Decsription

<ul>Knuckles mountain range covering 18,512 ha. of central high lands in Sri Lanka has an amazing diversity of fauna and flora. Despite its size, it has a higher percentage of the island’s biodiversity. Due to its own climatic microcosm, five types of vegetation can be found at Knuckles. They are semi-evergreen forest, sub-montane forest, montane forest, riverine forests, and the pathana and savannah grasslands.<br>
<br>There are 31 species including four endemics and nine nationally endangered mammals are found in the Knuckles wilderness. The toque monkey and the purple-faced leaf monkey, Wild Buffalo, Wild boar, Black-Naped Hare, Jackal are common in Knuckles.<br>
<br>A high composition of birdlife can be found in the Knuckles range. Over 130 bird species are recorded in Knuckles and 17 of them are endemic. There are 20 amphibians including 12 endemic and 53 reptiles including 23 endemic recorded in Knuckles. The endemic Leaf-nosed Lizard has found only in the Knuckles region whereas half of the Agamid lizard species in Sri Lanka are found in the Knuckles. The water streams in Knuckles has recorded 25 species of freshwater fish. Among them, 8 are endemic.</ul>