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| Environment Sri Lanka > Biodiversity | |
Mammals
of Sri Lanka
Elephants
The Sri Lankan elephant (Elephas maximus maximus) is
a sub-species of the Asian elephant (Elephas maximus), which
is lightest and has smaller ears than the African elephant (Loxodonta
africana), and also differs from African elephants in that only a
small proportions (about one in ten) of male elephants have tusks, so
called tuskers.
Elephants can be seen in virtually all the island's national parks - Yala,
Uda Walawe and Minneriya are three of the best- and captive elephants
can be seen in various places, most famously the Pinnewala Elephant
Orphanage, near Kandy.
Elephants play an important role in religious festivals across the country,
nowhere more so than at the Kandy Esala Perahera where
the Tooth Relic is borne through the city by the Maligawa Tusker.
Leopards
The leopard or panther (Panthera pardus kotiya), the only big
cat in Sri Lanka is found both in the dry lowland areas and in the forested
hills. Being shy and elusive, it is rarely seen. It is estimated that
there are around 500 leopards in the whole island, with some 200 concentrated
in Yala National Park. The grayish, largely nocturnalfishing
cat (Felis viverrina) with dark spots and dashes with
somewhat webbed feet, usually live near water, scooping prey out with
their paws- hence the name.
Monkeys
Three species of monkey and one species of Loris
can be found in Sri Lanka.
The most widespread is the gray langur (Presbytis
entellus) or common (Hanuman) langur, long tailed monkey with a black
face, hands and feet.
The toque monkey or red faced macaque (Macaca sinica)
is a medium sized reddish-brown animal with a rather baboon-like narrow
pink face topped by a distinctive circular tuft of hair.
The third species is the purple-faced leaf monkey (Trachypithecus
vetulus), which is endemic to Sri Lanka. This is similar in build
to gray langur, with log slender limbs but with a blackish coat and a
pair of large striking white side whiskers.
Scientific Name |
English
Name |
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CLASS:MAMMALIA |
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ORDER: Insectivora |
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FAMILY: Soricidae |
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SUB-FAMILY: Crocidurinae (White-toothed
Shrews) |
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| Feroculus feroculus | Kelaart's long-tailed shrew | ||
| Suncus murinus murinus | Common Indian musk-shrew | ||
| Suncus murinus caerulescens | Indian grey musk-rat | ||
| Suncus murinus kandianus | Kandyan shrew | ||
| Suncus murinus montanus | Ceylon highland shrew | ||
| Suncus zeylanicus | Ceylon jungle shrew | ||
| Suncus etruscus fellowes-gordoni | Ceylon pigmy shrew | ||
| Crocidura miya | Ceylon long-tailed shrew | ||
| Crocidura horsfield horsfield | Horsfield's shrew | ||
| Solisorex pearsoni | Pearson's long-clawed shrew | ||
|
ORDER: Chiroptera (BATS) |
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SUB-ORDER: Megachiroptera |
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FAMILY: Pteropidae (Fruit Bats) |
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| Pteropus giganteus giganteus | Common flying fox | ||
| Rousettus seminudus | Ceylon fruit bat | ||
| Cynopterus sphinx sphinx | Indian short-nosed fruit bat | ||
| Cynopterus sphinx ceylonensis | Ceylon short-nosed fruit bat | ||
SUB-ORDER: Microchiroptera (Insectivorous
& Carnivorous Bats) |
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FAMILY: Rhinolophidae (Horse-Shoe Bats) |
|||
| Rhinolophus luctus sobrinus | Ceylon Great Horse-Shoe Bat | ||
| Rhinolophus rouxi rouxi | Rufous Horse-Shoe Bat | ||
| FAMILY: Hipposiderosidae (Leaf-Nosed Bats) | |||
