Wild Story

DRAGONFLIES & DAMSELFLIES CLASSIFICATION  Kingdom-Animalia  Phylum- Arthropoda  Class-Insecta  Order-Odonata INTRODUCTION Dragonflies(sub order-Anisoptera) and Damselflies(sub order-zygoptera)are often bright coloured flying insects that can be easily identified. MORPHOLOGY They are medium to large in size with 15-120mm body length. Dragonflies and Damselflies are similar in shape but Dragonflies are much heavier bodied and stronger flying insects than Damselflies. Damselflies are slender bodied and flying more weakly.   Both have follwing features.     •Long,slender body     •large compound eyes     •3 oceli     •very small antenna     •mandibulate mouthparts     •2 pairs of membranous wings     •complex wing veniation   Dragonflies and Damselflies are similar in shape. But they can be easily recognized by observing their wings.        In Dragonflies their hind wings and fore wings are different in size ,hind wings are slightly broader than forewi

ORIENTAL GARDEN LIZARD Classification  Kingdom - Animalia Phylum - Chordata Sub phylum - vertebrata Class- Reptilia Order - Squamata Family - Agamidae Genus -  Calotes Species -  Calotes versicolor Introduction The Oriental Garden lizard/Changeable lizard ( Calotes versicolor) belongs to family agamidae.It is also known as ගරා කටුස්සා (gara katussa) in sinhala. Distribution  Oriental Garden lizards are widely distributed around the world.The species range from Iran to India,and from Southern China to Thailand.In Sri Lanka they live all environmental regions and  inhabit wide range of habitats.This lizard is active during the day and is arboreal .So it can be found mostly in trees and bushes.And also It can be found among the undergrowth in open habitats and costal vegitations. Morphology Total length of the Oriental garden lizard about 37-40cm including the tail.It's colour ranges from brownish buff to greyish.Generally broad brown bands across the back

                                                                           Kingdom    - Animalia Phylum      -  Arthropoda Class          -  Insecta  Order          -  Lepidoptera Family        -  Nymphalidae  Genus         -   Tirumala Species       -   Tirumala limniace   exoticus Common name   -  Blue Tiger Butterfly                      Blue tiger is a large butterfly in brown and blue colours .It's upper parts mainly consist with brownish black colour.They have light blue sub terminal and terminal streaks and spots on the wings.Their wingspan about 75-105mm. Head, antenna and thorax are also brownish  black in colour with white colour dots.                        Sexes are similar in pattern and size.The male is distinguish from the female because of having a brush at tip of the abdomen.They protrude it out stroke the pouches of specialized scent scales on the underside of the hindwings.Then scatter the scent to attract females.                

COMMON GREEN FOREST LIZARD ( Calotes calotes )                                                       CLASSIFICATION Kingdom    -Animalia Phylum      -Chordata Class          -Reptilia Order         -Squamata Family       -Agamidae Genus        - Calotes Species      - Calotes calotes                                                                                                               INTRODUCTION     The C ommon Green Forest Lizard (Calotes calotes)   belongs to the family of Agamidae.It is also called පළා කටුස්සා(palaa katussa) in sinhala. This is a large species of Agamid . DISTRIBUTION   Green forest lizards mostly live in Sri lanka and also India.This lizard highly arboreal and widespread the plains and midhills where elevation up to about  1500 m.        MORPHOLOGY        Green forest lizard is mostly bright green in colour.They have almost bright green dorsal colouration.Usually there are white,cream,or dark green transverse strip