Flora and Fauna

Sri Lanka’s natural vegetation covers about 30% of the total land area. 

Plants are great for taking photos as they come in a variety of colors, shapes and they stand out when placed with the appropriate background.

Plant species in forests have extraordinary patterns of localized distribution. Sri Lanka’s Forest has one of the world’s greatest densities of species variety.

Despite its small size, Sri Lanka is home to a diverse range of ecosystems, including tropical wet lowland rainforests, tropical montane forests, tropical dry mixed evergreen forests/dry monsoon forests, tropical thorn scrubs, savanna, patana, and wetlands.

Sri Lanka has one of the highest rates of biological endemism.

Sri Lanka is home to roughly 135 species of mammals (19 endemics),  515 species of birds (34 endemics), 243 species of reptiles (158 endemics),  120 species of amphibians (107 endemics), 124 species of freshwater fish (58 endemics), 1387 species of marine fish, 5246 species of snails and slugs, 11,144 species of insects, 383 species of spiders (271 endemics), 18 species of scorpions (7 endemics), 51 species of crustaceans (51 endemics), 76  species of echinoderms (1endemic), and flora 4381 (951 endemics). 

Leopards, elephants, sloth bears, sambar, spotted dear, jackals, crocodiles, and resident and migrant birds are the most common wildlife found in national parks.