| Hipposideros lankadiva lankadiva | Great Ceylon Leaf-Nosed Bat | ||
| Hipposideros speoris speoris | Schneider=s Leaf-Nosed Bat | ||
| Hipposideros galeritus brachyotus | Dekhan Leaf-Nosed Bat | ||
| Hipposideros bicolor ater | Ceylon Bi-Coloured Leaf-Nosed Bat | ||
| FAMILY: Megadermatidae (False Vampire Bats) | |||
| Megaderma spasma ceylonense | Ceylon False Vampire Bat | ||
| Megaderma lyra lyra | Indian False Vampire Bat | ||
| FAMILY: Vespertilionidae (Typical Insectivorous Bats) | |||
| Pipistrellus mordax | Grizzled Pipistrel | ||
| Pipistrellus ceylonicus ceylonicus | Kelaart's Pipistrel | ||
| Pipistrellus coromandra coromandra | Indian Pipistrel | ||
| Pipistrellus mimus mimus | Indian Pigmy Pipistrel | ||
| Hesperoptenus tickelli | Tickell's Bat | ||
| Scotophilus heathi heathi | Greater Yellow Bat | ||
| Scotophilus temmincki wroughtoni | Lesser Yellow Bat | ||
| Myotis hasselti | Van Hasselt's Bat | ||
| Sub-Family: Murininae (Tube-Nosed Bats) | |||
| Murina cyclotis eileenae | Ceylon Tube-Nosed Bat | ||
| Sub-Family: Kerivoulinae (Painted Bats) | |||
| Kerivoula picta picta | Painted Bat | ||
| Kerivoula hardwickei malpasi | Malpas=s Bat | ||
| Sub-Family: Miniopterinae (Long-Winged Bats) | |||
| Miniopterus schreiberst fuliginosus | Long-Winged Bat | ||
| FAMILY: Emballonuridae (Sheath-Tailed Bats) | |||
| Taphozous longimanus | Long-Armed Sheath-Tailed Bat | ||
| Taphozous melanopogon | Black-Bearded Sheath-Tailed Bat | ||
| Taphozous saccolaimus crassus | Pouch-Bearing Sheath-Tailed Bat | ||
| FAMILY: Molossidae (Free-Tailed Bats) | |||
| Tadarida aegyptiaca | Indian Wrinkled-Lipped Bat | ||
| Tadarida plicara insularis | Ceylon Wrinkled-Lipped Bat | ||
|
ORDER: Primates (Apes, Baboons, Monkeys,
Lemurs etc.) |
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Sub-Order: Prosimii (Lemurs, bush-Babies
& Lorises) |
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FAMILY: Lorisidae (Lorises) |
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| Loris tardigradus tardigradus | Western Ceylon Slender Loris | ||
| Loris tardigradus grandis | Highland Ceylon Slender Loris | ||
| Loris tardigradus nordicus | Northern Ceylon Slender Loris | ||
| Loris tardigradus nycticeboides | Ceylon Mountain Slender Loris | ||
Sub-Order: Anthropoidea |
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| FAMILY: Cercopithecidae | |||
| Sub-family: Colobinae (Langurs or Leaf Monkeys) | |||
| Semnopithecus priam thersites | Ceylon Grey Langur | ||
| Trachypithecus vetulus vetulus | Purple-Faced Leaf Monkey | ||
| Trachypithecus vetulus nestor | Western Purple-Faced Leaf Monkey | ||
| Trachypithecus vetulus monticola | Bear Monkey | ||
| Trachypithecus vetulus philbricki | Northern Purple-Faces Leaf Monkey | ||
| Sub-Family: Cercopithecinae (Macaques) | |||
| Macaca sinica sinica | Toque Monkey | ||
| Macaca sinica aurifrons | Western or Dusky Toque Monkey | ||
| Macaca sinica pisthomelas | Mountain Toque Monkey | ||
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ORDER: Pholidota |
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FAMILY: Manidae (Pangolins) |
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| Manis crassicaidata | Indian Pangolin or Scaly Anteater | ||
|
ORDER: Lagomorpha (Mouse-Hares, Hares
and Rabbits) |
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FAMILY: Leporidae (Hares and Rabbits) |
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| Lepus nigricollis singhala | Ceylon Black-Naped Hare | ||
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ORDER: Rodentia (Rodents) |
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Sub-Order: Sciuromorpha (Marmots, Gophers,
Squirrels, etc.) |
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FAMILY: Scuridae (Squirrels) |
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| Petaurista petaurista lanka | Large Ceylon Flying-Squirrel | ||
