Megasoma actaeon

(Linnaeus, 1758)

Vernacular names
English : Actaeon elephant beetle
French : Scarabée-éléphant actaeon

Classification
Class : Insecta
Order : Coleoptera
Family : Scarabaeidae
Notes : 2 subspecies known.

Identification
Adult males can grow to 12 cm in length. Very large beetle species with wide body. Round-shaped cephalothorax, males having two forward pointing horns and a double-horn protuberance on snout. Coloration is dark shiny brown-black.

Range and habitat
The species occurs in Southern America, from Panama and Colombia to central (Amazonian) Brazil and Bolivia. Lives in primary and secondary forests, also woodlands.

Conservation
IUCN RED LIST : NOT LISTED
CITES : Not listed
Status : The species’ status hasn’t been assessed. It is probably the commonest of its genus in the wild and seems to be facing no threats currently.
Ex-Situ Programs : None known

Observation

 

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