfruit. (602k) Tree with resting Indian Flying Foxes (Pteropus medius, german: Indischer Riesenflughund, french: Chauve souris géante d'Inde). (614k) Swarm of Indian Flying Foxes (Pteropus medius, german: Indischer Riesenflughund, french: Chauve souris géante d'Inde). (794k) Indian Flying Fox (Pteropus medius, german: Indischer Riesenflughund, french: Chauve souris géante d'Inde) in flight. (500k) Indian Flying Fox (Pteropus medius, german: Indischer Riesenflughund, french: Chauve souris géante d'Inde). (884k) Indian Hare or Black-naped Hare (Lepus nigricollis, german: Schwarznackenhase). (904k) Ruddy Mongoose (Urva smithii, german: Indische Rotmanguste, french: Herpestes). It is endemic to Sri Lanka and peninsular India. (1029k) Close-up of a Ruddy Mongoose (Urva smithii, german: Indische Rotmanguste, french: Herpestes). (772k) Stripe-necked Mongoose (Urva vitticolla, german: Halsstreifenmanguste, french: Herpestes). (841k) Toque Macaque (Macaca sinica, german: Ceylon-Hutaffe, french: Macaque à toque). It is endemic to Sri Lanka. (910k) Toque Macaques (Macaca sinica, german: Ceylon-Hutaffe, french: Macaque à toque). (1126k) Purple-faced Langur (Semnopithecus vetulus, german: Weißbartlangur, french: Semnopithèque blanchâtre). It is endemic to Sri Lanka. (1032k) Group of Tufted Gray Langurs (Semnopithecus priam, german: Südlicher Hanuman-Langur, french: Entelle de Ceylan). They are endemic to southern India and Sri Lanka. (1173k) Tufted Gray Langur (Semnopithecus priam, german: Südlicher Hanuman-Langur, french: Entelle de Ceylan). (980k) Close-up of Tufted Gray Langur (Semnopithecus priam, german: Südlicher Hanuman-Langur, french: Entelle de Ceylan). (615k) Tufted Gray Langur (Semnopithecus priam, german: Südlicher Hanuman-Langur, french: Entelle de Ceylan) with baby. (836k) Sri Lankan Jackal (Canis aureus naria, german: Goldschakal, french: Chacal doré). (961k) Indian Muntjac ssp. malabaricus (Muntiacus muntjak malabaricus, german: Indischer Muntjak, french: Cerf aboyeur). (817k) Herd of Chitals (Axis axis, german: Axishirsch, french: Cerf axis). (1.5M) Female Chital (Axis axis, german: Axishirsch, french: Cerf axis). (1260k) Male Chital (Axis axis, german: Axishirsch, french: Cerf axis). (1444k) Close-up of male Chital (Axis axis, german: Axishirsch, french: Cerf axis). (798k) Male Sri Lankan Sambar Deer (Rusa unicolor unicolor, german: Sambar, french: Sambar). (1194k) Male Sri Lankan Sambar Deer (Rusa unicolor unicolor, german: Sambar, french: Sambar). (1224k) Sri Lankan Boar (Sus scrofa affinis, german: Wildschwein, french: Sanglier). (1146k) Sri Lankan Boars (Sus scrofa affinis, german: Wildschwein, french: Sanglier) and Eastern Cattle Egrets (Bubulcus ibis coromandus, german: Kuhreiher, french: Héron garde-bœufs). (1026k) Group of Sri Lankan Boars (Sus scrofa affinis, german: Wildschwein, french: Sanglier). (1047k) Sri Lankan Boar (Sus scrofa affinis, german: Wildschwein, french: Sanglier) and Eastern Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis coromandus, german: Kuhreiher, french: Héron garde-bœufs). (653k) Wild Asian Water Buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis, german: Wasserbüffel, french: Buffle d'Asie). (859k) Wild Asian Water Buffalo (Bubalus bubalis, german: Wasserbüffel, french: Buffle d'Asie). (874k) Sri Lankan Sloth Bear (Melursus ursinus inornatus, german: Lippenbär, french: Ours lippu). (762k) Sri Lankan Sloth Bear (Melursus ursinus inornatus, german: Lippenbär, french: Ours lippu). (748k) Sri Lankan Leopard (Panthera pardus kotiya, german: Sri-Lanka-Leopard, french: Panthère de Ceylan) an endangered subspecies of leopard, endemic to Sri Lanka. (940k) Sri Lankan Leopard (Panthera pardus kotiya, german: Sri-Lanka-Leopard, french: Panthère de Ceylan). (1278k) Sri Lankan Leopard (Panthera pardus kotiya, german: Sri-Lanka-Leopard, french: Panthère de Ceylan). (967k) Sri Lankan Leopard (Panthera pardus kotiya, german: Sri-Lanka-Leopard, french: Panthère de Ceylan). (926k) Sri Lankan Leopard (Panthera pardus kotiya, german: Sri-Lanka-Leopard, french: Panthère de Ceylan). (876k) Sri Lankan Leopard (Panthera pardus kotiya, german: Sri-Lanka-Leopard, french: Panthère de Ceylan). (856k) Sri Lankan Leopard (Panthera pardus kotiya, german: Sri-Lanka-Leopard, french: Panthère de Ceylan). (843k) Leopard track. (1.7M) Sri Lankan Elephant (Elephas maximus maximus, german: Sri-Lanka-Elefant, french: Éléphant du Sri Lanka). (1166k) Sri Lankan Elephant (Elephas maximus maximus, german: Sri-Lanka-Elefant, french: Éléphant du Sri Lanka). (697k) Feeding Sri Lankan Elephant (Elephas maximus maximus, german: Sri-Lanka-Elefant, french: Éléphant du Sri Lanka). (991k) Close-up of Sri Lankan Elephant (Elephas maximus maximus, german: Sri-Lanka-Elefant, french: Éléphant du Sri Lanka). (1040k) Close-up of Sri Lankan Elephant (Elephas maximus maximus, german: Sri-Lanka-Elefant, french: Éléphant du Sri Lanka). (1093k) Spinner Dolphins (Stenella longirostris, german: Ostpazifischer Delfin, french: Dauphin à long bec). (1117k) Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus, german: Blauwal, french: Baleine bleue). (927k) Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus, german: Blauwal, french: Baleine bleue). (946k) Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus, german: Blauwal, french: Baleine bleue). (809k) Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus, german: Blauwal, french: Baleine bleue). (946k) All the boats race to see the Blue Whale. Just like the cars on land when a leopard is sighted. (684k)
Dr. Günther Eichhorn Travel Website
Soaring website