| Petinomys fuscocapillus layardi | Small Ceylon Flying Squirrel | ||
| Funambulus palmarum brodiei | Northern Ceylon Palm squirrel | ||
| Funambulus palmarum kelaarti | Eastern Ceylon Palm Squirrel | ||
| Funambulus palmarum olympius | Highland Ceylon Palm Squirrel | ||
| Funambulus palmarum favonicus | Western Ceylon Palm Squirrel | ||
| Funambulus layardi layardi | Flame-Stripped jungle Squirrel | ||
| Funambulus layardi signatus | Western Flame-Stripped Jungle Squirrel | ||
| Funambulus sublineatus obscurus | Ceylon Dusky-Stripped jungle Squirrel | ||
| Ratufa macroura macroura | Highland Ceylon Giant Squirrel | ||
| Ratufa macroura melanochra | Western Ceylon Giant Squirrel | ||
| Ratufa macroura dandolena | Common Ceylon Gian Squirrel | ||
Sub-Order: Hystricomorpha (Porcupines) |
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| FAMILY: Hystericidae (Porcupines) | |||
| Hystrix indica | Indian Porcupine | ||
| Sub-Order: Myomorpha | |||
| FAMILY: Muridae (Rats, Mice and rat-like rodents) | |||
| Sub-family: Gerbillinae (Gerbils) | |||
| Tatera indica ceylonica | Ceylon Gerbil or Antilope-Rat | ||
| Sub-family: Murinae (Rats and Mice) | |||
| Bandicota indica | Indian Bandicoot or Bandicoot-Rat | ||
| Bandicota bengalensis gracilis | Ceylon Mole Ray or Lesser Bandicoot | ||
| Bandicota bengalensis insularis | Northern Ceylon Mole Rat | ||
| Mus musculus castaneus | Indian House Mouse | ||
| Mus cervicolor fulvidiventris | Ceylon Field Mouse | ||
| Mus fernandoni | Ceylon Spiny Mouse | ||
| Mus (Coelomys) mayori mayori | Ceylon Spiny-Rat or Coelomys | ||
| Mus (Coelomys) mayori pococki | Bi-Coloured Spiny-Rat or Coelomys | ||
| Rattus rattus rattus | Common House-Rat or Black Rat | ||
| Rattus rattus alexandricus | Egyptian House-Rat | ||
| Rattus rattus rufescens | Indian House-Rat | ||
| Rattus rattus kandianus | Common Ceylon House-Rat | ||
| Rattus rattus kelaarti | Ceylon Highland Rat | ||
| Rattus norvegicus | European Brown Rat | ||
| Rattus blanfordi | White-Tailed Rat | ||
| Rattus ohiensis | Ceylon Bi-Coloured Rat | ||
| Rattus montanus | Nillu Rat | ||
| Golunda ellioti ellioti | Indian Bush-Rat | ||
| Golunda ellioti newara | Ceylon Highland Bush-Rat or Coffee-Rat | ||
| Milardia meltada meltada | Indian Soft-Furred Rat | ||
| Vandeleuria oleracea nilagirica | Indian Long-Tailed Tree Mouse | ||
| Vendeleuria oleracea nolthenii | Ceylon Highland Long-Tailed Tree Mouse | ||
|
ORDER: Cetacea (Whales, Dolphins and
Porpoises) |
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Sub-Order: Mysticeti (Whale-Bone Whales) |
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FAMILY: Balaenopteridae (Rorquals and
Hump-Nosed Whales) |
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| Balaenoptera acutorostrata | Little Picked Whale, Minke Whale or Lesser Rorqual | ||
| Balaenoptera physalus | Common Rorqual or Fin Whale | ||
| Balaenoptera musculus | Great Blue Whale | ||
| Megaptera novceanglias | Hump-Backed Whale | ||
| FAMILY: Eschrichtiidae (Grey Whales) | |||
| Eschrichtius gibbosus | California Grey Whale | ||
| Sub-Order: Odontoceti (Toothed Whales and Dolphins) | |||
| FAMILY: Physeteridae (Sperm Whales) | |||
| Kogia breviceps | Pigmy Sperm Whale | ||
| Physeter catodor | Sperm Whale or Cachalot | ||
| FAMILY: Ziphiidae (Beaked Whales) | |||
| Ziphius cavirostris | Goose-Beaked or Cuvier=s Beaked Whale | ||
| Mesoplodon ginkgodens | Ginkgo-Tooth Beaked Whale | ||
| Hyperoodon planifrons | Bottle-Nosed Whale | ||
| FAMILY: Phocoenidae (Porpoises) | |||
| Neophocoena phocaenoides | Little indian Porpoise | ||
| FAMILY: Delphinidae (Dolphins and Killer Whales) | |||
| Delphinus delphis | Common Dolphin | ||
| Stenella longirostris | Long-Beaked Dolphin | ||
| Sotalica lentiginosa | Speckled Dolphin | ||
