Ruchira Somaweera

The second edition of my Sinhala language book ‘Snake of Sri Lanka’  was launched in June 2023. This nearly 400-page edition is co-authored with devoted herpetologists Sanoj Wijayasekara and Sanjaya Bandara, with specialised chapters by Anjana Silva (snake venom), Kanishka Ukuwela (phylogenetic), Thasun Amarasinghe (morphometrics) and Thaveesha de Alwis (look-alike snakes), and a splendid cover by award-winning designer Kasun Benaragama.

​

Features of the 2nd edition include:

• >50 page introductory section on the ecology, venom, history of exploration and conservation of Sri Lankan snakes;

• Detailed information on identification, ecology, distribution, venom and status of all 108 species of snakes known from the island to-date;

• Over 450 colour images covering all species, showing ontogenetic and geographical colour variations and close-ups of key features;

• Illustrated, easy-to-use keys for each and every multi-specious genera;

• Section on easy identification of look-alike species;

• Extensive reference list related to Sri Lankan snakes; and  

• many more …