v1i2.18

Submitted date: 15 June 2009
Accepted date: 05 July 2009
Published date: 22 November 2009
Pp. 115–122.

A REVIEW OF THE DISTRIBUTION AND CONSERVATION STATUS OF Chamaeleo zeylanicus LAURENTI, 1768 (REPTILIA : CHAMAELEONIDAE) IN NORTH-WESTERN SRI LANKA

D.M.S. Suranjan Karunarathna, M.A.J. Saman Nawaratne & A.A. Thasun Amarasinghe*
*Corresponding author. E-mail: thasun.taprobanica@gmail.com

Abstract
In this paper we discuss the current status of Chamaeleo zeylanicus including some observations related to the ecology, behaviour, current distribution pattern and conservation issues, based on the north-western population of the species in Sri Lanka. The area from Puttalam to Wanatha-Villuwa has the highest abundance of this species in Sri Lanka. They are deliberately killed by people in this area due to mythical beliefs and folk stories related to this species. Unplanned agricultural practices also destroy their habitats. The Sri Lankan C. zeylanicus population may be different from Indian populations and their taxonomic status has not been investigated.

Key words : Behaviour, chamaeleon, conservation status, distribution, Sri Lanka

Section Editor: Aaron Bauer