17/06/2026
We often hear about lions, rhinos, or even gaurs that lived in Sri Lanka. But where’s the evidence? Most fossils relating to these animals were found in Ratnapura, hence they were called the ‘Ratnapura fauna.’ All animals listed below lived during the ‘Pleistocone era’ (an epoch that lasted from about 2.58 million years ago to 11,700 years ago).
Sri Lankan Lion (Panthera leo sinhaleyus, 1939)
The Sri Lankan Lion was described by P.E.P. Deraniyagala, based on two fossil teeth from Ratnapura. It’s believed that the lion went extinct in Sri Lanka prior to the arrival of modern humans (around 39,000 years ago).
Rhinoceros (Rhinoceros sinhaleyus & Rhinoceros Kagavena, 1936)
Based on fossil teeth found at Ratnapura, two extinct rhinoceros subspecies were classified – ‘Rhinoceros sinhaleyus’ (1936) & ‘Rhinoceros kagavena.’ Deraniyagala suggested that the extinct Sri Lankan Rhinoceros (R. sinhaleyus) was “somewhat smaller” than the Indian Rhino. Apart from fossil teeth, a mandibular body was also discovered in a gem pit at Ratnapura.
Hippopotamus (Hexaprotodon sinhaleyus, 1936)
The extinct Sri Lankan Hippopotamus was described via fossil teeth, also found in a gem pit at Ratnapura. Apart from molar and incisor teeth, a right humerus bone and a left femur was discovered at Ratnapura in 1951 & 1947. Interestingly, the canine teeth used to describe the Sri Lankan Lion (Panthera leo sinhaleyus) was found just 2 meters away!
Gaur (Bibos frontalis sinhaleyus, 1939)
The extinct Gaur was described via fossil teeth and a femur bone found at Ratnapura in the 1930s. Molar teeth, a humerus and other bones were also discovered. In 1681, Robert Knox reportedly saw a living gaur in the Royal Zoological Gardens at Kandy. It’s believed that the Gaur went extinct in Sri Lanka by the 18th century.
‘Sinhaleyus Elephant’ (Elephas maximus sinhaleyus, 1936)
This extinct subspecies was described via four molar teeth, also from Ratnapura. It was reportedly smaller than our current elephant (Elephas maximus maximus), but had a higher percentage of tuskers. Other fossil teeth, a mandibular spout, and even a tusk was discovered in 1936.
