Giraffe stag beetle
P. g. nilgiriensis from southern India
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Family: Lucanidae
Genus: Prosopocoilus
Species:
P. giraffa
Binomial name
Prosopocoilus giraffa
Olivier, 1789

Prosopocoilus giraffa, the giraffe stag beetle, is the world's largest stag beetle[1] and is a member of the family Lucanidae within the order Coleoptera. They have very long, toothed and notched mandibles that protrude about half the size of their body. They tend to be aggressive and are fierce and powerful. Males fight each other using these strong and enlarged jaws to lift and throw rivals to win a mate.[2] They can grow up to 119 millimetres in length. Several distinctive populations (subspecies) are found in moist forested region areas of Asia, ranging from India to Indonesia. Prosopocoilus giraffa keisukei can measure up to 12 centimeters. Prosopocoilus giraffa daisukei have the brightest elytra of all subspecies and Prosopocoilus giraffa giraffa is the smallest subspecies.

List of subspecies

  • Prosopocoilus giraffa borobudur Mizunuma & Nagai, 1991 (Sumatra, Java and Bali Is.)
  • Prosopocoilus giraffa daisukei Mizunuma & Nagai, 1991 (Negros and Sibuyan Is.)
  • Prosopocoilus giraffa giraffa Olivier, 1879 (Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Nepal, Myanmar, Laos, Bhutan, Cambodia and India)
  • Prosopocoilus giraffa keisukei Mizunuma & Nagai, 1991 (Flores Is., Lombok Is.)
  • Prosopocoilus giraffa makatai Mizunuma & Nagai, 1991 (Philippines - Mindoro, Luzon)
  • Prosopocoilus giraffa nilgiriensis Mizunuma & Nagai, 1991 (S. India)
  • Prosopocoilus giraffa nishikawai Mizunuma & Nagai, 1991 (Sangir Is.)
  • Prosopocoilus giraffa nishiyamai Mizunuma & Nagai, 1991 (Sulawesi)
  • Prosopocoilus giraffa timorensis Mizunuma & Nagai, 1991 (Timor Is.)

References

  1. ↑ Young, Ronald (2010). "For the Love of Rhinoceros and Stag Beetles". The Coleopterists Bulletin. The Coleopteran's Bulletin. 64 (4): 356. doi:10.1649/0010-065X-64.4.356. S2CID 83493265. Retrieved 20 June 2021.
  2. ↑ Goyens, J.; Dirckx, J.; Aerts, P. (2015). "Stag Beetle Battle Behavior and its Associated Anatomical Adaptations". Journal of Insect Behavior. 28 (3): 227–244. doi:10.1007/s10905-015-9495-3. hdl:10067/1242010151162165141. ISSN 0892-7553. S2CID 17433854.

Data related to Giraffe stag beetle at Wikispecies


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