De Silva's Lizard

The De Silva's Lizard / Morningside lizard (Calotes desilvai), also called the Ceylon black-band whistling lizard, is a rare and critically endangered reptile found only in Sri Lanka. It is named after the famous Sri Lankan herpetologist Anslem de Silva for his lifelong contribution to reptile research. This lizard lives in the forests of the Morningside Forest Reserve, located near the eastern border of the Sinharaja World Heritage Site, at around 1,080 meters above sea level. Its most striking features are the black bands under its throat and a black shoulder pit, which make it different from other lizards in the same family.

The Morningside lizard is arboreal and active during the day, usually spending its time in trees. Like many agamid lizards, it reproduces by laying eggs. Because it has only been found in one location and in very small numbers, it is listed as critically endangered. Protecting its limited forest habitat is very important to ensure the survival of this unique lizard, which is not only special to Sri Lanka but also unknown anywhere else in the world.