| Sotalia plumbea | Plumbeous Dolphin | ||
| Tursiops truncatus | Bottle-Nosed Dolphin | ||
| Pseudorca crassidens | False Killer Whales | ||
| Orcinus orca | Killer Whale or Grampus | ||
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ORDER: Carnivora (Carnivores) |
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FAMILY: Mustelidae (Weasels, Otters, etc.) |
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| Lutra lutra (ceylonica) nair | Ceylon Otter | ||
| FAMILY: Canidae (Wolves, Jackals, Foxes, etc.) | |||
| Canis aureus lanka | Ceylon Jackal | ||
| FAMILY: Ursidae (Bears) | |||
| Melursus ursinus inornatus | Ceylon Sloth Bear | ||
| FAMILY: Viverridae (Civets, Palm-cats, Mongooses, etc.) | |||
| Sub-Family: Viverrinae (Civets) | |||
| Viverricula indica mayori | Ceylon Small Civet-Cat | ||
| Sub-Family: Paradoxurinae (Palm-Cats or Palm Civets) | |||
| Paradoxurus hermaphroditus | Common Indian Palm-Cat | ||
| Paradoxurus zeylonensis | Golden Palm-Civet | ||
| Sub-Family: Herpestinae (Mongooses) | |||
| Herpestes edwardsi lanka | Common Ceylon Grey Mongoose | ||
| Herpestes fuscus flavidents | Highland Ceylon Brown Mongoose | ||
| Herpestes fuscus rubidior | Western Ceylon Brown Mongoose | ||
| Herpestes fuscus maccarthiae | Northern Ceylon Brown Mongoose | ||
| Herpestes smithi zeylanicus | Ceylon Ruddy Mongoose | ||
| Herpestes vitticollis | Striped-Necked Mongoose | ||
| FAMILY: Felidae (Lions, Tigers, Leopards, Cats, etc.) | |||
| Felis (Proinailurus) rubiginosa phillipsi | Ceylon Rusty-Spotted Cat | ||
| Felis (Zibethailurus) viverrina | Indian Fishing Cat | ||
| Felis chaus kelaarti | Ceylon Jungle Cat | ||
| Panthera pardus lankae | Ceylon Leopard | ||
|
ORDER: Proboscidea (Elphants and their
allies) |
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FAMILY: Elephantidae (Elephants) |
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| Elephas maximus maximus | Ceylon Elephant | ||
| Elephas maximus vil-aliya | Ceylon Marsh Elephant | ||
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ORDER: Sirenia (Dugongs, Sea-Cows) |
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FAMILY: Dugongidae (Dugongs) |
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| Dugong dugong | Common Dugong | ||
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ORDER: Perissodactyla (Odd-Toed Ungulates) |
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FAMILY: Equidae (Horses and Donkeys) |
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| Eques eques | Mannar Pony | ||
| Eques caballos | Mannar Pigmy Donkey | ||
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ORDER: Artiodactyla (Even-Toed Ungulates) |
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Sub-Order: Suiformes (Pigs and Pig-Like
Mammals) |
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| FAMILY: Suidae (Pigs) | |||
| Sus scrofa cristatus | Indian Wild Pig | ||
Sub-Order: Ruminantia (Ruminants) |
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| FAMILY: Tragulidae (Cheverotains or Mouse Deer) | |||
| Tragulus meminna | Indian Mouse Deer or Chevrotain | ||
| FAMILY: Cervidae (Deer) | |||
| Muntiacus muntjak malabaricus | Indian Muntjak ot Barking Deer | ||
| Axis (axis) axis ceylonensis | Ceylon Spotted Deer | ||
| Cervus unicolor unicolor | Sambhur | ||
| FAMILY: Bovidae (Wild Cattle and Buffalos) | |||
| Bubalus bubalis bubalis | Indian Water Buffalo | ||
Checklist
of mammals by R M A P Rajathewa,
B.Sc. Forestry and Environmental Science Special course
Web
site Maintained by
Forestry and Environmental Science Society of Univesity of Sri Jayewardenepura,
Nugegoda, Sri Lanka and
Young Biolgists' Association, National Meuseum of the Naural History,
Sir Marcus Fernando Mawatha, Colombo 7, Sri Lanka.
email: webmaster@environmentlanka.com
© Forestry and Environment Society 1998-2003