Species Discoveries

Sri Lankan Turquoise-blue Cruiser
Macromia weerakooni
​Sumanapala, 2021

This species was first discovered back in 2015 when a male specimen collided with a vehicle was found. It was recognized as an undescribed species and further surveys were conducted to locate more individuals. However, as these surveys were unsuccessful, it was described in 2021 based on the single male specimen which shows multiple diagnostic characters which conclusively separated it from other Macromia in the region. 
The specimen was named in honour of Prof. Devaka Weerakoon of University of Colombo.
The discovery was published in the International Journal of Odonatology (pdf).

Sri Lanka Ornate Ground Tarantula
Chilobrachys jonitriantisvansicklei
Nanayakkara, Sumanapala and Kirk, 2019

The first species I formally involved in discovering. 
I first encountered a juvenile of Sri Lanka Ornate Ground Tarantula in a lowland rainforest patch in the wet zone of the country while conducting a research on primates in 2012. I continued to observe the species in its natural habitat for couple of years and photographed an adult female concluding it is indeed a new species to science.
Later it was studied in detail by my colleague Ranil Nanayakkara, an expert on Sri Lankan Theraphosidae and formally described in 2019 in a paper published in the Journal of British Tarantula Society.

The discovery was widely reported in both global and local media. 

National Geographic
Smithsonian Mag
​Mongabay
Novataxa

Sunday Observer
​The Sunday Morning

Species Rediscoveries

Sri Lanka Emerald Spreadwing
Sinhalestes orientalis (Hagen, 1862)

This elusive damselfly was first collected in 1858 at Ramboda, Sri Lanka and was described in 1862. Since then there have been no reliable record of the species despite some targeted surveys carried out. I encountered a female Sinhalestes at Peak Wilderness Sanctuary in 2012 and after subsequent expeditions to the area and observing a male specimen, confirmed it to be the long lost Sinhalestes orientalis with the support of Odonata expert Matjaz Bedjanic.
The rediscovery was published in 2013 as a research paper and the story behind its rediscovery was reported in media as well.

Sunday Times
​Lost and Found blog

Tiger Beetle Jansenia laeticolor
Horn, 1904

Tiger Beetles were introduced to me by my friend Agasthya Thotagamuwa, a postgraduate student in University of Colombo at that time. Agasthya and his mentors were carrying out an islandwide tiger beetle survey and I assisted them in that task.
While conducting field work in Bundala, I photographed this particular tiger beetle and it was collected and identified by Agasthya as an endemic species not known for over 100 years despite previous islandwide surveys.
This discovery was later published as a paper in the Cicindela, a journal dedicated to tiger beetle studies around the globe. This photograph is the only known living image of the species.