Macrodontia cervicornis

Taxobox
name = "Macrodontia cervicornis"
status = VU
status_system = iucn2.3

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image_width = 250px
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Arthropoda
classis = Insecta
ordo = Coleoptera
subordo = Polyphaga
familia = Cerambycidae
subfamilia = Prioninae
genus = "Macrodontia"
binomial = "Macrodontia cervicornis"
binomial_authority = (Linnaeus, 1758)

"Macrodontia cervicornis" (Linnaeus, 1758) is the largest and best-known member of this genus of long-horned beetles. This species is sometimes considered the second longest among all beetles, with known specimens exceeding 17 cm in length. A fair bit of this length, however, is due to the enormous mandibles, from which it derives both of the names in its binomen: "Macrodontia" means "large tooth", and "cervicornis" means "deer antler". For that reason, it is generally excluded from consideration by purists who do not take the jaws, legs, or antennae of a beetle into account when determining length.

Distribution

This species is known from the rain forests of Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, the Guianas, and Brazil.Additional described species in the genus extend the overall range of the genus from Guatemala to Argentina.

References

* Listed as Vulnerable (VU A1c v2.3)

External links

* [http://www.cerambycoidea.com/specieric.asp?Tipo=R&RIC=macrodontia+cervicornis] beautiful images of "Macrodontia cervicornis"