Mahatha is a genus of endemism to Sri Lanka. Four of the six species are critically endangered due to habitat loss,
Species
Mahatha adonis
Mahatha adonis is a widespread species, known from the
Mahaweli river, Knuckles Massif and
Monaragala. It is considered a species of
Least Concern by the IUCN.
Mahatha helaya
Mahatha helaya is only known from its type locality, near
Kalupahana on the main
Colombo-
Haputale road, and is therefore considered critically endangered by the IUCN.
The specific epithet
helaya comes from the Sinhalese word for an inhabitant of Sri Lanka.
Mahatha iora
Mahatha iora is only known from its type locality, near the
Dunhinda Falls, and is therefore considered critically endangered by the IUCN.
Mahatha lacuna
Mahatha lacuna is only known from its type locality, near
Galle, and is therefore considered critically endangered by the IUCN.
The specific epithet lacuna, from the
Latin for "hole", refers to the deep burrow in which the species was found.
Mahatha ornatipes
Mahatha ornatipes was originally described in 1915 by Roux as
Paratelphusa ornatipes, and was later described as
Ceylonthelphusa inflatissima Bott, 1970. It is widespread in the wet zone of Sri Lanka and is considered a species of
Least Concern by the IUCN.
Mahatha regina
Mahatha regina is only known from its type locality, near
Pundaluoya, and is therefore considered critically endangered by the IUCN.
The specific epithet regina (Latin for "queen") refers to the species' "regal appearance".
