Imagine you are in Sinharaja, a sizable stretch of lowland rain forest. Over half the trees you see around you are found nowhere else in the world. Of the 52 species found in Sri Lanka 21 are endemic. A Tree Nymph - a black and white butterfly - may sail over your head, or a Common Bridwing with wings of translucent yellow patches may flutter past. Both endemics, they are two of the 242 species of butterflies and skippers found in the island. In comparison, a British lepidopterist would be content to see 35 species in the US. A Philaurus species of Tree Frog might croak, although they are more active at night.
You may be hearing one of the 200-plus species of frogs which are now in the process of being formally described by scientists. Eventually, Sri Lanka will surpass Costa Rica in the number of frogs found here, the majority of them endemic.
A harsh chatter may fill the air announcing the arrival of a mixed-species feeding-flock, with endemic Orange-billed Babblers, acting as a nucleus species. Yellow-fronted Barbets, Layard's Parakeets, enigmatic Red-faced Malkohas and garrulous Ashy-headed Laughing Thrushes are among the endemic birds which are part of this vacuum cleaner sweeping across the forest.
Examine a tree hollow or a freshwater stream, and you might see land crabs, all of which are endemic. Over 200 species of Land Snails can be seen on tree trunks, the underside of leaves and on the ground. In the streams are gaudy Comb-tailed Paradise Fish, while clinging to the rocks are drab Mountain Stone Loaches. Some fish, like Wilpita Rasbora, are only known from a small stretch of river, while some amphibians are known only from one forested valley, of less than a few square kilometers. This feature is known as point endemism, in which Sri Lanka has a high incidence.
A velvety red dragonfly may dart out and size its prey. It can climb, stoop, hover and manoeuvre better than any fighter aircraft. But yet, the aerodynamic design has remained unchanged from Carboniferous times, over a hundred million years ago. This is as close as you get to the real Jurassic Park. There is a one-in-two chance that the dragonfly you see is endemic. Nearly half the known species are endemic.
By now, you get the picture. Sri Lanka is one of the world's bio-diversity hot-sports. Its forests are amongst the most floristically rich in Asia, and for some faunal groups, it has the highest density of species diversity in the world. Paradise is indeed an apt name - an eco-paradise.