Rhinoceros beetle

Rhinoceros beetle

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Taxobox
name = Rhinoceros beetle


image_width = 240px
image_caption = Rhinoceros beetle, "Aegopsis curvicornis"


image_width = 240px
image_caption = Three stages from larva to adult'
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Arthropoda
classis = Insecta
ordo = Coleoptera
familia = Scarabaeidae
subfamilia = Dynastinae
subfamilia_authority = MacLeay, 1819
subdivision_ranks = Tribes
subdivision = 6-8, see text

The rhinoceros beetles or rhino beetle are a subfamily (Dynastinae) of beetles in the family of scarab beetles (Scarabaeidae). They are among the largest of beetles, and their common name refers to the characteristic horns borne by the males of most species in the group. The male beetles use their horns in mating battles against other males.

Their larval stage is long, several years in some species. The larvae feed on rotten wood while the adults feed on nectar, plant sap and fruit. Rhinoceros beetle larvae are sometimes fried and eaten as a bush delicacy. Rhinoceros beetles are popular children's pets in Asia. They are clean, easy to maintain, and safe to handle. In Asian countries, male beetles are also used for gambling fights since they naturally compete for female beetles with the winner knocking the other off a log.

Rhinoceros beetles are also the strongest animals on the planet in relation to their own size. They can lift up to 850 times their own weight. [http://nationalzoo.si.edu/Animals/AnimalRecords/] To put this into perspective, if a human of average height and weight had the strength of the rhinoceros beetle, it would be able to lift a 65 ton object (e.g. an M1 Abrams tank).

ystematics and selected taxa

Well-known species of rhino beetles include the Atlas Beetle ("Chalcosoma atlas"), Elephant Beetle ("Megasoma elephas"), European Rhinoceros Beetle ("Oryctes nasicornis"), Hercules Beetle ("Dynastes hercules"), Ox Beetle ("Strategus aloeus"), Unicorn Beetle ("Dynastes tityus") and "Megaceras briansaltini".

The rhino beetle tribes with some selected genera are:

Agaocephalini

** "Aegopsis"

Cyclocephalini

Dynastini

** "Allomyrina" Arrow, 1911
** "Chalcosoma" (including Atlantase)
** "Dynastes" (including Satanix)
** "Eupatorus" Burmeister, 1847
** "Golofa"
** "Megasoma" Kirby, 1825
** "Pachyoryctes" Arrow, 1908
** "Xylotrupes" Hope, 1837
** Goldsterus

Oryctini

** "Coelosis" Hope, 1837
** "Heterogomphus" Burmeister, 1847
** "Megaceras" Hope, 1837
** "Oryctes" Illiger, 1798
** "Strategus" Hope, 1837
** "Trichogomphus" Burmeister, 1847

Oryctoderini

Pentodontini

** "Bothynus" Hope, 1837

Phileurini

** "Homophileurus" Kolbe, 1910
** "Phileurus" Latreille, 1807
* "incertae sedis"
** "Pericoptus" Burmeister, 1847

Hexodontini

**Hexodon

External links

* [http://www.naturalworlds.org/scarabaeidae/index.htm Family SCARABAEIDAE]
* [http://www.articlesextra.com/beetle-fight-xylotrupes-thailand.htm Information and photos of rhinoceros beetle gambling fights in Asia]
* [http://www.insectaculture.com/dynastiphoto.htm Photos]
* [http://www.goliathus.com/en/en-dynastidae.html Photos]
* [http://www.goliathus.cz/en/museum-dynastidae-4.html Photos]


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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Rhinoceros beetle — Rhinoceros Rhi*noc e*ros (r[ i]*n[o^]s [ e]*r[o^]s), n. [L., fr. Gr. rinoke rws, rinoke rwtos; ri s, rino s, the nose + ke ras a horn: cf. F. rhinoc[ e]ros. See {Horn}.] (Zo[ o]l.) Any pachyderm belonging to the genera {Rhinoceros}, {Atelodus},… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • rhinoceros beetle — n. any of several medium to very large, dark colored, tropical scarab beetles: so called because of a hornlike projection on the head of the male …   English World dictionary

  • rhinoceros beetle — any of several scarabaeid beetles, esp. of the genus Dynastes, which comprises the largest beetles, characterized by one or more horns on the head and prothorax. Also called dynastid. [1675 85] * * * ▪ insect subfamily also called  elephant… …   Universalium

  • rhinoceros beetle — noun a very large mainly tropical beetle, the male of which has a curved horn on the head and typically another on the thorax. [Oryctes rhinoceros and other species.] …   English new terms dictionary

  • rhinoceros beetle — noun any of various large chiefly tropical beetles having horns on the head; pest on coconuts • Hypernyms: ↑scarabaeid beetle, ↑scarabaeid, ↑scarabaean …   Useful english dictionary

  • rhinoceros beetle — noun Date: 1681 any of various large chiefly tropical scarab beetles (subfamily Dynastinae) having projecting horns on thorax and head …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • rhinoceros beetle — noun any of various tropical beetles, mostly of the genus Dynastes, having horns on the head and thorax; a pest on coconuts …   Wiktionary

  • rhinoceros beetle — rhinoc′eros bee tle n. ent any of several scarabaeid beetles, esp. of the genus Dynastes, which comprises the largest beetles, characterized by one or more horns on the head and prothorax • Etymology: 1675–85 …   From formal English to slang

  • rhinoceros beetle — /raɪˈnɒsərəs bitl/ (say ruy nosuhruhs beetl) noun any of various large, scarabaeid beetles of the subfamily Dynastinae, having prominent horns on the head and prothorax …  

  • European rhinoceros beetle — Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum …   Wikipedia

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