Crocodylus palustris & C. porosus
Crocodiles
Both mugger and saltwater crocodiles, and 47 reptile species in total.
- 47, five endemic
- Mugger and saltwater
- All five endangered species
- Midday, hauled out to bask
Yala has 47 recorded reptile species, five of them endemic — including the mildly venomous Sri Lankan flying snake.
Mugger crocodiles hold the inland waterholes and tanks. Saltwater crocodiles, far larger, work the lagoons and river mouths near the coast.
All five globally endangered sea turtle species come ashore on this coastline, and the beaches inside the park are important nesting ground.
Where to look
Waterhole banks, lagoon edges and the coastal river mouths.
How often it is seen
Seen on most drives
Also in the park