Giant Fijian long-horned beetle

Taxobox
name = Giant Fijian long-horned beetle


image_width = 250px
image_caption = "Xixuthrus heros"
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Arthropoda
classis = Insecta
ordo = Coleoptera
subordo = Polyphaga
familia = Cerambycidae
subfamilia = Prioninae
genus = "Xixuthrus"
species = "X. heros"
binomial = "Xixuthrus heros"
binomial_authority = (Gräffe, 1868)The giant Fijian long-horned beetle is native to the island of Viti Levu in Fiji, and is one of the largest living insect species, with specimens around 15 cm long, excluding legs, antennae, or jaws; judged by this standard, this is the second-longest of all known beetles, exceeded only by the South American "Titanus giganteus". It is closely related to the Taveuni beetle, which is only marginally smaller. These beetles have powerful jaws, and should be handled with care when alive - when threatened, they produce a loud and fearsome hissing noise by squeezing air out from under their elytra. Various websites and other resources incorrectly indicate that this species is extinct; it is not, though the forest habitat on its home island is somewhat limited, so the beetle is potentially quite vulnerable.

Bibliography

* [http://www.cerambycoidea.com/titles/evenhuis2007.pdf] EVENHUIS N. L., 2007 - Note: Clarification of the Authorship of "Xixuthrus heros" (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae)

* [http://www.mapress.com/zootaxa/2004f/zt00777.pdf] YANEGA D., D. OLSON D., SHUTE S., KOMIYA Z., 2004 - The "Xixuthrus" species of Fiji (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae: Prioninae)

External links

* [http://www.cerambycoidea.com/specieric.asp?Tipo=R&RIC=(xixuthrus)+heros "Xixuthrus heros" pictures]
* [http://www.zin.ru/ANIMALIA/COLEOPTERA/RUS/xixuthr.htm ZinRus] ] In Russian but excellent images of several members of this genus including "X. heros" .Locality information in English.