Sri Lanka is a mega-hotspot of reptile fauna, home to many reptiles and amphibians such as snakes, lizards, crocodiles, turtles and frogs.

Two species of crocodile are found in Sri Lanka; the 3-4m rather meek mugger or marsh crocodile lives in freshwater rivers and tanks in many parts of the island. The estuarine or saltwater crocodile prefers the brackish waters of the larger rivers where it can grow up to 7m in length.
Did you know that Sri Lanka has one of the highest densities of snakes in the world! Here are some interesting facts about our snakes;

• 50% of our snakes are truly endemic.
• 13 species of our snakes inhabit the coastal waters
• We harbor 10 species of blind snakes.
• Only 5 species of our snakes are truly venomous; the Cobra, Russell’s viper, Common Krait, Sri Lankan Krait and the Saw-Scaled Viper.

18 species of agamid lizards, 2 species of monitor lizards, 19 gecko species and one of the rarest chameleon species are found in Sri Lanka, with many of them being endemic. The largest lizard in Sri Lanka is the impressive crocodile-like ‘kabaragoya’ or Water Monitor which can grow up to 2m in length and is found throughout the low country wherever there is wetland. This lizard also happens to be the second largest lizard in the world, only second to the Komodo dragon of the Indonesian Islands.
Sri Lanka is one of hose countries that could boast being home to fresh water turtles, marine turtles and the only species of land tortoise found in Sri Lanka – the beautiful Star Tortoise.
Of the eight species of marine turtles in the world, five species namely the Loggerhead, Olive Ridley, Green, Leatherback and Hawksbill return to nest on Sri Lankan beaches. Would you believe that all five of these turtles are endangered species? One of the rarer species the Leather-Back Turtle is the world’s largest sea turtle which grows to 2m in length, and has a ridged leathery skin on its back instead of a shell. The main areas of turtle nesting are Sri Lanka’s western and southern beaches, where you can find the turtle hatcheries in Kosgoda and Rekawa.

<< Back