Sri Lanka ranks as a great herpetological paradise in the world. It is blessed with not only high amphibian and reptile diversity and endemism, but also relatively high densities of individuals interested in herpetology and publications, especially when compared with other countries in South Asia.

Bodilima

Horn Lizard

Current taxonomic status of Reptiles in Sri Lanka (As at 2005)

Reptile Group	No of Genera	Endemic genera	No of Species	Endemic species	unique at the sub-species	Endemicity %
Crocodilia	01	Nil	02	Nil	Nil	Nil
Testudines	08	Nil	09	Nil	01	1
Sauria	25	06	76	48	06	63
Serpentes	46	05	96	45	05	47
Total	80	11	183	92	12	50

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Kasun de Alwis

How to identify Venomous Serpents & Non-Venomous Serpents?

Following features can be used:
1) Shape of the head.
2) Characteristic futures of Ventral, Vertebral, Costal and Caudal ventral (Sub caudal)
3) Shape of tail. (Tail of Sea Snakes is “Paddle” shaped.)
4) Can use venomous gland existing character.(High Venomous serpents and Mid Venomous Serpents
has “True Venom Gland”; Low Venomous Serpents has “Duvenoi Gland”)
5) Non-Venomous serpents have only “Agypha” teethes in it’s mouth, and Venomous serpents has
“Ophisthoglyphous”(mid-venomous), “Proteroglyphous”(high venomous), “Solenoglyphous”(family
viperidae) tooth in it’s mouth