Sri Lanka Bronze Skink

The Sri Lanka bronze skink, also known as the Sri Lanka bronze mabuya, is a species of skink endemic to Sri Lanka. It is widespread and found in both wet and dry zones. 

When I go to a site showing the reptiles of Sri Lanka, I find 32 species of skink and only a few photos. I find some photos that look like this in a general search of photos of skink in Sri Lanka, so this identification is not assured.

We saw it on our way down the steps from the Dambulla Cave Temple. It was right next to the steps in some leaf letter next to the roots of a large tree. 

Common Green Forest Lizard

The common green forest lizard is found in the Western Ghats (a mountain range parallel to the western coast) and Shevaroy Hills (a mountain range in the south) of India and in Sri Lanka. It is 19.5 to 25.5 inches in length, including the tail. 

Common green forest lizard.

The head is yellowish or brownish/green, except for the male in breeding season which has a bright red head and throat. The upper side (dorsal) is bright green with five or six white, cream or dark green transverse stripes. The underside is pale green and the tail is light brown. 

We saw this lizard right as we were entering Udawalawe National Park. Sanjay, our guide, pointed it out in a tree just to the side of our safari vehicle. 

House Crow

The house crow (Corvus splendens) is also known as the Ceylon crow, Colombo crow or Indian crow. The forehead, crown, throat and neck are a glossy black, the wings, tail and back are black, and the neck and breast are a gray/brown. There are five subspecies. The subspecies (C. s. protegatus) is found in Southern India, Sri Lanka and the Maldives and has a darker gray collar than the other subspecies. 

House crow

I saw a few of the house crows, but not as many as the Indian jungle crow, the other species of crow in Sri Lanka. I only have photos of one house crow, taken in Kandy. My photos make the back look very purple and so I have tried to adjust the coloration down. 

Indian Jungle Crow

The Indian jungle crow is found in the Indian Subcontinent below the Himalayas. It is all black and glossy with a purple gloss. It has a rounded tail and stout legs and feet. 

We saw quite a few crows, but I didn't take many pictures of them. I believe the photos I have were taken in Kandy. 

This photo was taken in Tangalle.

Gray-Headed Swamphen

The gray-headed swamphen was considered a subspecies of the purple swamphen until it was elevated to its own species in 2015. It is found from the Middle East and Indian Subcontinent to Southern China and Northern Thailand. We saw it three times in Sri Lanka: (1) on our initial drive from Colombo to Anuradhapura; (2) in Yala National Park; and (3) in Bundala National Park. It was discovered in Southeastern Florida in 1996 as a result of unintended releases from private collections. Eradication efforts between 2006 and 2008 failed and it is now firmly entrenched in Southern Florida. 

The large toes help it to stand on water lilies. 

Aside from Wikipedia, these sources were helpful: here and here. It is a large purple gallinule with a red bill, forehead shield, legs and feet with long toes. When it flicks up its tail, it reveals white "underpants." The head, neck and body are violet or purple with some greenish turquoise on the back and upperwings. 

This photo gives a bit of the long toes, the beautiful feathers on the body and the red bill and shield. It also shows a gray patch on the neck and head which I assume gives it its name. 

This photo reveals the white "underpants" and gives a nice side head view, including a red eye. 

I've seen the American purple gallinule in Florida on two occasions, in 2014 and 2018. That bird, although similar, is more colorful. 

Indian Star Tortoise

The Indian star tortoise is found in India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka in dry areas and scrub forest. As I read the description of it in Wikipedia I am blown away by the technical description that makes it all but indecipherable without spending a huge amount of time looking up all the technical words. What does jump out is that it is endangered because of its popularity in the exotic pet trade.

An un-cropped photo that gives an idea of the bare ground and vegetation it was traversing, before entering into some bushes. 

A backside view as it walks toward some bushes.

Reptiles Magazine notes that the "yellow lines radiating from the center of each scute and contrasting with their black base color" makes them "one of the worlds most attractive tortoise species."  Further, females are considerably larger than males. 

Close-ups of the shell detail. 

The center of the star centers on the top of each scute and sends radiating lines outward. 

While we were driving through Bundala National Park in Southern Sri Lanka our volunteer guide (which you are required to take with you when you enter) noticed the tortoise walking along near our vehicle. Our guide, Sanjay, was quite excited, exclaiming he'd never seen one before. 

The tortoise enters the bushes and eventually disappears. 

I don't have any great photos because the tortoise was always high-tailing away. No good head shots. But it was very fun to see and the decorations on the shell are even better than the ones I see in the reptile magazines. 

Indian Cormorant

The Indian cormorant is found near inland waters of the Indian Subcontinent, extending west to Sindh, Pakistan, and east to Thailand and Cambodia. Its range includes Sri Lanka.

Indian cormorant on the lake in Kandy. Note the blue eye. 

In a tree near the lake in Kandy.

It is distinguished by its blue eye, small head with a sloping forehead and long narrow bill with a hooked tip. It is brown with black on the upper plumage. 

In a tree near a lake in Yala NP.

I saw them in Kandy and Yala National Park, and possibly in Anuradhapura, although the cormorants I saw there may have been a different species.