SRI LANKA - RIVERS

Southwestern Sri Lanka rivers and streams is a freshwater ecoregion in 

Sri Lanka. The ecoregion is listed in Global 200, a list of ecoregions compiled 

by the World Wide Fund for Nature for conservation priorities.^[1] The extensive network of rivers and streams of Sri Lanka drains a total of 103 distinct natural river basins.^[2] Several waterfall habitats have been formed as a result of rivers and streams flowing through high and mid elevation areas. The ecoregion spreads over 15,500 km² in the wet zone of the southwestern part of Sri Lanka. More than a quarter of the freshwater fishes that have been discovered in Southwestern Sri Lanka rivers and streams are endemic.^[3] 

Nine endemic genera of freshwater fishes of Western Ghats and Sri Lanka 

hotspot Malpulutta are found only in Sri Lanka.^[4] Studies suggest that the 

number of species still to be discovered is quite high.^[3] Until recently 

wetlands in Sri Lanka were used for drainage, construction sites and land fills.^[5]

Contents  [hide] 1 Biodiversity 2 Human impact 3 See also 4 References 5 External links ]

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